What Was In My Car....

MASTODON- LEVIATHAN (2004)

Very, very few metal albums are true "winners" for me on the first listen. Usually it takes a few times through to remember the catches, anticipate the changes, and to find the grooves. I had Mastodon in the car for the first time on the way to work this morning and I can't wait for the ride home's second listen. It is really... REALLY good.

First of all, check out the album cover. Nuthin' cooler than a big Moby Dick smashing a big ol' boat. Yeah!

More importantly, the music is aggressive, tight, and wonderfully interesting. I thought of it as Hemispheres/Farewell to Kings-era Rush done in a modern metal-style. Like Rush, Mastodon features a thematic album with epic songs that weave melody, pounding rhythms with changing tempos and time signatures (only Mastodon does it with an extreme-metal edge). Each song features insanely complex drumming, guitars that switch from textural runs to percussive chords, and solid bass. The singing is the genre's typical growling, but a couple songs feature a lighter, more melodic attack.

Moments are harsh or brutal--others catch a fantastic groove. Mastodon takes the listener through extreme changes in tone, mood, and tempo without warning--but not without meaning or structure. Unlike genre-sharers The Dillinger Escape Plan, Mastadon's quirkiness never seems random.

If Rush were the prog-rock kings of the 70's, Mastodon may be crowned prog-metal kings of today if subsequent releases live up to the potential set by Leviathan.

(early) Rating: ******* outta 8.

ALSO IN MY CAR THIS WEEKEND:


Church of Misery-- Master of Brutality (2001)

Church of Misery can be labeled as Doom Metal or Stoner Metal, but I prefer to label them as Groove Metal (mostly because I don't want to be associated with Stoners or the Doomed). Yeah, the pace is very slow and the low-toned, fuzzed guitar and bass slog about like the typical Doomed/Stoned Metalers--BUT these guys seem to have a genuine enthusiasm hidden behind their murky music. I would describe Church of Misery as Black Sabbath tuned down, turned up, overdriven, and crossed with the grooviest Skynyrd riffs that you could emulate. It's low, loud, and it rawks. It could also be said that Church of Misery is the best Doom Metal band to ever come out of Japan (although, I dare you to name any outta Japan!).

Master of Brutality, unfortunately, has a different serial killer as the theme of each song (except for the cover of Blue Oyster Cult's Cities on Flame With Rock 'N' Roll). Thankfully (this can serve as my sweeping statement about all metal) the screaming vocals hide the lyrics. I never noticed the subject until I saw the song titles.

Overall, the musicianship is solid, yet unpolished (to be too polished would ruin the mood!) The guitars are soooo raw, fuzzy, and overdriven--it's just a blast to hear every riff crush and crunch against the cymbal-happy, solid drumming. Also, let me say that a bass through a fuzzed amp and a wah-pedal gives one of the best sounds heard on Earth.

With only 6 songs, Master of Brutality could be an EP, but the songs range from 4 to 11 minutes in length--so it's not short at all. It should also be said that after 6 songs, I was ready for it to be over. Too much of the same thing--no matter how awesome--gets old. These guys are slow, loud, and groovy--and so proud of this that they don't change from song to song (not that they should). I did find myself wandering in and out of interest during the slower songs, but my ADD only lasted a few minutes as a new groove here or there sparked new interest.

Church of Misery is an excellent addition to any car trip soundtrack as it welcomes many steering-wheel drum fills and stick-shift guitar picking.

Rating: ****** outta 8.