Mastodon started with the ordinary and unspectacular releases of CALL OF THE MASTODON and REMISSION. They showed some progress and a good feel for how to introduce brutality to the usually progressive format of the concept album. They then released LEVIATHAN, a work that sought to marry Moby Dick to heavy metal music with the additional influences provided by cannibas; it is very good, much better than the book version of Moby Dick. The most recent release is BLOOD MOUNTAIN, a masterpiece; beginning with Colony of Birchmen and progressing through This Mortal Soil the songs are phenomenal. There are no bad songs on BLOOD MOUNTAIN. Troy Sanders is one of my favorite bass players and a distinctive vocalist, and Kelliher and Hinds are a tight guitar tandem.
