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LEVIATHAN

Mastodon

Tech/Extreme Prog Metal


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Mastodon Leviathan album cover
3.91 | 411 ratings | 34 reviews | 33% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 2004

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Blood and Thunder (3:48)
2. I Am Ahab (2:45)
3. Seabeast (4:15)
4. Island (3:26)
5. Iron Tusk (3:30)
6. Megalodon (4:22)
7. Naked Burn (3:42)
8. Aqua Dementia (4:10)
9. Hearts Alive (13:39)
10. Joseph Merrick (3:33)

Total Time 47:10

Line-up / Musicians

- Brent Hinds / lead guitar, vocals
- Bill Kelliher / rhythm guitar
- Troy Sanders / bass, vocals
- Brann Dailor / drums, vocals

With:
- Neil Fallon / vocals (1)
- Scott Kelly / vocals (8)
- Phil Peterson / cello (8)
- Joseph Merrick / organ (10)

Releases information

Artwork: Paul Romano

CD Relapse Records ‎- RR6622-2 (2004, US)

LP Relapse Records ‎- RR6622-1 (2004, US)

Thanks to TheProgtologist for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
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MASTODON Leviathan ratings distribution


3.91
(411 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(33%)
33%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(42%)
42%
Good, but non-essential (18%)
18%
Collectors/fans only (6%)
6%
Poor. Only for completionists (1%)
1%

MASTODON Leviathan reviews


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Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by 1800iareyay
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Leviathan is the second album from metalcore masters Mastodon. Hailing from my hometwon, Atlanta, these boys have leaped to the top of the metal movement over the last few years; even Rolling Stone has to acknowledge their talent. This album is a pseudo- concept, with some of teh songs dealing with Herman Melville's Moby Dick. The album brims with energy, though those put off by the heavy stuff beware. The band is anchored by wonder drummer Brann Dailor, who is one of the foremost drummers in metal. He brings a jazzy element to the fold, which combines seamlessly with the band's thrash, blues, and tradtional metal.

Songs like "Megaladon" stop on a dime a go off in a completely different direction. The screaming vocals may put off fans of, well, singing, but fans of Opeth will find a lot to love here. "Blood and Thunder," "Megaladon," "Iron Tusk," and the lengthy "Hearts Alive" are the highlights of the album, with some gut wrenching turns.

Overall, Leviathan is very strong and is perfect for fans of Opeth, Mesuggah, and the like. Brann Dailor's inventive percussion is worth whatever price you pay for it.

Grade: B

Review by King of Loss
PROG REVIEWER
2 stars This was Mastodon's 2nd release, at least in my books, but Mastodon's Leviathan is neither Progressive or Progressive Metal.

Even though, this band is an interesting form of Metal, it does not succeed in convincing me that it is Progressive at all.

1. It has neither the sound or the content of most Progressive/Progressive Metal bands such as Dream Theater or Pain Of Salvation. It has neither the virtuosity of Dream Theater or the dynamic nature of Daniel Gildenlow's Pain Of Salvation. The 13 minute epic does not sound remotely Progressive, but it is pretty good by its Alternative Metal outlines.

2. What kind of Progressive Metal band slams another of its colleague? Even though, some of the old school Progressive Metal members have slammed recent Prog Metal bands as being keyboard metal bands, Mastodon are anything but old. They are new to the Metal scene and not old school Progressive Metal, or anything but Progressive.

3. When do Progressive Metal bands have regressive sounding music? I do not know.

This album might be good on another level, such as the level that it deserves to be in: metalcore, alternative metal, sludge or such. Much like Death and some of the Metal bands on this site, this band is not Progressive. It might be closer than Death, but its song structure nor its musical styling sounds remotely close to being Progressive. So, for more Progressive audiences, this album is a big thumbs down. If you are a fan of Metal, then try this album, but it is far from being up to the calibur of an album such as Blind Guardian- Imaginations from the Other Side. For sludge, this album really isn't bad, but they should not be on Progarchives.

Review by Prog Leviathan
PROG REVIEWER
2 stars I was completely let down by this very overrated release. Mastadon's reputation suggests some serious artistic metal, while not necessarily falling into the "prog" category. What I found was a loud and unimaginative mess; there is little of substance here beyond the gimmick of the album's literary inspiration.

