MASTODON - LEVIATHAN

I'd ordered Remission from Relapse not long after it had been released and was instantly amazed by the drumming of Brann Dailor. I went back and picked up the album he did with Today Is The Day and within the space of a few months a guy I'd never heard of before was now once of my favourite drummers.

When Leviathan was released I heard mixed reviews and for reasons that I'm not exactly sure of now, didn't pick it up immediately. Luckily a friend of mine did and since then it has been my favourite release from the band.

I did manage to pick up a copy on blue vinyl not long after it had come out for not much more than retail but I really wanted a white copy out of 100. I'd seen it go for close to $200 but luckily it has dropped since then and I was able to get this for much less than half of what it sold for at that time.

Much like how people argue over which of the first four Metallica albums is the best, I'm sure people will do the same with Mastodon in the future but for me this is it.

White /100

MASTODON - CRACK THE SKYE

Crack the Skye is vastly different from the bands previous album Blood Mountain, but I guess Blood Mountain was also different from Leviathan, as was that album from remission.

I do enjoy the new direction Mastodon have taken, but with that being said the drumming seems to be simpler on each release and it was the amazing drum work of Brann Dailor that originally drew me to this band. Hopefully the Leviathan style drumming will return on future releases as when listening to these songs I can't help but feel like they could have been so much more. Less vocals from Brent Hinds would also be welcome.

Red and gold mix vinyl /600

Mastodon - Lifesblood

This EP was released in 2001 and I believe is just songs from Mastodon's original 9 track demo with rerecorded vocals. I have a copy of the demo and apart from the vocals it doesn't sound too different at all.

These tracks have since been released on the full length Call Of The Mastodon, making this release obsolete to say the least.

While I enjoy these songs, this is nowhere near as good as Remission.

First Press Red /500