Mastodon - great band, just discovering them

[Samsara]

Ok, so I took a chance on Crack the Skye about two months ago, and really like it. Yesterday I picked up Leviathan, and I really like that one too.

What a great band. I hear the Tool influence, but they have more balls than Tool. Songs are faster, more metal. Incredible band. Just wanted to share as I picked it up due to people raving about them here. Thanks, DTF. 

[Sigz]

Now get Blood Mountain and Leviathan.   

[Marvellous G]

I've been wanting to get into them ever since I've heard about them. Is Crack The Skye a good place to start then?

[Samsara]

I've been wanting to get into them ever since I've heard about them. Is Crack The Skye a good place to start then?

It was for me! 

[aurorablind]

Crack The Skye is the perfect place to start, and then just work your way backwards. Mastodon is a band that just keeps evolving for the better.
You'll be hooked at "Oblivion".  

[faemir]

Crack The Skye is easily my favourite by them, but all their albums are stellar. It's certainly the easiest for progheads in that it's probably the most progressive and least harsh sounding vocals.

[Dimitrius]

They're awesome! I had heard of them, but wasn't truly into them... until I saw them open for Metallica!

[Jakartabassplayer]

Mastodon is awesome

met the guys actually at a municipal waste show once though
nice guys too

[Gadough]

I've given up trying to get into them. I love the musicianship; Brann in particular is a stellar drummer. But I absolutely hate the vocals. I've tried numerous times to look past them and just enjoy the music, but to no avail. Brent and Troy sound like absolute shit on everything pre-Crack the Skye, and the vocals on that album are only passable at best. It's a shame because as I said, they're great musicians. Call me when they get an actual singer that doesn't sound like a retarded mental patient and I'll give them another chance.

[skydivingninja]

Go backwards from Crack the Skye, as someone said, Mastodon keeps getting better.  Crack the Skye is a masterpiece.

[Dr. SeaWolf]

Mastadon are an incredible band.  I love the Sabbath influence in Crack the Skye.

[KevShmev]

I only have the newest record, but I like it.  I can't see this ever being a band I would go crazy over, but Crack the Skye is a good CD, regardless.  "The Last Baron" is one helluva song.

[Plasmastrike]

Yeah man The Last Baron is by far my favorite song on the album. It's got some serious groove and melody. Not to mention it rocks the fuck out.

[glaurung]

I only have the newest record, but I like it.  I can't see this ever being a band I would go crazy over, but Crack the Skye is a good CD, regardless.  "The Last Baron" is one helluva song.

This is how I feel about them.

[InTheNameOfGod]

I cannot seem to get into this band no matter how many times I try.

Something just doesn't click.

[MetalMike06]

I cannot seem to get into this band no matter how many times I try.

Something just doesn't click.

Just what I was going to say.

[Dr. DTVT]

I cannot seem to get into this band no matter how many times I try.

Something just doesn't click.

This, and I think Gadough hit it on the head for me.  It's the singing.  Everyone was giving this band a e-blow job last year, and I tried over 30 listens to get into them.  I think it was the vocals, because I never thought music by itself was bad.  I'll probably give it another shot when I hit an album buying drought.

[axeman90210]

I haven't checked out their back catalog (and doubt I will because of what I hear about all the harsh vocals), but Crack the Skye is a phenomenal album.

[Marvellous G]

I cannot seem to get into this band no matter how many times I try.

Something just doesn't click.

This, and I think Gadough hit it on the head for me.  It's the singing.  Everyone was giving this band a e-blow job last year, and I tried over 30 listens to get into them.  I think it was the vocals, because I never thought music by itself was bad.  I'll probably give it another shot when I hit an album buying drought.

This is how I felt about Opeth, in terms of the vocals ruining it partially for me, but the music was still good enough with Opeth for them to click with me regardless. I hope this is the case here, as I now love Opeth. Will be listening to Crack The Skye shortly!