Instrumentally, the band isn't bad-- but they don't come close to the type of virtuosity prevalent in the genre. Once needn't look hard to find more dynamic musicians doing more interesting things with their instruments. Moreover, the songwriting is very repetitive, with the band taking very few moments that demonstrate any kind of versatility. It's all loud, all the time... it's too bad that Mastadon's loud is just boring. Compare to other metal bands which compose slow, or softer songs intermixed with their heavy ones-- which punctuates the intensity more than straight-ahead rocking.

However, the main detraction is the very weak growling, which sounds anemic when set aside the chugging guitars and drums. Mastadon should find ways to accommodate the singer's voice or jettison the growling altogether; it doesn't get the job done.

The final word is that there isn't anything on this album that isn't done better elsewhere. Songwriting: 2 Instrumental Performances: 3 Lyrics/Vocals: 2 Style/Emotion/Replay: 2

Review by thellama73
COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars I picked up this album on a whim because it looked interesting and I am a sucker for ocean music. After many listens, I feel qualified to review it. Among the legions of modern metal bands, it's hard for any one to stand out, but Mastodon does a pretty good job. Their sound is distinctive and their songwriting is strong. Some have criticized them because they are not as overtly virtuosic as many other metal bands, but I don't see why that should matter. Virtuosity for its own sake can certainly detract from the music, and Mastodon does not fall into that trap, instead choosing to create a record filled with gloriously heavy odes to Moby Dick. Iron Tusk is the most driving, and arguably most rocking song on the album, and there's no denying that if you're into metal you will enjoy this headbanging rocker. There is also plenty of great oceanic vibes, especially in the epic Hearts Alive, another album highlight. The album closer, Joseph Merrick, is a bit of a surprise, being a low key instrumental, but it is quite nice as a cooldown after the sheer heaviness that comes before. A wholly enjoyable metal album and a worthy edition to any metal collection.
Review by russellk
PROG REVIEWER
2 stars A good but by no means excellent metal album with only the very faintest whiff of progressiveness about it, 'Leviathan' is a tale of man against beast. There are no sublime moments here (nothing like 'Sleeping Giant' from 'Blood Mountain), just honest, competent metalcore with outstanding drumming. But a great drummer doesn't make a great album. The singing, for all that it consists mostly of growls, is surprisingly recessive. There's very little of it, and what there is tends to pass the listener by.

Don't be fooled by the presence of a 13 minute song here. It's a good track, but is an extended metal piece. The other tracks are all short, riff-heavy and rhythmical, but the song writing here is tepid at best. MASTODON need to find that creative spark to lft them into prominence - otherwise they'll continue to open for bands like DRAGONFORCE. On 'Blood Mountain', the album folowing this, they make tentative steps, including making far better use of the vocals, but there's no call to rush out and buy this. As for comparing this to OPETH, well, this is nice and all that, but it's simply not in the same league.

Review by Moatilliatta
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars Here is a breath of fresh air in the heavy metal scene. Their sound is accessible - Metallica fans will enjoy this group - but it is very developed and unique. While you can hear the obvious thrash metal influences with brutal riffs and vocals, you can single them out from any band that they may be associated with. The vocals, riffs, and the often jazz-tinged drumming as a single unit create a sound unlike anything you've heard. The sound and style may be a difficult one to approach or admire at first to those who are not already into heavy music, but wonders await to the ones that give it a shot.

From the thrasy opening to the slippery acoustic-based closing, Leviathan is a wild and excited adventure depicting the tale of Moby Dick. Mastodon, since their debut full-length, Remission, has made each a concept tied to one of the elements; this one is obviously the water album. This album has one of the coolest album covers I've ever seen. Mastodon's artwork is always top-notch, but this album art is probably the best. Without further digression, the music is awesome, and these guys will be one of the forerunners of progressive metal in the years to come.

Review by ProgBagel
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Mastodon - 'Leviathan' 4 stars

A fisherman's tale.

