POLL: WHICH MASTODON ALBUM IS THEIR BEST?
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 at 4:58pm by Vince NeilsteinMastodon are without a doubt one of the most important metal bands to come out of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal movement, if not one of the most important metal bands of this decade. Last week’s career-best debut of their new record Crack the Skye proves just that. While there will be always be some who don’t get or just don’t like Mastodon, we’re willing to bet most of you do. So which is their best album to date? It’s a tough call. Vote below then tell us why; and, of course, if you hate the band altogether, don’t be shy.
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Which Mastodon album is the best?
It is a really close fight between Leviathan and Crack The Skye, so close I didn’t even want to vote because I would feel like I was putting one to shame. In the end I lent my vote to Leviathan, but both are absolutely amazing albums. Went with Leviathan because that was the first time album I bought from the band.
I listened to both albums for the first time in the same period of time. This means I have no nostalgic
bias.
This was really close but I feel that not only does Crack the Skye reach slightly higher heights, it even just as importantly chooses to never fall down while I have to admit some bits of Leviathan were far less impressing then others. Crack the Skye is such an awesome ride because it just does NOT let up. Not for a freaking second. Fucking Ether!
I voted Crack the Skye because while I currently like the songs on Leviathan better and thoroughly enjoy about 90% of Blood Mountain, I know in another year when I’m a long bearded heavy metal dude not on a job hunt, as I was in the past, I am going to be eating out this album’s ass with my praises.
Leviathan, followed by Remission, then Crack The Skye, then Blood Mountain.
course this is a fucking moot point since the band rules.
Where is Call of the Mastodon? I still pick Leviathan, but am wondering why that’s not an option
i cant pick because i dont listen to entire entire albums, but i have songs from each. and were is Call of the Mastodon? im pretty suprised by the low numbers for Blood Mountain and the large amounts of Fuck this band
Call of The Mastodon = Compilation.
Compilation =/= album.
I guess i’m something of a fanboy since there really isn’t a Mastodon album i dislike. That being said…
1-Leviathan
2-Crack The Skye
3-Remission
4-Call Of The Mastodon
5-Blood Mountain
Leviathan. The only Mastodon album you’ll ever need.
I don’t like any of the crap before Blood Mountain. Blood Mountain had some very good moments, but Crack the Skye may wind up being album of the year for me.
Choosing between their albums is like deciding on a favorite child, I can’t, I love them all equally. I may secretly love CTS more than the others though, it’s so good.
@ those of you that voted this band sucks. You can go ahead and remove this site from your favorites, as your input is no longer needed/valid.
I like the new album, but after I get through “The Czar” I find myself throwing Leviathan on immediately. I like my prog in small doses.
From where I see this, Mastodon Is Awesome AND Crack the Skye is thier best, in 2nd place I would put, Blood Mountain/Leviathan. SO to those who voted Mastodon Sucked do me a favor: fuck yourselves and die!
TMFQ is on the money (im tempted to say ‘as usual’, but he already mentioned eating out asses).
to those who voted for ’sucks’, i can see where youre coming from. mastodon is going the way of tool (dare i call it ‘post-metal’), which is one of my favourite things about them.
Leviathan. Was the perfect sound for the time.
Remission wins for “March of the Fire Ants” alone!
Thats their trademark “Raining Blood,” “Holy Wars,” “43% Burnt” song right there.
“Where Strides the Behemoth,” “Burning Man,” “Mother Puncher”…Remission FTW followed by Leviathan close 2nd.
Each Mastodon album, in their own right, was perfect in their own way, IMHO.
Remissions had two of my favorite Mastodon songs (Mother Puncher and Workhorse), however with each album they have perfected making great whole albums, from first track to last track listens, so I voted Crack the Skye.
Leviathan all the way. The imagery and story-telling in that one was awesome. After hearing that album I finally read Moby Dick. With the music in my head it was a great book. I keep waiting for Hollywood to remake Moby Dick as a grim, dark movie and use that as a soundtrack. I don’t suppose they ever would though.
It’s really a tough call, because I like all four albums pretty equally. However, I chose Blood Mountain because Crystal Skull is just one of the most metal things to ever metal in the music of metal.
call of the mastodon is NOT a compilation, its their first demo with their first singer remixed and remastered. i still dont count it as an album though.
leviathan > crack the skye > blood mountain / remission
The opening tracks on Leviathan and Blood Mountain are two of the best album openers in the metal genre. I think the choice is between these two albums. Although my favorite tracks are from Leviathan (I love me some Megalodon), I think Blood Mountain is more diverse. Blood Mountain will be remebered as this band’s opus.
Its too early to tell if Crack the Skye has legs. I am not thrilled about the more rock n roll direction and I can see this album getting old, especially with the hype machine in full effect (see this month’s Rollingstone article, this band is getting totally usurped by the mainstream media). Another brief rambling – does anyone else think Kylesa’s new album is the best Mastodon album in 09? Granted it takes them two drummers to do what one does in the real Mastodon.
