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New Shit

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT “CURL OF THE BURL” MEANS, BUT I KNOW I LIKE THIS NEW MASTODON SONG

 Monday, August 15th, 2011 at 10:00am by

“Curl of the Burl,” the new single from Mastodon’s upcoming The Hunter, is now available for streaming (below). When combined with “Black Tongue,” the first song the band released from the album, one starts to get a real sense of what this Mastoffering is gonna sound like — a natural extension of Crack the Skye’s classic prog-rock goodness.

That’s not surprising, and neither is this — both songs are really good, and suggest that Mastodon have stuck the landing yet again.

The Hunter will be out September 27 via Reprise. “Curl of the Burl” will be available for digital purchase tomorrow.

-AR

Thanks: Joe Caperon

Tags: ,
  • http://twitter.com/heebkike Tzvi Mandelbaum

    Fuck. YES.

  • http://twitter.com/heebkike Tzvi Mandelbaum

    Fuck. YES.

  • http://theheaviestmatteroftheuniverse.com Jordan Munson

    I wasn’t really crazy over Crack The Skye. but the first two songs from The Hunter have both been pretty fantastical.

  • http://theheaviestmatteroftheuniverse.com Jordan Munson

    I wasn’t really crazy over Crack The Skye. but the first two songs from The Hunter have both been pretty fantastical.

  • A Doomsword fan

    Oh man,more Mastodon worship. When will it end?

  • A Doomsword fan

    Oh man,more Mastodon worship. When will it end?

  • A Doomsword fan

    Oh man,more Mastodon worship. When will it end?

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=520503461 Josh Kruk

      youre the guy who walks into a party where everyones having fun and says “this party’s beat, man”  

      • Dirtman73

        The party was beat looooong before he showed up.

      • Dirtman73

        The party was beat looooong before he showed up.

      • Dirtman73

        The party was beat looooong before he showed up.

      • What not

        Haha!
        I’m tired of all the god damn whiners. If you don’t like it, ignore it!

  • CrestalMyth

    Does he say “I feed the baroness” at about 1:50?  Seems fitting, with the similarities constantly being drawn between Mastodon and Baroness.

    • cvhar

      no suprise since baroness  are a total rip-off of mastodon

      • Ben52192

        baroness doesn’t sound anything like mastodon…

      • Ben52192

        baroness doesn’t sound anything like mastodon…

        • Gipson

           I think the comparisons are fair. The sludgy shout/holler vocals can be pretty similar, and the general guitar tone/riffage seem in the same wheelhouse. However, these are GOOD comparisons.

        • Gipson

           I think the comparisons are fair. The sludgy shout/holler vocals can be pretty similar, and the general guitar tone/riffage seem in the same wheelhouse. However, these are GOOD comparisons.

        • Gipson

           I think the comparisons are fair. The sludgy shout/holler vocals can be pretty similar, and the general guitar tone/riffage seem in the same wheelhouse. However, these are GOOD comparisons.

      • Ben52192

        baroness doesn’t sound anything like mastodon…

      • Gipson

         Uh, they’re pretty different. I’m not surprised by the comparisons – I’ve made them myself – but “rip-off” has a negative connotation that Baroness simply doesn’t deserve. Both bands are great and stand entirely on their own merits.

      • Gipson

         Uh, they’re pretty different. I’m not surprised by the comparisons – I’ve made them myself – but “rip-off” has a negative connotation that Baroness simply doesn’t deserve. Both bands are great and stand entirely on their own merits.

    • cvhar

      no suprise since baroness  are a total rip-off of mastodon

    • CustardPie

      I think it’s “I feed the powerless”

    • CustardPie

      I think it’s “I feed the powerless”

  • guy

    great song even if they’ll never pull these vocals off live.

  • guy

    great song even if they’ll never pull these vocals off live.

    • Seth

      Yeah, the “You don’t go to a Mastodon show for vocals” argument is thrown out the window when they record vocals they won’t even be close to live.