A lot of things went the right way for Mastodon on this release. The vocal duties not only become a shared asset, but also are more audible and feature many clean sections, which was absent on the debut. The dual guitar work of Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher also took a major step up. Their writing gets more complex, tighter (featuring less sludge) and melodic. Some parts even contain some Crimson ideas in their discipline-era, like in the 13 minute epic 'Hearts Alive'. Brann Dailor, I'm not even going to bother describing his drum work like I did on my previous reviews, just phenomenal for short.

This album is a loosely concept based on Moby Dick. The water element really doesn't influence the way the instruments are played, the last track 'Joseph Merrick' would be the only one, representing a classic tune.

This is my favorite Mastodon release thus far. It happens to be the most consistent with good to great songs in my opinion. My favorite tracks would have to be 'I am Ahab', 'Seabeast', 'Megadolon' and 'Joseph Merrick'.

Review by The Crow
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Second full-length Mastodon's album and here is where they really showed all their potential, and this original way to understand metal!

The style of the band very well represented in Leviathan. They make thrash metal with a lot of death metal influences, and a very original approaching to stoner rock too, giving constant surprises with groovy and catchy riffs. Like at the end of Seabeast! Being a fan of stoner (I specially love Spiritual Beggars and similar acts), I find this side of Mastodon very attractive.

However, and this is the reason this band is on this site, they use not usual rhythms and structures. The songs are surprising, and the tempo is always changing. Not only in the epic Hearts Alive (a 100% progressive metal track) but also in the funny Megalodon, where a country melody is followed by a very fast speed metal section. The complex Aqua Dementia, the intricate verses on Island. This album is a real pleasure for tech metal fans.

The sound of the guitars is a bit odd, but it is great for the music and the concept of the album. They have sometimes a sailor mood, like on the beginning of Megalodon. Is incredible how this band, with these compact and hard compositions, are able to give every song a new texture, making a coherent progression of the history through the album. I also like their acoustics. In Joseph Merrick they made another bizarre song, with this dirty guitars and tired keyboards... However, it is just brilliant!

Brann Dailor, the drummer, also deserves a special mention here. He is just one of the better drummers in metal today. His incredibly fast drumming and his surprising rhythms make the sensation of that you are hearing a jam session by a genius... Every time I listen this album, I discover new things in the work of this man in Leviathan. His sound is a bit ugly, and a bit too high. However, for the speed of his drumming, maybe it is not possible to get a better sound, because the drumsticks of this guy must run at the speed of light!

Best Tracks: Blood and Thunder (obscure, epic and catchy opening...), Seabeast (the final riff is my favorite of the album), Iron Tusk (just love the whole song), Megalodon (it's crazy, and it is wonderful) and of course Hearts Alive (the longer track is of course very progressive, epic and it shows the whole band's potential)

Conclusion: Mastodon is one of the most surprising metal acts appeared in the last years. They have achieved a very original sound, mixing a lot of genres and influences, but mixing them so brilliantly that you will not notice it. They are powerful, refreshing and unique. And Leviathan is their best album to date, surpassing the very good but a bit flawed Blood Mountain.

Very recommended band and album!

My rating: ****

Review by UMUR
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Leviathan is the second full length studio album from American experimental metal act Mastodon. Mastodonīs debut album Remission from 2002 was a good surprise for me. I really enjoyed that album even though Mastodonīs music isnīt really my favorite style. You canīt deny good quality music though. Leviathan really cemented Mastodonīs position as one of the most prolific and groundbreaking metal bands in the last 5 - 10 years and I remember reading lots of praising reviews of the album in various magazines. It took me a couple of years to appreciate though.

The music has developed in a more melodic direction since Remission but the heavy riffing and the speed of light fast precision drumming from drum genious Brann Dailor are still present in abundance. Remission wins because of its raw and aggressive style ( There are calmer parts on the album too though) while Leviathan is a more balanced album. Itīs simply more memorable and better written IMO. The influences ranges from post metal, thrash and classic heavy metal to progressive rock and psychadelic moments. Leviathan is more metal than anything else though, so donīt expect the album to sound like progressive rock. The influences from the softer genres are only hinted at.

