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Rating: I read the review already on the site, and it's great for understanding a bit about the impact this album has on the minds of those who listen to it for the first time. However, it overlooks many positive aspects of this work by Mastodon that should be mentioned.
The first time I listened to it, to be honest, I didn't fully grasp the genius of certain passages, the beauty of the refrains of certain tracks (such as "Naked Burn" which, in its brazen violence and relentlessness equal to that of the other tracks, turns out to be the most "melodic" and easily listenable from the very first listen. In fact, I would say it really strikes, it left me stunned). All this, however, soon becomes evident when, by the second listen, you find you can no longer do without the mythical sound of this band! The first thing that stands out is the violence, the power of these 4 musicians, and all this supported by a gritty production, raw yet granite-like sounds, punches to the chin interspersed occasionally by more melodic passages that stand out for how perfectly they have been inserted into the song's context. The drummer astonishes with speed and precision in execution, as can be seen, for example, in the beginning of "Aqua Dementia," a song that then continues with a shouted, boisterous singing style, only to slow down later becoming more mastodonic (indeed!). The album also starts wonderfully, thanks to the introductory guitar piece of "Blood And Thunder" which immediately grabs attention up to the third track, "Seabeast", which I consider one of the best of the entire album, with a constantly pressing rhythm that always suggests the imminence of something, easing during the deliberately draggy sung verse, and finally exploding in the destructive refrain! Notably, "Iron Tusk," is also very well constructed. What I think is truly a stroke of genius can be found in the sixth track, "Megalodon", which starts slowly, then abruptly accelerates, driven by a bright guitar that is subsequently given space for a very brief solo, which is sublime not so much for the technique but just for the idea of placing it at that exact point, completely stopping the other instruments. . . which of course then kick off again full throttle, demolishing everything and everyone!
In short, a beautiful album to the end, one that can't bore you, provided you are not initially scared off by the dirty sound that will instead reveal itself as the icing on the cake of the masterpiece that is this Leviathan! A band like this, with its invincible rhythm (the bassist, who is also the main vocalist, is remarkable as well), two venomous guitars, and apparently plenty of ideas to offer, now just needs to reaffirm itself successfully with the next album. If it succeeds in this rather daunting task, it could, as far as I'm concerned, rise with head held high to the Olympus of current metal bands that constitute a reference point for the genre!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Blood and Thunder (03:49)
I think that someone is trying to kill me
Infecting my blood and destroying my mind
No man of the flesh could ever stop me
The fight for this fish is a fight to the death
White whale - holy grail
What remorseless emperor commands me
I no longer govern my soul
I am completely immersed in darkness
As I turn my body away from the sun
White whale - holy grail
Split your lungs with blood and thunder
When you see the white whale
Break your backs and crack your oars men
If you wish to prevail
This ivory leg is what propels me
Harpoons thrust in the sky
Aim directly for his crooked brow
And look him straight in the eye
White whale - holy grail
02 I Am Ahab (02:46)
There's magic in the water that attracts all men
Across hills and down streams
The turning of the tide
Outlook
Future bright
Selfish
Beauty shines
Light cloud rain drive on
13 years to this day red planet aligned
Into sight 60,000 years of light
Fascination with a mountain put to sea
Built to slay and conquer
All with teeth of beasts
03 Seabeast (04:15)
If I stand around
And watch them drown in a pool of gray
When we dive in, I can surely say there's feud with force
Am I in your way?
Please knock me down, can I help you in?
When I'm not around let us all be found in certain ways
Dear Mr. Queequeg, you have been informed your life's been saved
You are not a black-hearted vicious mess so it has been claimed
If this is the beast
Pulling us towards the east with mighty waves
Let us look inside
And pull out all your pride, you know it's up to us
Holding pasts in ash black earth
Bound by roots
Roots into sand
Grow towards the giver
There's an open wound
Placed upon my heart, in anger's ragp
If we open up a spirit, a spirit that can bleed
Ahab the leading lad we can trust his obsession carries them
Meet us at the temple
Healing all the crippled, don't forget the maimed
Lower soul
Sent with gifts offering
Teeth of hope travel with
Child laid next to mother
05 Iron Tusk (03:03)
Straight line
Feel it burst liver and lung
Long and strong
'Til she spills her black blood
Center down
Vast the head body and tail
Shatter life
Physeter catodon
Culture vulture
Elephant graveyard
Culture vulture
Engage monster
Wreaking vengeance
Assault with all martial rage
Sail on
06 Megalodon (04:23)
Myth or legend
Nymph tale washed ashore
Near the kraken sleepeth stirs coral and bone
Infinite city
No sexy sneer
Hideous creation
Human and animal
Banter songs of rudeness to be adhered
Not on rocks that glisten
Harps to listen
Comb hair
Tear right to pieces
Left to recess a watery grave
Sensing the blood of prey
Swimming in fear for life
Rolling over
Falling into jaws
Teeth that chatter
It distracts them all
The Fiji mermaid
She will let it know
Time is coming to feed and knaw
09 Hearts Alive (13:40)
Taken down with hearts alive
Our hearts alive
Lurking dark underground
Descend to the bottom
Swim below eternally
Into the deep blue sea
Time and space
All alone
It can be a lonely place
There it goes
Opening up
I can't stand
I can't breathe
Rolled fin out
Oil stripped
Hold is filled
Ocean coil
Water boils
He swims to the surface
Flame from mouth
Smoke he breathes
Enter the caverns of the deep
Time and space
All alone
It can be a lonely place
There it goes
Opening up
I can't stand
I can't breathe
Terrified
Ghastly cry
Spiraled lives
Taken down
Taken down
The iron side
Bucket of lead
Battle is she
Not for defeat
The iron side
Bucket of lead
Battle is she
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By Moonchild
Mastodon represents the proof of controlled power at the service of mass destruction.
Brann Dailor, the friendliest drummer in the world, eats your power metal drummer with polenta and mushrooms.