      • Damotello

         They seem to placing the focus a lot more on the music then they used to as well. I really like the two songs we’ve heard off ‘The Hunter’ so far – more so then anything on CTS actually – but it’s probably gonna sound pretty painful live.

    • Seth

      Yeah, the “You don’t go to a Mastodon show for vocals” argument is thrown out the window when they record vocals they won’t even be close to live.

  • http://www.facebook.com/rob.lafleur1 Rob Lafleur

    love it.

    in before the hate.

  • Anonymous

    Sounds awesome. Kind of poppy at times, but I dig it.

  • Anonymous

    Sounds awesome. Kind of poppy at times, but I dig it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Cody-Daniels/100001195514529 Cody Daniels

    ima huge huge mastodon fan but i was disappointed with this.  i liked black tongue so hopefully the rest of the album will be more like that.  this seemed lazy and repetitive. 

  • Sir Peras

    After hearing this, IMO they are getting closer to pulling a “Black Album”, nothing against that though, can´t wait for the whole album to come out.

  • Sir Peras

    After hearing this, IMO they are getting closer to pulling a “Black Album”, nothing against that though, can´t wait for the whole album to come out.

  • Anonymous

    Huge Mastodon fan, but this really feels like they are just going through the motions. Nothing interesting about the song structure, never gets going.

  • Tim

    “Burl” is a type of figuring seen in wood sometimes.

  • Wayn

    It’s different, but I’m digging it – even with being “different,” it still sounds like Mastodon.

  • Wayn

    It’s different, but I’m digging it – even with being “different,” it still sounds like Mastodon.

  • Wayn

    It’s different, but I’m digging it – even with being “different,” it still sounds like Mastodon.

  • Strapping Young Lad!

    This sounds alright. Nothing mind blowing. Sounds better than most of the crap you hear on the radio I guess!

  • Strapping Young Lad!

    This sounds alright. Nothing mind blowing. Sounds better than most of the crap you hear on the radio I guess!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=520503461 Josh Kruk

    Love the groove on this one.  Does anyone else get a Melvins vibe with the opening riff? 

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=520503461 Josh Kruk

    Love the groove on this one.  Does anyone else get a Melvins vibe with the opening riff? 

    • Dred Furst

      I got a Melvins vibe throughout most of the song. You just need Buzz to sing on it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=520503461 Josh Kruk

    Love the groove on this one.  Does anyone else get a Melvins vibe with the opening riff? 

  • OBEY1019

    It feels like this band is just getting boring…both black tongue and this song just kind of give me no feeling when I listen.

  • OBEY1019

    It feels like this band is just getting boring…both black tongue and this song just kind of give me no feeling when I listen.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/TacticOgre TacticOgre

    I liked Black Tongue much more. This still ain’t bad, though.

  • http://twitter.com/thejamminjabber thejamminjabber

    Is the first line, “I killed a man because he killed my goat?” Seriously?

    • Whoabro

      Yeah, seriously.

      It’s Mastodon, they do whatever the hell they want.

    • Whoabro

      Yeah, seriously.

      It’s Mastodon, they do whatever the hell they want.

    • http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com Alkahest

      I enjoyed the song even more once I figured out that that’s what it said.

    • karera

      this comment cracked me up, hilarious. and i agree. mastodon can do whatever they fucking want. because they are mastodon.

  • http://twitter.com/thejamminjabber thejamminjabber

    Is the first line, “I killed a man because he killed my goat?” Seriously?

  • metalhead616

    clicked the  song…and did something else. good for between, nothing special to remember.  hope it gets better… not that slow

  • metalhead616

    clicked the  song…and did something else. good for between, nothing special to remember.  hope it gets better… not that slow

  • dlj

    Not bad. Not great, but not bad.

  • dlj

    Not bad. Not great, but not bad.

  • dlj

    Not bad. Not great. I want to hear the album in its entirety.

  • http://twitter.com/ArtDamage Richard

    In no way was I ready for how good this is.