The album starts with the crushingly heavy Blood and Thunder and the next song I Am Ahab is even more aggressive. Seabeast is a more varied track with some almost melodic singing and thatīs how the album continues all the way. Itīs a really dynamic album and there are no weak songs here. The 13:39 long Hearts Alive is also worth mentioning because of itīs many interesting sections. The mood on the album is great, dark and aggressive.

The musicianship is excellent. The vocals are a mix of aggressive and raw melodic voices. The two guitarists compliment each other well but drummer Brann Dailor take the price here though. What a fantastic musician. Donīt misunderstand me when I praise his fast playing. I donīt mean blast beats when I say fast playing. His fills and his style are so extremely well played and innovative that it is much his effort that Mastodonīs music sounds as good as it does.

The production is excellent. Great clean mix but still crunchy and heavy.

Leviathan is an excellent album and I can fully understand why some people think this is a masterpiece. For me this is a 4 star album and a step up from Remission which by the way also is a great album. Iīll be looking forward to reviewing their next album called Blood Mountain and seing Mastodon live again ( with Slayer, Trivium and Amon Amarth) on the 21th of November 2008 in Copenhagen.

Review by Bonnek
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Mastodon's second album was my introduction to the band and it sure wasn't love at first sight. The musical depth has grown since the debut but there are a number of mannerisms that spoil the experience for me. In fact, it wasn't till I heard Blood Mountain that this band started making any sense to me at all. A few years later this still remains my least favourite Mastodon.

This album is a lot of fun for a good 10 minutes. That's how long you will be stunned by its intricate mix of hardcore alternative metal, by its fast paced drumming and busy song writing. But sooner or later you will come to realize that this is just another typical metal album that keeps repeating the same handful of tricks throughout the album. Once you've heard the opening track, you've heard everything that will happen on the album. No variation, no dynamics, no life.

Now, I could have applied that same criticism to the debut as well but somehow that album managed to bring better songwriting, and more importantly, it sounded raw, sincere and packed with intensity. I can't help but finding Leviathan a contrived and prog-wannabe album where Mastodon mistake complication for progressiveness, making each song too busy and indulging a drumming style that can stand as an example of tasteless overplaying. It's so bad that it even annoys me. It ultimately results in a monotonous and tiring album. Only the furious opening tracks and the entrancing second half of Hearts Alive manage to awaken any interest in me.

Another point of criticism goes to the vocals. They fail to convey any strength or poise and sound old, scruffy and tired. Rather like your old nanny with a bad cold then the fearsome vehicle for aggression that they should be.

This might have been Mastodon's commercial breakthrough, but this is the kind of music that tries to impress the listener by fast-paced technicalities and musical overabundance. Unfortunately for Mastodon I'm not easily impressed. Instead, I like to be moved by music. But there's not much here that will move the listener. Yet, a fast back-and-forth moving effect on the heads of metalfans has been observed.

Review by jampa17
PROG REVIEWER
2 stars If extreme metal means prog metal with growling, then this is OK. If not, then we have a serious problem.

Sure, you will feel like you are in the middle of the sea in a storm hunted by the Leviathan, sure. They are not impressive musicians, and while I can appreciate the new orientation of their last album, this is not my cup of tea. Musically, they are good but average musicians who likes to make a mess of compositions without orientation. If their goal is flood you in a sea of distortion and heaviness, they succeed. But if they really want to make music for appreciation, then it's not that easy to "get". While Opeth musicians are prominent and have good taste on songwriting compositions (leave aside the growls if you want to) Mastodon do not get the idea that well.

I kind of like Mastodon, but this album is really a let down for me. I think the problem is in the lack of melody of every song. There's no orientation for the growls and the music itself do not save the album. Maybe it's because there are thousand of better musicians out there and in this album, not a single song really shake me in any way, but that doesn't mean I will avoid the album for now on.

2 stars is fair, while I see that there's people very excited about this kind of music. Maybe it need more time to grow on me, but if I have to pick a single album of Mastodon I remain with Crack The Skye, because it has melodies and a more Prog Metal orientation.

Review by EatThatPhonebook
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Mastodon is a sludge metal band from Atlanta that has increasing in popularity since the release of this 2004 release, "Leviathan", and gained mainstream success with 2009's "Crack The Skye", most definitely their most accessible album so far. Before that though we have "Leviathan", the most violent and roughest Mastodon record yet. Probably the album that perfectly captures their wild, sludgy style.