I thought Blood Mountain was when the band finally got it all together; this is the album I can listen to all the way through and not be bored. I’m not a huge fan of the band, but I do respect their work. The thing that bugs me about Mastodon is that I have seen them live twice, and they were atrocious both times. They were monotonous and noisy, the crowd wasn’t interested, you couldn’t distinguish one song from the next. And people SLOBBER all over Mastodon’s live show in most every review I read. The only thing I can think of is that Mastodon headlined neither time, and maybe this was why their sound wasn’t on point. However, based on what I have seen, I’m not in any hurry to catch a Mastodon headlined show either.
I thought Crack the Skye was boring and short, I don’t even think I gave it a fair listen since I was so annoyed. I have to give that album another open-minded listen or two.
sorry, but i disagree with the statement that this band was spawned by the nwoahm. they were spawned by relapse, and that’s it, if you ask me.
yo! fuck you teenage my bloody valentine-listening douchebags! you wouldn’t know HEAVY if it hit you in the nuts like a WRECKING BALL! REMISSION is the heaviest, most original, singular, amazing piece of work this band has ever completed. Lifesblood? fucking warm-up. Leviathan? good not great. Blood Mountain? “hi, we’re weird and technical and sorta catchy because that’s what we’re trying to be for this major label we’re on now.” Crack The Skye? most of you TURDS probably only heard about masty when this came out!
HONESTLY, remission is the SHIT, and FUCK your dumb ass if you can’t figure that out for yourself.
@Brann
Hey, I listen to my bloody valentine!
…However you’re right. Remission is by far, their greatest work. Not to say that everything else isn’t great, but remission is just AMAZING!
GREGDOUT- Explain to me why you suck Mastodons cock and balls?
I keep posting shit on this site for someone to explain the whole Mastodon thing and I dont get it. How are they the most important band? Cause they are talented musicians? The singer is the worst. His whiny voice is terrible. Cant get through one song without being bored to death. The only song I could ever tolerate is Blood and Thunder. Tolerate is giving it a lot by the way. This band sucks and will never get my support. Chimaira ‘09
^^^
You support Chimaira, but hate Mastodon?
Get the fuck out of here, goddammit. Chimaira is generic metalcore.
crack the skye is a beautiful rock record, the best rock album since King For A Day Fool For A Lifetime.
Leviathian is their best metal album.
Their best album to date is leviathan.
The only thing that i don’t like about crack the sky is that Brann Dailor drumming on this album is very generic considering that he is one of the best metal drummers out there.
I love Leviathan and Crack the Skye equally, but for some damn reason Blood Mountain doesnt appeal to me.
And i cant figure out for myself why Remission is the best, so I guess I should “go fuck my dumb ass”.
Crack the Skye was just too watered down and poppy for my taste. The album starts off slow, has no real groove or speed, and just looses my attention after about 2 songs. Remission and Leviathan are their best in my opinion.
This band sucks. I own Blood Mountain and I’ve listened to Remission and Leviathan, and I’ve yet to hear anything worth getting excited over. Decent drummer, boring vocalist, sloppy guitar work. These guys could probably write a song, but I’ve yet to hear anything that doesn’t trip all over itself the second they start playing it.
Leviathan. Their heaviest record, and the one that introduced me to them.
I like Elephant Man but I still remain unconvinced by those who claim Last In Line is better than Holy Diver.
Why is everybody blowing this band over Crack The Skye? It’s a boring prog-rock album with awesome guitar solos. Now don’t get me wrong, i LOVE the ‘don, and i was on their official forum every day for a month before the release hunting for info and music, but this record just plain blows and everybody is sucking them off anyway cause their last 3 albums were all fucking amazing.
Long story short: in future people will see Crack The Skye as Mastodon’s version of Load.
What AUSSIE LEE said.
Crack the Skye is a fucking great album, I really dont understand where the haters are coming from.
I voted this band sucks? Why? It’s the only option available. I’ve seen this band live and listened to some of their albums. It’s not bad, but not for me.
I can’t stand Crack the Skye. I don’t get the big deal about it. Its half-assed prog rock with shitty Ozzy Osbourne styled vocals. Seriously, he sounds like Ozzy when he sings and I hate Ozzy’s voice. Its grating and has no musical value what so ever.
That being said, I love Remission and Leviathan equally, but if I had to choose, I’d go with Leviathan because of the concept of it. Its hard to pull off a concept album period for the most part, but to do it so early in their career and do such a great job is awesome.
Leviathan, at the end of the day, is more well-rounded record than Crack the Skye. Crack the Skye is tremendous, but it doesn’t have any real bone-crusher songs. Oh, there are heavy, heavy moments. But no “Iron Tusk.”
Crack the Skye, as a couple people have pointed out, is more a classic/prog-rock record than a full-on metal piece. And that’s not a bad thing.
