Mastodon

2008

Traveling from Czarist Russia to deep space and back again, Crack the Skye is a conceptually ambitious ride to the outer reaches of progressive metal. Along the way, Mastodon unload pure heaviness. In just under 11 minutes, “The Czar” blends cosmic psychedelia and crazy-muscular sludge riffs. Far shorter, yet no less ambitious, “Divinations” opens with old-time banjo before cutting to screaming twin guitars and some of Brann Dailor’s most furious drumming. Needless to say, the rest of the album is just as powerful.

2004

Leviathan finds Mastodon sharpening its prog-rock edge without sacrificing its grindcore muscle, resulting in a thunderous yet flexible hybrid sound. Using Moby-Dick as a recurring motif, the band summons up an aura of seafaring heroism and primeval danger (with a bit of Teutonic mythology tossed in). Brann Dailor’s tempo-shifting, jazz-influenced drumwork is often dazzling, spurring guitarists Bill Kelliher and Brent Hinds to unleash volleys of intricate, incendiary riffage. “Blood and Thunder,” “Iron Tusk,” and “I Am Ahab” couch their savagery in tight, cogent arrangements. At various points, the band slinks to a Southern boogie beat (“Aqua Dementia”), churns up a Far Eastern atmosphere (“Seabeast”), and descends into a dark, delirious swirl (“Hearts Alive”). Kelliher and Hinds spew out the album’s lyrics — heavy on battle cries and warrior laments — with a froth-mouthed desperation. The instrumental “Joseph Merrick” (named for the legendary Elephant Man) cools things down with somber acoustic guitars and distorted organ dabs.

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