What makes Mastodon so unique in the sludge metal scene is their fast, dynamic rhythms, which in this genre aren't particularly used. These rhythms happen mainly thanks to drummer Brenn Dailor, an excellent musician with many noticeable jazz influences. The guitars as a consequence are as well fast and powerful, with a fuzzy and typically stoner metal sound. The vocals by Brent Hinds are also very strong, sometimes they almost sound like growls; his style is very unique, and sometimes he makes this kind of nasal voice for the softer parts.

Very well, produced, "Leviathan" is a true explosion of music, power and energy. The complex and fast rhythms are what really give attitude and character to the album. But the structure of the songs are very respectable; after the explosive moments, with bursting, amp destroying guitar chord riffs, we could have some electric arpeggios, that make the musicianship quite virtuous. The choruses are more melodic, sometimes slower but almost never bringing down a notch the volume. Even in the less violent songs there's still an energy that rarely you can find in a band, and this is why I'm loving Mastodon and "Leviathan".

The album is very solid, containing ten, fierce, animated tracks, that will pass as Mastodon classics; from the opener "Blood &Thunder", probably my favorite song of theirs and definitely their most representative. "Seabeast" is very original and with a somewhat catchy melody and vocals, "Iron Tusk" one of the most violent songs off this album. "Naked Burn" is a perfect example of when the band gets more melodic, but without losing any volume or energy. Special mention to "Hearts Alive", more than thirteen minutes of time changes, many times very good, even though at times not as convincing, but definitely labels the band a bit progressive.

An album with a great and impenetrable wall of sound, that if you like the genre is absolutely essential you own.

Review by Conor Fynes
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars 'Leviathan' - Mastodon (8/10)

After seeing MASTODON live in concert with OPETH a couple of nights ago, it persuaded me to return to the band's music. It was not that I had been particularly impressed by their performance- on the contrary, I had found myself incredibly underwhelmed, and was left wondering 'what' it was about them that held me at bay. I suppose curiosity is as good a reason as any to revisit a band's music, and completing my MASTODON listening experience with their sludge opus 'Leviathan', I can see why the Atlanta-based act has enjoyed such heavy accolades in recent years. Although it holds par relative to other records MASTODON has released before and after this one, 'Leviathan' may very well be the most consistent, consolidating the primordial mass they conjured with 'Remission' and harnessing it with a fine technical edge. The result is an album that's both complex and fun as hell to listen to.

Although the solid balance between crushing riffs and progressive flair does give 'Leviathan' the sense that it's the only album in MASTODON's catalogue reaping the best of both worlds, it's impossible to call this one better or worse than any other of the band's albums. Each of them fits a mood, and in the case of 'Leviathan', the mood is that of sophisticated aggression. Although I may not have gotten the impression seeing some of 'Leviathan's songs performed live, the band's performance is impressively technical by sludge metal standards. Although it's easy to look at the so-called epic 'Hearts Apart' as an indicator of the band's increasingly ambitious approach, the band's strength lies in the quality of their riffs. 'Blood And Thunder' opens with an instantly memorable piece of guitar-crunch that gets the blood flowing from the start. Contrast that with the ferocious tech riffs in 'Aqua Dementia', and it's clear that MASTODON are drawing from both wells with regards to their guitar work.

The technical stuff is arguably the more impressive, but largely because it is kept in such moderation, only popping up when it's effective. MASTODON would later go on to take this sort of frantic bluegrass-style lead picking to new heights with the next album 'Blood Mountain', but the band uses it brilliantly as a counterweight here for the more primordial of the riffs. Of course, it's impossible to speak of a MASTODON performance without at least mentioning the drum work of Brann Dailor, who is by all means the star of the show, both on record and in the live setting. Although the odd time signatures most readily attributed to progressive metal are not in full force on 'Leviathan', Dailor gives himself plenty of room to explore the kit, and it never once feels like the man is settling for a conventional drum beat.

