So recommend a Mastodon CD to me...

TheWoodShed · #1 12-28-2009, 10:00 AM

...keeping in mind I don't want it for the bass playing, but for the song quality. Never listened to these guys before, and i would like to.

Currently spinning are KsE, ATR and FF, but like a lot of different stuff.

gm jack · #2 12-28-2009, 10:02 AM

Crack the Skye is a fantastic record, but a bit different to their other stuff, so either Crack the Skye or Leviathan.

neurotictim · #3 12-28-2009, 10:05 AM

+1 to GM Jack.

Crack the Skye is a phenomenal album, one of the best musical works I've ever heard, period.

...But it is considerably different from the rest of their stuff. Definitely check out Leviathan, especially "Aqua Demetia," "Blood and Thunder," and "Hearts Alive."

shackled · #4 12-28-2009, 10:09 AM

Get them all!

I think Crack the Skye is probably their best, but they're all very good.

Joe Gress · #5 12-28-2009, 10:28 AM

All of them are good, but if your into more proggy stuff, start with crack the sky and make your way back. If your into more straight up metal stuff start with Remission and Leviathan and move up.

Sherwood · #6 12-28-2009, 10:31 AM

+1 to Joe. I hate prog, usually, but I would still start at Crack The Skye and work my way back. Really great stuff.

Joe Gress · #7 12-28-2009, 10:37 AM

It's funny though. Even their straight up metal less epic stuff from Leviathan and Remission are still damn epic and quite proggy compared to most other run of the mill metal. But not at that annoying wankery for the sake of wankery point. I think if I were to rate their albums in favorites for me it would be:

Leviathan
Crack the Skye
Blood Mountain
Remmission
Call of The Mastodon

But then again not necessarily in that order. :P They have such a great catalog to choose from.

TheWoodShed · #8 12-28-2009, 10:51 AM

Well, Tool and Queensryche are some of my favorite bands, but I like metalcore as well.

I think Crack is a good start.

Deluge Of Sound · #9 12-28-2009, 02:19 PM

Go see 'em open for Slayer in 2004 without having heard a note.

Then borrow Leviathan, then go to Blood Mountain, pick up Remission, and then go on to Crack The Skye.

Worked for me, and I've been a big fan ever since. YMMV

DLKasim · #10 12-30-2009, 12:17 PM

Crack the Skye, but it's very different from their other work. Second best for me would be Blood Mountain, which has some of the proggy bits like Crack the Skye but also has some straightforward heaviness as well.

probasser · #11 12-30-2009, 12:24 PM

leviathan is definitely my favorite metal album, i would suggest listening to that first

Bass_Thumper · #12 12-31-2009, 11:37 PM

Just close your eyes and pick one, they're all that good.

theunknowndude · #13 01-28-2010, 04:55 AM

another devotee to crack the skye... listened to remission and bit of leviathan after d/l all the albums from itunes...

crack the skye is nuts! and its awesome cos its prog but not wankey or so out there its almost unlistenable...

so want to share with my bandmates to see how awesome good prog metal can be

XXL · #14 01-28-2010, 09:36 AM

I started with Remission. Good place to start IMO.

jollygiantchris · #15 01-29-2010, 04:32 AM

I started with Leviathan personally when I saw that hilarious Blood and Thunder video. Personally I'd start with Crack the Skye and work backwards. But my order is probably
Crack the Skye
Leviathan
Blood Mountain
Remission

Although I <3 Trainwreck, Ole'Nessie, and Elephant Man off of Remission I don't feel the rest of the album is as strong as their later efforts.

junkfoodisgood · #16 02-05-2010, 03:11 PM

Leviathan is my favorite.

It seems less heavy to me than Blood Mountain, but still has a really raw sound which i like.

()smoke() · #17 02-05-2010, 03:20 PM

Baroness, the Blue Album

...kidding, i like mastodon, saw them 10 years ago at a hole in the wall, sitting at a table 18" from the 2' stage they were on, we listened to the 6-song soundcheck, the only 3 people in the bar, and thought we were seeing the show, ha... then again later with Slayer, liked them back then, like them even more now--crack the skye is a great album

Bochafish · #18 02-05-2010, 07:00 PM

It's been years since I purchased a metal CD, but I just got Crack the skye about 3 weeks ago. It is awesome. It came highly recommended to me from a baritone sax player in an Afro-beat band, if that tells you anything.

Oric · #19 02-05-2010, 08:19 PM

There is no bad Mastodon album. Leviathan is my favorite though.

wetzelman1 · #20 02-08-2010, 01:18 PM

Crack the Sky is definitely their masterpiece thus far. Blood Mountain was a pretty big jump for them as well, as far as song structure and vocals. BIG BIG Mastadon fan here, I will listen to Remission and Leviathan and Call of the Mastodon, but Blood Mountain and Crack the Sky get the most time on the IPod.