Since Mastodon’s new album The Hunter came out earlier this week it seems like a good time to share two very interesting tidbits regarding the album.

First up we’ve got a “remix” of “Curl of the Burl.” Umm… yeah, let’s call it a remix! I can’t say where I obtained this very special track for fear of castration, but man, it’s great. Click to stream:

Mastodon – “Curling Your Burling”

Next up we have a tip from reader “inhumanrampager,” who claims to have discovered striking similarities between the intros of Hunter track “Creature Lives” and the old Steve Miller Band classic “Threshold / Jet Airliner.” Listening to these two intros side by side, I can’t disagree with Mr. Rampager; knowing the Mastodudes love classic rock as they do makes the idea of this being an intentional “tribute” even more likely. Take a listen and see what you think:

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Last time we spoke with a member of Mastodon was when we interviewed Troy Sanders in person on the Rockstar Mayhem Tour in 2008. It was our biggest interview to date, and we were a bit starstruck. MetalSucks has grown leaps and bounds since then, and Mastodon have too; they’ve toured the world several times over and become without a doubt one of the biggest metal bands on the planet. This Mastodon interview session’s subject was guitarist Bill Kelliher; having now interviewed a number of my heros I wasn’t nervous like I was back in ’08, but it’s always a pleasure to speak with someone whose art you respect so much.

When I’m connected with Bill he’s cruising around Atlanta in his ’64 Pontiac Catalina “because it’s a beautiful day.” Doing nothing seems to be Bill’s preferred activity when he’s not on the road, which doesn’t happen much these days with Mastodon’s busy schedule. After his cruise and our interview, Bill was planning on a quiet night at home with the family: “I’ve got 2 little boys and usually it’s a birthday party or something that we’ve got planned – dinner parties or whatever. It’s always something. My wife and I are just like ‘let’s have a night to do nothing tonight.’ Sit on the couch maybe and watch a movie with the boys.” With Mastodon’s new album The Hunter coming out on September 27th and a headline tour with The Dillinger Escape Plan and Red Fang following shortly thereafter, Bill better squeeze in these nights while he still can.

The Hunter takes Mastodon in a different direction than their past two magnus opuses (opii?). None of the record’s songs are over 5 minutes long. According to Kelliher, the band just “dumped out [their] bag of riffs” and assembled them into songs that worked without worrying about a grandiose concept. “Can we just write a record and have fun and not have to have all these crazy stories and imagery? Can we do without that on this record?” Indeed they can and indeed they have. Kelliher’s thoughts on that and more after the jump.

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HUGE drop of new releases this week including much-anticipated new records from Mastodon and Machine Head, as well as a ton of excellent other stuff from Craft, Dead In The Dirt, Landmine Marathon and more. My release reviews are a bit shorter than usual just due to the sheer volume of material coming out this week, but I think I covered most points of interest. Check it out after the jump.  On a side note, Metalsucks wants to send a birthday shout-out to Rodney Githens, member of Vertebrae 33 and the artist behind the awesome Metal Suckfest poster.  Have a good one, dude.

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Vince and I saw Opeth and Katatonia last night, but the song that was stuck in Vince’s head the entire evening — the song which he kept singing over and over and over again — wasn’t “The Devil’s Orchard.” It was “Curl of the Burl,” which, as you no doubt are aware by now, is the second track off of Mastodon’s latest, The Hunter (streaming here). In fact, I’d posit that one of The Hunter‘s greatest faults — besides the fact that there’s no way in heck the band is gonna be able to pull off the vocals live, of course — is that “Burl” and the song which immediately precedes it, “Black Tongue,” are the best songs on the record. That’s not to say that the rest of the album isn’t good — it’s very good — it’s just to say that I think they blow their wad a little early on this one.

ANYWAY, “Curl of the Burl” now has a video, which you can check out below. And, yes, it does continue the tradition of Mastodon having totally awesome videos. Seriously, somebody just give this band one of those stupid MTV VMA Lifetime Achievement awards already.

The Hunter comes out September 27 on Reprise/Warner Bros.