'Consistency' really is the word that describes 'Leviathan' for me, for better and worse. The songwriting is solid throughout, and while there is not a single weak point here, I cannot point out a particular song that steals my heart. Although later albums would go to solve this issue, the songs often sound quite a bit alike one another. The sludgy riffs, crunchy tones, gruff vocals and aggression is constant throughout, save for the brief and mellowed epilogue 'Joseph Merrick', which also happens to enjoy the distinction of being apart from the album's famed 'Moby Dick' concept. Even so, the piece feels more like an 'exit music' tack-on rather than something the album would weep and suffer PTSD over if it didn't have it.

Although MASTODON is still somehow not a total sell for me, each of their albums is impressive in their own way, and 'Leviathan' is no different. Although the riff-fuelled energy appears straightforward at first, there is a sophistication in this band's work that I would not normally expect from their style.

Review by Warthur
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Mastodon's sludged-out take on the classic Moby Dick take kicks off in brilliant fashion with Blood and Thunder, mashing up technical, complex playing, roaring vocals, and a singalong chant that wouldn't go amiss on one of Marilyn Manson's more enjoyable albums. The combination of the progressive and the accessible into a new and unfamiliar configuration continues throughout the album as we travel with Mastodon in pursuit of the white whale, with the fuzzy guitars of Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher unlocking choppy soundscapes reminiscent of the thrashing of the ocean in an enormous storm. It takes a few listens before the layered complexities of the album really begin to reveal themselves, but this is an album which amply rewards patience.
Review by siLLy puPPy
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR PSIKE, JRF/Canterbury, P Metal, Eclectic
4 stars Atlanta's MASTODON made quite the thundering debut with 2002's "Remission," an album that sounded like a herd of ancient pachyderms rampaging across the Siberian tundra en masse with such force that the very ground below them quaked and split the continents in two. The album introduced a new kind of progressive sludge to the metal universe and excelled at creating murky dark soundscapes that added touches of suffocating atmospheric gloom and doom. The story of MASTODON has been pretty much that it incrementally at a snail's pace slinked into more accessible stylistic approaches that would de-emphasize the chaotic paranoia and settle into more streamlined even melodic approaches. This trend began all the way back on the group's second full-length release LEVIATHAN.

It's more accurate to state that the band made some tradeoffs. While jettisoning the fear porn of the debut, the band instead adopted characteristics of the progressive world and on LEVIATHAN the band's very first concept album was born which was loosely based on Herman Melville's 1851 novel Moby-Dick. While taming the wild antics of the debut album, LEVIATHAN by no means slowed things down and continued a rampaging parade of ten sonic attacks of sonic ferocity well intact. Decorated with more progressive compositional workouts and tight consistent instrumental interplay, LEVIATHAN was the album that saw the band taking both the progressive and metal world's by storm and catapulted the band into the big boys' club. Laced with the raging angst of hardcore crust punk and the ambitiousness of tech metal wankery, MASTODON hit the scene like a derailed train colliding with an anvil factory.

With the first hard-hitting riffs of "Blood And Thunder," MASTODON sets the tone for LEVIATHAN that never lets up until the bitter end. Laced with venomous guitar distortion and interchange of Brent Hinds' and Bill Kelliher's dual double axe attack, MASTODON takes the timbre-based sinew of sludge metal and coerces it into performing technical gymnastics that subtly sneak in and steer the aggressive assaults into more advanced creatures. The tracks seamlessly blend together with an idiosyncratic series of riffing made all the more outrageous by Brann Dailor's approach of alternating the lazy slug drumming experience in the Eyehategod school of drumming along with more tech infused jazzy outbursts. Brett Hinds also delivers his madman vocal approach from under the cacophonous din of the relentless tempo drives save the short instrumental contrasts as heard on the intro and subsections of "Seabeast."

Another interesting factor and what ties the band's first four albums together is that each one symbolizes one of the four elements of tetralogy. While "Remission" was not a concept album, it was still considered to have the theme of the element of fire. LEVIATHAN therefore not surprisingly represents the water element however the turbulent paths forged throughout this relentless metal madness is more like the Drake's passage between South America and Antarctica which is known to have the most devastating channels and highest waves on the entire planet. Of interest as well is the stunning artwork on the album cover created by Paul Romano which is a revamped version of Martin Heemskerck's 16th century interpretation of the "Pharos of Alexandria" as well as the wave representing Hokusai's "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa." It's also notable that the vinyl edition has a different track listing with "I Am Ahab" and "Island" appearing toward the end of the album, presumably so that the tracks could be spaced out more cozily.

