BLOOD MOUNTAIN

Blood Mountain is one the least beloved mastodon albums, it's quite unfortunite, all i ever hear about is crack the skye -- which in its own right is a funomanal record, dare i say near flawless, but Blood Mountain itself is somthing completly different. You hear the band becoming more and more progressive with every track, and even making reference to genesis with the song title Colony of Birchmen (colony of slipperman, The lamb lies down on broadway).

the album begins on a very heavy note, chugging guitars, bombastic drumming and alot of yelling. By track three the album begins to take shape, adding to their sound alot more time signature alternation and over all a more conceptual element with amazing lyrics and great lead vocal swaping to match. It's evident a huge influence on Mastodon is King Crimson very similar song arangments and theory are shared between the two band, mastodon being much heavier, but never the less often tracks resemble KC songs like 21st century century schizoid man or One More Red Nightmare.

The drumming on the album is unbelivable, (he has been quoted saying one of his main influences was Phil Collins). brann is very different compared to most metal drummers spending most of his time on toms and symbals rather than on the double bass.

The singing is good, the two singers, with the addition of occasional singing from the drummer, is very diverse. Guitar work is solid and very well constructed as well as excellent playing from the bassist, the album is a must in the progreesive Tech/Death genre and for open mined fans of progressive rock. 4 out of 5