-AR

Yep. Here it is:

As of this writing, I’ve only had a chance to listen The Hunter all the way through once, but here are my initial impressions (and it’s worth noting that, as always, I am speaking for myself and only myself, and not anyone else at MetalSucks):

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Speaking of supergroups that might actually be super…

Back in June, Mastodon’s Brent Hinds revealed that he was working on a new project with Ben Weinman (The Dillinger Escape Plan), Eric Avery (ex-Jane’s Addiction), and Thomas Pridgen (The Mars Volta) — which certainly sounds like a line-up worth getting all hot n’ bothered over. Of course, that’s four very successful dudes who all have their own stuff going on, and so, as Hinds put it, “it’s been hard to get together.”

But now it looks like there may be some progress being made! Writing on DEP’s official website over the weekend, Weinman dished the following info:

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Say! Have you ever wanted to be able to look at your computer monitor and see yourself as some kind of freaky animal thinger? Like, for example, the freaky animal thinger on the cover of the new Mastodon album, The Hunter? Of course you have! I mean, who hasn’t?!? Amiriteoramiriteoramirite?

Well, hey, guess what? I have GREAT NEWS for you. Physical copies of The Hunter will allow you to do just that! Seriously! I’m not teasing! Check out the video below if you don’t believe me.

And the best part is, there’s absolutely no chance that this is only going to be cool for thirty seconds and then immediately lose all its novelty value! You could definitely just sit in front of your computer for hours and hours and hours, seeing the head of the thing from The Hunter cover on your own head, and it would be totally fun, productive, and relatable use of your time! Yep. Totally worth it.

The Hunter comes out September 27 via Reprise.

-AR

[via The PRP]

Few records could be as intrinsically polarizing as Anthrax’s Worship Music, the thirteen-song set whose release tomorrow ends a maddening period of band tumult while launching a new era with singer Joey Belladonna. It’s an album with history, having been completed with a new vocalist, imperiled by the new vocalist, shelved, shuffled, completed again by Belladonna and producer Jay Ruston, and now, at least, unveiled for the world to hear. In other words, Worship Music has arrived with baggage; how much of it will fit in your trunk?

Representing at least two attitudes toward Anthrax 2011, our MetalSucks official roundtable review of Worship Music is co-authored by a John Bush era devotee (MS Co-Editor-In-Chief Axl Rosenberg) and a long-suffering Belladonna booster (MS Senior Editor Anso DF). On the fence about Worship Music? Sick of one-sided, insight-free criticism? Bemused by the way MetalSucks disagrees with itself? Then join Axl and Anso as they grapple with the meaning of this year’s most dangerous album.

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Fall has become the de-facto touring high season for metal bands in the U.S. Aside from a small handful of medium-sized tours, there’s rarely much to go see during the summer: bands spend May, June, and part of July touring the European festival circuit, and no one wants to compete with the big package tours like Mayhem and Warped during July and August. By the time September rolls around bands are chomping at the bit to hit the road, and this year is no different. Holy shit. So many shows. I’m overwhelmed. First World Problems.

To start: Arch Enemy, Anthrax, Opeth, Periphery, Enslaved, Kvelertak, Immolation, Dream Theater, Firewind, Devin Townsend, The Atlas Moth, Warbringer and Decapitated are all out now or about to head out. Those are only the headliners, and those are only the dates I actually bothered to put into my calendar or can remember off the top of my head. To say nothing of our very own Metal Suckfest, 3 days of madness. Add this blockbuster bill to the list: Mastodon, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Red Fang. The fall touring season just got that much more awesomer. Full list of dates, via The PRP, after the jump:

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I meant to remind you guys yesterday but I’m a dick so I forgot — Arch Enemy’s North American Khaos Tour, which we here at MetalSucks are very proudly co-presenting, is now underway! I’ve been trying to find fan-filmed footage from last night’s kickoff show in Baltimore to no avail, but I hear the concert was great… which is really no shock. Especially given that the three support bands — DevilDriver, Skeletonwitch, and Chthonic — are all as much fun as Arch Enemy! You can get dates here. If anyone is gonna be at the NYC show tonight, come find us. I’ll be the really, really not-sober guy in the back screaming for them to play “Savage Messiah” over and over again.

Now, here’s some stuff we did this week:

• We debuted new music from Black Cobra.
• We also debuted an outtake from the movie Hesher and a clip from Fantomas’ new live DVD.
• We spoke to Charlie Benante from Anthrax and Avi Kulawy from Magrudergrind.
• We checked out the latest releases from Brutal Truth, Wolves in the Throne Room,and Bloodsoaked.
• We debated the merits of new songs from Mastodon, Opeth, and Megadeth.
• We launched The Third Annual “Run MetalSucks for a Day” contest.
• Vince listed “The Top Fifteen Reasons Metallica are the Yankees of Metal,” and then The Austerity Program’s Justin Foley offered a retort.
• We fucked Bret Michaels in the motherfucking eye.
• We voted for Sergeant D.’s acoustic cover of The Acacia Strain.
• We almost had to kill a puppy.