Of the ten tracks on board, "Heart's Alive" exercises the band's complete progressive workouts and at 13 and a half minutes runs the gamut of tender arpeggiated sequences to galloping metal fury and a healthy dose of Viking metal mythos as well as NWOBHM sensibilities. While Brent Hinds is the clear lead vocalist of the band, on LEVIATHAN, Neil Fallon picks up the task on the opening "Blood And Thunder" and Scott Kelly likewise on "Aqua Dementia," but you know what? They all growl alike so it's unlikely you could tell the difference anyways. "Aqua" also has a cello cameo and the final instrumental features organ by Joseph Merrick who strangely has the track named after him. Some kind of endorsement scheme here? My mind is so suspicious. Back to "Hearts Alive." Despite it being the longest track it doesn't seem to make the most of the progressive opportunities and actually becomes a big stagnant, however LEVIATHAN is an outrageously fun romp through the world of stampede style sludge metal with a few progressive candles channeling the spirits of technical wizardry. A great album that continues the band's unique style.

Latest members reviews

4 stars After the promising Remission. Mastodon turned the metal world upside down with their sophomore release, the modern classic Leviathan. This was the album that put them in the mouth of everyone, and even today I would say that is their most renowned record. But for me, the best was yet to come. Th ... (read more)

Report this review (#2636529) | Posted by eduardico21 | Wednesday, November 24, 2021 | Review Permanlink

4 stars If you're looking for great sludgy, progressive metal, then Mastodon is the band for you. Leviathan is their second studio album and it is a great one too. There is a lot of screaming, jazz influenced drumming, downtuned guitars, and distorted bass, what's not to love. Songs like Blood and thunder a ... (read more)

Report this review (#2151502) | Posted by progtime1234567 | Sunday, March 3, 2019 | Review Permanlink

5 stars "Into sight 60,000 years of light, fascination with a mountain put to sea. Built to slay and conquer, all with teeth of beasts." ...and built to slay and conquer they were back in the sludge metal era of their career. Now one of the most successful metal bands of the past decade and current one, ... (read more)

Report this review (#1536520) | Posted by Pastmaster | Monday, March 7, 2016 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Mastodon was a band that really stood out among the so called "New Wave Of American Heavy Metal" bands of the 00's. While bands like Lamb Of God and Avenged Sevenfold took cues from Pantera and Helmet, Matodon looked back even further, drawing inspiration from the doomy thunder of Black Sabbath and ... (read more)

Report this review (#951231) | Posted by Knapitatet | Sunday, April 28, 2013 | Review Permanlink

4 stars 7.5/10 Well, this is an improvement, no doubt. Leviathan is seen by most of the community as a metal masterpiece Mastodon. It is too early to say whether I agree or not, but this is definitely a step ahead of your sound brutal debut. Here you will find more clean vocals (although guttural ... (read more)

Report this review (#939876) | Posted by voliveira | Friday, April 5, 2013 | Review Permanlink

4 stars Leviathan is the album where Mastodon really came into their own and established their identity as a dominant progressive metal band. Lifesblood and Remission showed us some flashes of what was to come but overall they are much harder to listen too. Mastodon's music has a very unique sci-f ... (read more)

Report this review (#452825) | Posted by Gyges | Friday, May 27, 2011 | Review Permanlink

5 stars I downloaded this album a couple of days ago after hearing the single off the album "Seabeast". I thought this song was great and illustrated the technical ability of the band and the originality. So after I heard this song I looked up the album and listened to it. It - banned word-ing blew my ... (read more)

Report this review (#280403) | Posted by elder08 | Monday, May 3, 2010 | Review Permanlink

3 stars Mastodon is one of few modern bands that still create awe-inspiring concept albums. Leviathan, being based on the book "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville, sets a very heavy mood with track one "BLOOD AND THUNDER" but the album steers in a completely different direction by track three "SEABEAST", it d ... (read more)