I think there’s a tendency to like whatever’s newer as The Best. After Leviathan ruled, everybody got in line to blow their load over Blood Mountain. But a couple years later — as the votes suggest — it’s not aging so well.
“I keep waiting for Hollywood to remake Moby Dick as a grim, dark movie and use that as a soundtrack. I don’t suppose they ever would though.”
That would be cool as shit, im all about that.
Remisson is my favorite, heavy as all get out.
Then Leviathan, Then Blood Mountain.
I like the new album but for different reasons, it doesnt seem like critiquing the same band to me…. I do love it though.
@Ray Ray gtfo… your gonna call out mastodon and then brag about liking chimera?
seriously gtfo with that.
I think it’s hilarious that it’s cool to hate on Mastodon now. They were the underdogs with Blood Mountain.
Choosing my favorite Mastodon album has, thus far, been the most difficult decision I have had to make all day. After much deliberation, I’m voting for Leviathan.
Remission is the least popular?! You’re all on crack.
Seriously. Remission is in last place. Have you guys heard that album. Miles ahead of Blood Mountain. March of the Fire Ants, Where Strides the Behemoth, Crusher Destroyer…Either you guys are seriously ill informed or are crazy.
I like Crack the Skye because it seems a lot more personal, even though it’s difficult to wade through all the hoodoo metaphysical shit to get there. Not more than Leviathan or Remission though. Blood Mountain I just can’t get into, really.
Jimmy- You obviously have no clue about any of Chimaira’s music you fucking idiot. Hardly an obvious breakdown to be found and no clean singing whatsoever. Plus Rob Arnold is one of the top guitarists in Metal. Dont make dumb comments unless you know what you are talking about. So GO Fuck yourself.
I love everything Mastodon does. I say Blood Mountain and Crack The Skye are tied at their best. Then Leviathan, then Remission.
I would have to go: Leviathan, Blood Mountain, Crack The Skye, Remission. I only love a couple of the songs on Remission and Crack The Skye, although amazing, lacks the heavy riffs of Leviathan and Blood Mountain. I like the recording of Blood Mountain better, but Leviathan as a whole is better. I love this band!
1. Blood Mountain
2. Leviathan
3. Crack the Skye
4. Remission
that would be my list. Blood Mountain is probably my most-heard record and I’m still enjoying it every time I listen to it.
Crack The Skye is the album I’ve been waiting for out of Mastodon. Leviathan and Blood Mountain are still among my favorites but “Crack” is a complete album from start to finish where their other offerings I thought were a little more all over the map. “Crack” has a steady, constant vibe all the way throughout. Blood and Thunder is still one of the best metal songs of all time along with the clown video. Just awesome.
The best Mastodon album is the one that loops endlessly in my head everyday.
To that Dude Mike,
You must not be a true metalhead if you think their previous work(Remission, Leviathan) aren’t good.
Remission & Leviathan are my all time favorites! I can’t decide which one to pick between the two. I love them both equally.
Anyone else notice that Mastodon is a band that it’s “alright to like,” even if you aren’t into metal? For example, hipster elitists like those over at Pitchfork dig Mastodon and slobber all over every release they have put out, but will barely REVIEW anything else remotely heavy (and forget about PRAISING anything else hard or heavy…completely out of the question). I will meet people who aren’t into metal, but will chime in, “but I do like Mastodon,” yet if I suggest anything else metal that isn’t Pitchfork approved (which is basically anything non-Mastodon), they won’t give it a chance. :/
Leviathan all the way. Oh, and everyone, dont forget livesblood, their old old stuff. Its an ep with some GREAT shit. made before remission.
ive listened to crack 3 times. I find it kind of cheesy. the vocals, themes etc. I dont see why the czar has to be 10 fucking minutes. that song sucks. the album is flat, and feels forced. I dont think theyve”sold out” or anything, but seeing as I favor fear factory over queens of the stone age, this CD would not fit me…oh well, i still like them.
I listened to Crack last night…
Why do I get the feeling that Atlantic(the used-to-be-cool label)told them:
“Less screaming=More sales, Baby”
There certainly aren’t any ‘March Of The Fire Ants’ or ‘Mother Puncher’ Depends blowing-out masterpieces on it; So I’m bummed.
BTW: Pitchfork is about as Metal as Britney Spear’s liver.
I hope bad things happen in real life to the people who voted for Crack the Skye
I hope when you go to the grocery store and ask for ham they give you head cheese.
gosh this is hard to say but its a toss up between bloodmountain and crack the sky. the czar is one trippy bad ass song. the dvd that came with it fucking kicks ass . brilliant band.
I love this band. I really do! I love all their albums. But you cannot tell me that Blood Mountain & Crack the Skye are better than Remission & Leviathan. Both Remission & Blood Mountain are pretty much classic status where Blood Mountain & Crack the Skye are good! There is no convincing me otherwise. I’m sorry.
I feel like I’m in bizarro world.
Remission is by far their best album.
Leviathan?!?!?!?!!? zzZzzzZZZZZzzz