  • Kazz

    Ok there’s now officially no reason why Mastodon shouldnt get played a ton on the radio. And I don’t mean that as an insult. Just that this song is catchy and fun, not super heavy and about 80 matrillion times better than almost anything that gets played on rock radio.

  • Kazz

    Ok there’s now officially no reason why Mastodon shouldnt get played a ton on the radio. And I don’t mean that as an insult. Just that this song is catchy and fun, not super heavy and about 80 matrillion times better than almost anything that gets played on rock radio.

  • steve

    this is god awful, how can people say its “still mastodon”. lifesblood was mastodon, remission was mastodon, most of leviathan was mastodon, the spastic drumming violent riffs/vocals back when they actually had something going for themselves that was fresh.

    • Dred Furst

      God forbid a band change it up and try to do something they want to do.

      • steve

        thats all fine and dandy but changing the name would have been the first step if they didnt feel like making heavy records anymore not desecrating and alienating the fans that were there from the start

        • Danzig with the Stars

          Everyone should just rerecord calculating infinity.  They can reissue Remission in 2012. These songs sound like growth to me.

        • gabe

          I’m sure Mastodon doesn’t give a sh** what you think Steve.

          • steve

            im 100 percent positive they dont cause it wont bring them in that cash like this radio butt rock will.

          • Nigbot

            Will probs bring in more money than any of us will have.
            Wait until the rest of the album is released idiot. It isn’t the best I’ve heard from Mastodon but it’s still pretty cool.

        • gabe

          I’m sure Mastodon doesn’t give a sh** what you think Steve.

        • http://twitter.com/CMCFEE Tommy Myrvang

          So, Metallica should’ve changed name when they released Black Album? And St.Anger? Fuel, etc? System of a Down should’ve changed name when they dared themselves into something new with Mezmerize and Hypnotize? 

          You sound like a narrowsighted norwegian blackmetal dude >,<

          • Cuntnugget

            Hey, don’t knock us Norwegians!

          • Cuntnugget

            Hey, don’t knock us Norwegians!

          • Vrle

            Agree, Metallica should have changed name before they released Load, that album was just load of ….. I like the new Mastodon on the other hand :) It sounds like they continued the constant growth of the band. Good for them.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Джефф-Лебовски/100001824325377 Джефф Лебовски

         sorry, Queens of the Stone Age name is already taken.

  • steve

    this is god awful, how can people say its “still mastodon”. lifesblood was mastodon, remission was mastodon, most of leviathan was mastodon, the spastic drumming violent riffs/vocals back when they actually had something going for themselves that was fresh.

  • steve

    this is god awful, how can people say its “still mastodon”. lifesblood was mastodon, remission was mastodon, most of leviathan was mastodon, the spastic drumming violent riffs/vocals back when they actually had something going for themselves that was fresh.

  • Mark D

    Song is just whatever for me. I don’t feel that Mastodon progressiveness in this track or anything heavy for the matter. Track just sounds like a generic rock song. Hoping this album is at least “Crack the Skye” good.

  • chris

    It sounds like a B-side track from a Black Sabbath album.  

  • yeah brah

    That “stoner metal” vibe has always been a part of Mastodon’s sound. I think it’s great that they’re bringing it back into full view.

  • Shocktroop

    love the guitar tone on this. very sludgy. very southern sounding. 

  • Shocktroop

    love the guitar tone on this. very sludgy. very southern sounding. 

  • Gipson

    Finally got around to listening to it. The “metal”-ness of it is suspect, but no doubt that track is catchy as fuck.

  • Gipson

    Finally got around to listening to it. The “metal”-ness of it is suspect, but no doubt that track is catchy as fuck.

  • Shocktroop

    this sounds like an electric wizard song. 

    …. and if it was nobody would be ripping it. but since its mastodon and they’re huge now all the metal hipsters have to act like its not as good as their old shit

    • Erik

      This sounds nothing like an electric wizard song

    • Poo_Scented

      Either you have hearing problems, or you’re missing some punctuation to make this make sense.