Report this review (#229996) | Posted by DASistGrantTeeL | Tuesday, August 4, 2009 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Mastodon's 2nd release is a real MASTERPIECE! Mastodon make their appearance to the Extreme-Technical Metal Scene with a really good and promising debut, Remission. Their unique style, which is being perfected with Leviathan's release, immediately surprises everyone! In fact, the band present ... (read more)

Report this review (#221768) | Posted by FatalV | Friday, June 19, 2009 | Review Permanlink

4 stars I think that someone is trying to kill me... Thinking man's metal? The hell you say! This is real metal and they thrust thinking upon it! The second melodic death metal release by Mastodon, and quite a brilliant one, I must say. The sound is a bit more melodic and a bit less death than the l ... (read more)

Report this review (#208794) | Posted by Alitare | Wednesday, March 25, 2009 | Review Permanlink

5 stars The thing I like the most about Prog Archives is its inclusiveness, bands like Mastodon, Meshuggah, The Dillinger Escape Plan and even Metallica, they're all here, despite their perhaps tenuous progressiveness...? But I like to think they're here because they write inherently challenging music, ... (read more)

Report this review (#194884) | Posted by Namor | Tuesday, December 23, 2008 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Now HERE's a golliath of a metal album. An excellent purchase by all means, this massive, epic sounding metal album is bliss to the ears, and a milestone in the modern metal scene. Blood and Thunder opens the doors to a dark, scary, and mythical word of sweeping riffs that fit together like ... (read more)

Report this review (#142812) | Posted by therevelator | Monday, October 8, 2007 | Review Permanlink

3 stars A Whale of an Album, or an excuse to make that pun? Either way, Mastodon's sophomore release doesn't hit the sophomore slump in the least. What we have here is some great metal with a few progressive tendencies that show they are growing as a band. The seeds of prog metal have been planted here: ... (read more)

Report this review (#135402) | Posted by heyitsthatguy | Wednesday, August 29, 2007 | Review Permanlink

5 stars The best mastodon album in my opinion. Among all prog metal its definitly different..but still better than mainstream sound. Brann Dailor said one of his favorite albums is " The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" and the influence shows great in his music. Iron Tusk even sounds a little bit like The C ... (read more)

Report this review (#129544) | Posted by ericfantasy17 | Friday, July 20, 2007 | Review Permanlink

4 stars Believe the hype......Best album from 2004 Leviathan was my first meeting with Mastodon and I was dazzeled after the first listen. The drumming is so near perfect. My first thought was that this was an mix between Slayer and Metallica (first 4 albums). The riffs are powerful and the drumming i ... (read more)

Report this review (#121250) | Posted by Kid.A | Tuesday, May 8, 2007 | Review Permanlink

4 stars I love this album, I really do. But not as a prog album; as a heavy metal album. That's not to say this album isn't prog - it most certainly is, it's just to say that the heavy metal aspects outweigh the prog aspects. Leviathan is a pseudo-concept album. That is, it's lyrical content is loose ... (read more)

Report this review (#105493) | Posted by WestDC | Thursday, January 4, 2007 | Review Permanlink

5 stars While Mastodon's latest Blood Mountain is their best, their second album Leviathan from 2004 isn't far behind. Leviathan is a concept album based on Moby Dick. A very progressive idea and theme but one that has surprisingly clicked with the mainstream metal audience. Leviathan is the album ... (read more)

Report this review (#104560) | Posted by Vatreni | Tuesday, December 26, 2006 | Review Permanlink

5 stars This is a great album, easily deserving of 5 stars even though Blood Mountain is superior. If you don't like metal music that competely pounds you into submission, you won't like this album. That said, if you're a fan of VERY heavy metal, and can withstand the onslaught, this is for you. You will ... (read more)

Report this review (#93692) | Posted by enteredwinter | Saturday, October 7, 2006 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Leviathan, Mastodon's second full length album catches the band at a perfect balance between creativity and down-right rocking awesomeness. This is just one of those albums, that for me, is the purest music possibble, in that it manages to progress music without the slightest evidence of pret ... (read more)

Report this review (#93536) | Posted by xenuwantsyou | Thursday, October 5, 2006 | Review Permanlink

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