[Dr. DTVT]

BUT Mikael has a good singing voice - he just happens to growl on occassion.

Mastadon's singer is just weak sounding and gargled.  Some of what he sings sounds indecipherable.

[faemir]

And by singer you mean singers.

I guess i'm really impartial to singers, and don't really care unless they are awful, but for me the singing fits the old albums nicely, it just needs to be gotten used to.

[MetalManiac666]

Awesome band.  I only have Blood Mountain and Crack the Skye, but both are fantastic albums.

[faemir]

GET LEVIATHAN. NAOW.

[ZBomber]

I love Crack the Skye. Blood Mountain is ok, but its not my type of music as much (though still good).

I can see why someone wouldn't be able to get into the band because of the vocals, but I think the vocals on CTS are superb.

[MetalManiac666]

GET LEVIATHAN. NAOW.

I should say that I downloaded "Blood and Thunder" a while ago when amazon gave me one of those free song downloads.  Awesome song.

[Dr. SeaWolf]

I haven't checked out their back catalog (and doubt I will because of what I hear about all the harsh vocals), but Crack the Skye is a phenomenal album.

You really should check out Blood Mountain, it's phenomenal as well.

[MetalManiac666]

^ Agreed.

[faemir]

GET LEVIATHAN. NAOW.

I should say that I downloaded "Blood and Thunder" a while ago when amazon gave me one of those free song downloads.  Awesome song.

You forgot Iron Tusk and Megalodon

edit:

obligatory:

[Dr. SeaWolf]

That album is just the epitome of

They got more experimental and progressive, and ultimately more interesting on the next two albums, but man, Leviathan just rocks.

[black_biff_stadler]

obligatory:

I love you 

[MetalManiac666]

Definitely my favorite cartoon/comic strip of all time.

[SPNKr]

obligatory:

*snip*

I love you 

That shit's still amazing
Crack The Skye was my first Mastodon album and last time I listened to it I really liked it compared to the first few times. It's because I got familiar with sludge metal so that majorly helped.

[LudwigVan]

I've given up trying to get into them. I love the musicianship; Brann in particular is a stellar drummer. But I absolutely hate the vocals. I've tried numerous times to look past them and just enjoy the music, but to no avail. Brent and Troy sound like absolute shit on everything pre-Crack the Skye, and the vocals on that album are only passable at best. It's a shame because as I said, they're great musicians. Call me when they get an actual singer that doesn't sound like a retarded mental patient and I'll give them another chance.

Mastadon's singer is just weak sounding and gargled.  Some of what he sings sounds indecipherable.

I cannot seem to get into this band no matter how many times I try.

Something just doesn't click.

This, and I think Gadough hit it on the head for me.  It's the singing.  Everyone was giving this band a e-blow job last year, and I tried over 30 listens to get into them.  I think it was the vocals, because I never thought music by itself was bad.  I'll probably give it another shot when I hit an album buying drought.

I've been listening to some Mastodon.  Excellent music, but I have to agree with the above posts about the vocals being this bands "weak" spot.  Aside from the lack of melody in most of their songs, the vocals are non-descript and rather industrial sounding... they leave me cold.  I'll give them time to sink in though.     

[Buckethead]

Crack the Skye is just siack as far as I'm concerned.
Mastodon vocals: Usually they're brutal, every now and again they're not. Sorry if you're not ok with that.

[sonatafanica]

I've been listening to some Mastodon.  Excellent music, but I have to agree with the above posts about the vocals being this bands "weak" spot.  Aside from the lack of melody in most of their songs, the vocals are non-descript and rather industrial sounding... they leave me cold.  I'll give them time to sink in though. 

That's funny, because that's exactly what I love about the vocals. In Mastodon, the vocals are very much just another instrument. They're never really the focal point of the songs, and you hear them on the same level as the rest of the music, which makes listening to their stuff just that much more enjoyable. It's just....them. That's how they are. Their music is a very aural experience because of it.