  • McThulhu

    Really heavy, though very radio friendly. They are kind of going down Rush’s path, nerdy but heavy and then progressive but radio friendly.

  • Jmcmak

    total queens of the stone age rip-off

  • Igottawocket

    I totally dig. It’s very different, just as Black Tongue was, but when had Mastodon released an album and it hasn’t been different from what preceded it? From the two tracks I’ve heard from this album it sounds as though Mastodon made this huge epic of an album (CtS is easily one of the best records by anyone ever) and wanted to go the opposite way– make something fun, ripping, and a blast to play live that wouldn’t demand what CtS did to play every night. And that’s awesome– have fun with music you’re making, novel concept.

    And all those who can’t get over Remission– move the fuck on. Mastodon has never been a band that has aspired to be stagnant and constantly make the same thing and they deserve major props for that.

    • Igottawocket

      Also it’s catchy as shit. I’m already humming to it and I listened to it once. And that’s not a bad thing.

      • AK11

        You hit the nail on the head. They wouldn’t make a masterful record like CtS if they went into it thinking about what everyone wants to hear.

        Cool song. I’d like to hear it in context with the rest of the album.

    • Igottawocket

      Also it’s catchy as shit. I’m already humming to it and I listened to it once. And that’s not a bad thing.

    • Igottawocket

      Also it’s catchy as shit. I’m already humming to it and I listened to it once. And that’s not a bad thing.

    • Igottawocket

      Also it’s catchy as shit. I’m already humming to it and I listened to it once. And that’s not a bad thing.

  • B-dizzle

    They need to get the fuck out of here with those vocals

  • B-dizzle

    They need to get the fuck out of here with those vocals

  • skhayden94

    Black Tongue was much better. If I didn’t know it was Mastodon before listening to it, I’d never be able to tell you who it was – unlike most, if not all, of their other songs. I like it but it’s very different.

  • Hessian_smoke_wizard

    it’s sounded awesome. can not wait for the new album. m/ m/

  • Kuranes

    I like it.

  • Wcifer

    sounds more like the foo fighters than metal

  • Wcifer

    sounds more like the foo fighters than metal

    • Stu1

      Queens of the Stone Age

    • Stu1

      Queens of the Stone Age

  • Wcifer

    sounds more like the foo fighters than metal

  • Bastard Samurai

    Incredibly catchy tune, I like it better than Black Tongue, but feels a bit overproduced to me (or simply I’ve listened to too much dirty sludge lately).
    I won’t be expecting face-melting heaviness from The Hunter then.

  • Bastard Samurai

    Incredibly catchy tune, I like it better than Black Tongue, but feels a bit overproduced to me (or simply I’ve listened to too much dirty sludge lately).
    I won’t be expecting face-melting heaviness from The Hunter then.

  • Andrew

    Mastodon: Still boring and bad.

  • Andrew

    Mastodon: Still boring and bad.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Callahan/780594656 Mike Callahan

    Always good to see a band mature in a truly progressive fashion.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Callahan/780594656 Mike Callahan

    Always good to see a band mature in a truly progressive fashion.

  • mako

    Pretty good. Any one else think the ‘oh woah-woah’ parts were only thrown in to sing along to live? That, and the harmonised guitars on Black Tongue gives the new songs an Iron Maiden vibe. 

  • mako

    Pretty good. Any one else think the ‘oh woah-woah’ parts were only thrown in to sing along to live? That, and the harmonised guitars on Black Tongue gives the new songs an Iron Maiden vibe. 

  • WSH7

    Jeez…I hate to be this guy, but this sounds like horseshit (and I actually liked Blood Mountain). I’m not sure why they moved away from melodic proggy sludge but I am not digging this new direction. I thought that it couldn’t get any worse than Crack the
    Skye…but I was wrong. I miss the mystery that Mastodon used to portray in the music and lyrics, the nod to retro production and work ethic. Now it just seems like they are making a classic metal rip off. I love me some old Mastodon…but I may abandon them soon enough.

