Mastodon - Remission

Ever wondered what Kyuss would have sounded like if they had been a technical metal band? Neither had I, but believe me, you need to hear Mastodon. Their latest release, Remission, is easily in my top ten for 2002.

The origin of the band dates back to 1999, when drummer Brann Dailor and guitarist Bill Kelliher left the technical metal band Today is the Day and moved back to their hometown of Rochester, New York. There they reunited with their former band Lethargy for a swansong show and demo. With that chapter in their career closed, they relocated to Atlanta in early 2000 for a fresh start. Three weeks after the move, Dailor and Kelliher met bassist Troy Sanders and guitarist Brent Hines at a High on Fire show that Hinds put on in his basement. Mastodon was born soon thereafter and within weeks, the quartet's intense songwriting chemistry generated a myriad of hard-hitting songs. A demo was recorded in June 2000 and the group began to tour incessantly. After earning a hefty onstage reputation, Mastodon recorded their Relapse Records debut, the EP Lifesblood. The album put them on the map as a unique and incredibly talented unit. Eager to maintain this momentum, Mastodon entered Zero Return studios with producer Matt Bayles (Isis, Burnt by the Sun, Pearl Jam) in the fall of 2001 to record their first full-length, Remission.

The album begins with Hinds and Kelliher shredding in our respective ears and then “Crusher Destroyer” really lives up to its name as it explodes into total chaos. The first thing you will notice is the incredible drumming of Dailor. I haven’t heard a drummer overplay this much since Mark Zonder in his Warlord days. His style is more akin to experimental fusion—he’s all over the kit and unbelievably active. But it works—giving each song a unique feel and character it otherwise wouldn’t have. Doomy riffs launch “March of the Fire Ants” and suddenly you can hear the Stoner Rock influence. There is an incredible guitar breakdown here with Hinds and Kelliher patiently exploring the fretboard while Dailor goes ballistic. “Where Strides the Behemoth” is another exceptionally fierce track. Sanders’ vocals are strident, unclean shouts and that, too, works well in this maelstrom of metal. The beginning of “Ol’e Nessie” brings things down a bit with some Rush-esque guitar, and in the quiet we can really appreciate Dailor’s playing. Man, do I love the breakdown section this song ends on—it brings out the melodic side of the band, showing they can truly do it all. Listen to the interesting vocal 'harmonies' on “Trainwreck,” a terrific track. There really aren’t words to describe this, it is monolithic. The galloping thrash riffs of “Trampled Under Hoof” are equally catastrophic, simply huge. Never has a song title described its contents so accurately. “Mother Puncher” hooks you quick with its fusion-esque guitar riffs, which are straight out of the 70s. Then they slow it down and just pummel you with grinding riffs as Sanders decries his predetermined, stagnant existence. The closer is a gentle, relaxed instrumental and, for once, Dailor plays it completely straight, easily grooving on his ride and snare. We even get a shimmering guitar lead, another first. It’s all very unpredictable and, therefore, wonderful.

The album’s lyrics are also intriguing, reading like well-written poetry. Consider the words to “Where Strides the Behemoth” (addressing the psychic/spiritual pain of marriage?):

Condition tomorrow
With visions inlaid
The priest stands to our right
A princess is mine

The regress of some minds
Further chase the prize
Pretentious you follow
Religion is mine

Anger precedes my footsteps
Haunting past comes into head
Horizon seems so far away
This life close to end of days
Kill and I will be damned
Forgive and I will be free

Unified eyesight
Grow

In May of 2003, Mastodon supported Remission with its first headlining spot on the Relapse North American Contamination tour with labelmates Cephalic Carnage, Uphill Battle, and Dysrhythmia. It’s good to see them getting attention. There are so many bands on the metal scene today and how many can we really say are originals? Mastodon is an original. In this bizarre concoction of stoner, technical, hardcore and thrash, the only thing I can absolutely discern is excellence. If you love metal and art, this is a must.