    • Hipoofdoom

      well it appears you definitely are “that guy”. Yes mastodons early stuff is fantastic but whats been great about this band is how they progress, mastodon just wanted to make an easy fun album, as i musician i cant even imagine the amount of work that has had to go into their previous albums so they’ve changed their shit up again and it sounds great so if you wanna abandon them i think you should maybe wait until oh i dont know the ACTUAL album comes out.

      • Andrew

        Mastodon was never good.

    • Hipoofdoom

      well it appears you definitely are “that guy”. Yes mastodons early stuff is fantastic but whats been great about this band is how they progress, mastodon just wanted to make an easy fun album, as i musician i cant even imagine the amount of work that has had to go into their previous albums so they’ve changed their shit up again and it sounds great so if you wanna abandon them i think you should maybe wait until oh i dont know the ACTUAL album comes out.

    • Gnarlesbarkleysrottingtupe

      >i actually liked Blood Mountain

      Blood Mountain was considered bad?
      Thats it, I quit metal…

    • Gnarlesbarkleysrottingtupe

      >i actually liked Blood Mountain

      Blood Mountain was considered bad?
      Thats it, I quit metal…

  • WSH7

    Jeez…I hate to be this guy, but this sounds like horseshit (and I actually liked Blood Mountain). I’m not sure why they moved away from melodic proggy sludge but I am not digging this new direction. I thought that it couldn’t get any worse than Crack the
    Skye…but I was wrong. I miss the mystery that Mastodon used to portray in the music and lyrics, the nod to retro production and work ethic. Now it just seems like they are making a classic metal rip off. I love me some old Mastodon…but I may abandon them soon enough.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Corey-Mitchell/660352330 Corey Mitchell

    I prefer American Heritage to Mastodon these days. By far.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Corey-Mitchell/660352330 Corey Mitchell

    I prefer American Heritage to Mastodon these days. By far.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Corey-Mitchell/660352330 Corey Mitchell

    I prefer American Heritage to Mastodon these days. By far.

    • JM

      Definitely. AH kicks ass and Mastodon sounds more and more like radio rock.

      • Andrew

        Mastodon is radio rock now.

    • JM

      Definitely. AH kicks ass and Mastodon sounds more and more like radio rock.

    • JM

      Definitely. AH kicks ass and Mastodon sounds more and more like radio rock.

  • Pesely

    to be fair, Brann said they wrote the music for this in about 15 minutes. they wanted to make a cock rock song. its groovy as fuck. 9/27/11.

  • Pesely

    to be fair, Brann said they wrote the music for this in about 15 minutes. they wanted to make a cock rock song. its groovy as fuck. 9/27/11.

  • Guest

    Can’t remake ‘Remission’ a hundred times. More power to ‘em, I guess.
    I can only imagine how horrible these vocals are going to sound live though.

  • Guest

    Can’t remake ‘Remission’ a hundred times. More power to ‘em, I guess.
    I can only imagine how horrible these vocals are going to sound live though.

  • Guest

    Can’t remake ‘Remission’ a hundred times. More power to ‘em, I guess.
    I can only imagine how horrible these vocals are going to sound live though.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1552397263 Erik Emrick

    This Sucks. This band is dead, and buried. Moving on.

    • Maverickmrb

      And whys that? Because they are one of the very few bands who enjoy to keep their sound fresh and recognizable? If you want ‘Remission’ over and over again then you’re s**t outta luck. Go listen to Throwdown if you want the same thing over and over again.

      • Andrew

        Keeping their sound fresh =/= releasing radio rock.

    • Maverickmrb

      And whys that? Because they are one of the very few bands who enjoy to keep their sound fresh and recognizable? If you want ‘Remission’ over and over again then you’re s**t outta luck. Go listen to Throwdown if you want the same thing over and over again.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1552397263 Erik Emrick

    This Sucks. This band is dead, and buried. Moving on.

  • Derek451

    They have jumped the shark.

    • Jeff_thundercunt

      You mean The leviathan

    • Jeff_thundercunt

      You mean The leviathan

  • Derek451

    They have jumped the shark.

  • Vlad

    oops, second song, second meh… should I be Worried?

  • Vlad

    oops, second song, second meh… should I be Worried?

  • Vlad

    oops, second song, second meh… should I be Worried?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1041597229 Mike Lawson

     I dig it. Almost more then anything off of CtS

  • MrSplatterPlatter

    ehh….these songs are just not clicking with me. :/

  • Iamdisappoint

    Well, this is disappointing. I’m all for a band continuing to progress their sound, and trying new things, but there is nothing to grab onto here. I’ve enjoyed each of their previous albums a great deal, but between this and ‘Black Tongue’, I’m not particularly stoked about this record. Long gone is the excitement that was tangible and abundant on records like ‘Remission’ and ‘Leviathan’.

  • Iamdisappoint

    Well, this is disappointing. I’m all for a band continuing to progress their sound, and trying new things, but there is nothing to grab onto here. I’ve enjoyed each of their previous albums a great deal, but between this and ‘Black Tongue’, I’m not particularly stoked about this record. Long gone is the excitement that was tangible and abundant on records like ‘Remission’ and ‘Leviathan’.

  • TheHardG

    i see all these comments about radio and how they should keep making the same sounding album as remission and all that shit,what the fuck is wrong with you close minded ignorant fuckers? seriously folks this song may be a bit catchy but i guaranfuckintee you guys you wont see Mastodon on tour with codsmack or shitsturbed or any of that other weak ass buttrock,just because a band changes shit up people have to call them sellouts and all that shit because they are jealous of how damn good the band is,so my advice to all of the haters of bands that dont make the same album over and over is pick up an instrument, make a kickass album and take over the fucking world. no takers? thats what I thought,you bunch of fuckin pussies

  • TheHardG

    i see all these comments about radio and how they should keep making the same sounding album as remission and all that shit,what the fuck is wrong with you close minded ignorant fuckers? seriously folks this song may be a bit catchy but i guaranfuckintee you guys you wont see Mastodon on tour with codsmack or shitsturbed or any of that other weak ass buttrock,just because a band changes shit up people have to call them sellouts and all that shit because they are jealous of how damn good the band is,so my advice to all of the haters of bands that dont make the same album over and over is pick up an instrument, make a kickass album and take over the fucking world. no takers? thats what I thought,you bunch of fuckin pussies

  • Digi V

    Its’ funny how every time an established band gets older and starts putting out more melodic and catchy tunes you’ll get those fans complaining it’s no longer the same band and yet it sounds exactly like the same band only older…. seriously, shut the fuck up already. 

    I don’t want the guys i go to for pure brutal shit to be approaching their fuckign 40′s.. they’d look so goddamn dumb trying to out brutalize a bunch of 20 year olds. 

  • Anonymous

    Really, what the hell is curl of the burl? I guess who cares when the music is this good, these guys are on another level.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Bill-Nachtigall-Jr/1605709087 Bill Nachtigall Jr

    Who knew a bunch of metal heads were so whiny??  Bunch of you fags need to wipe up  your tears and move on if Mastodon doesn’t fit your particular musical tastes anymore. 

  • NeutronBomb

    First thing I thought of was Deliverance-era Corrosion of Conformity…which isn’t a bad thing

  • NeutronBomb

    First thing I thought of was Deliverance-era Corrosion of Conformity…which isn’t a bad thing

  • NeutronBomb

    First thing I thought of was Deliverance-era Corrosion of Conformity…which isn’t a bad thing

  • Csantos

    fuck it. i like it.

  • Csantos

    fuck it. i like it.

  • Anonymous

    Come on guys.  Relax.  It’s just the curl of the burl.  Oh oh.  Oh oh oh.

  • Poriah Strait

    I cant stand the song and its a total ozzy sound steal and i never could stand ozzy. I turn off Octane every time this song comes on.