And, oh hey, did we mention that tickets for The Metal Suckfest are on sale now? We did? Okay, swell!

Have a good weekend, y’all. See ya Monday.

-AR

September 27 is the biggest metal release date of the fall, quite possibly all of 2011: Mastodon, Machine Head, Dream Theater, Textures, Warbringer and Rwake top an excellent slate of new records that’ll leave metalheads scraping for pennies under their couch cushions. Listening to all those new releases at once is gonna be a chore, but hey, there are worse problems to have. A total First World Problem.

Mastodon have made September 27th’s listening marathon one song lighter by releasing another track from The Hunter over the weekend, the third they’ve put out so far. “Spectrelight” should give old-school Mastodon fans cause to celebrate; this song is all about the mosh and the big, burly riffs and leaves the band’s recent shift towards the progressive behind (for now). I can already see this jam nicely sliding into the band’s live setlist right after “Blood & Thunder,” keeping audience energy to the max.

“Curl the Burl” and “Black Tongue” are the other two songs to be released so far from The Hunter; check ‘em out, then tell us how you think “Spectrelight” compares.

-VN

Thanks: Joe Caperon, Mr. Jon

Before there were blogs there were these things called magazines, and the only metal magazine we still get excited about reading every month is Decibel. Here’s managing editor Andrew Bonazelli…

Mastodon’s on the cover of the October Decibel, and that’s four times total now, one more than any other artist. When you climb to that level of popularity—then for at least one glorious month park your ass comfortably atop it—polarization is inevitable. And if this achievement coincided with the release of Crack the Skye, arguably their most popular album and far and away my least favorite, I’d be rolling my eyes along with the haters right now. But what’s so interesting about Masto—and I think as good a reason as any to spotlight them four times—is that every album has so little to do with its predecessor. Love ’em/hate ’em/jack off to ’em/begrudgingly admire ’em, they’re doing exactly what they want and not sweating the consequences (wait ’til you hear “The Creature Lives”). Mind you, this is all really easy to say since I think The Hunter assimilates most of the awesome shit from Remission, Leviathan and Blood Mountain, and is crazy-catchy without being pandering, but the same sentiment goes no matter what they do. Mastodon are always at the cusp of evolution. They picked the right name.

Anyway, Kevin Stewart-Panko did the cover story, meeting up the dudes at the end of their two-year Skye touring cycle, and discovers why The Hunter is their first without a labyrinthine overarching concept. It’s in the webstore now, available for subscribers within two weeks, also featuring that ripping Skeletonwitch flexi disc.

-AB

Decibel’s October 2011 issue also features The Black Dahlia Murder, YOB, Today is the Day, Dimmu Borgir, Testament and a Queensrÿche/Operation: Mindcrime Hall of Fame. But why not just get a full subscription to ensure that you never miss an issue?

Although it’s boring as fuck. It might be slightly less boring if you’re stoned, I dunno, I haven’t tried watching it that way (yet). But really it’s just shaky cam footage of the wilderness, kinda like that also-boring-as-fuck video Times of Grace released last year.

Also, it’s apparently supposed to be “found footage” in the video, although I ain’t never heard of no found footage that has kaleidoscope effects n’ shit.

Not that it matters. The song is great, and I’m pretty confident that the band’s new album, The Hunter, is gonna be great, too. And whenever the band gets around to making a real video… well, they’ve certainly had good luck with that in the past!

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

-AR

“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

Man, I really, really hope that some day, some Korean animators see fit to make a short about MetalSucks. And that it is one-eighth as awesome as the above video.

ANYWAY, here’s how we kept ourselves entertained this week:

• We debuted new music by Revocation, White Arms of Athena, Goreaphobia, and Sixx A.M.
• We did not debut, but got really excited about, new music from Mastodon and Opeth.
• Unearth’s Ken Susi and Dethklok’s Brendon Small told us all about their live rigs. BONUS: Brendon Small also gave us the skinny on his new solo album!
• We spoke to All Shall Perish’s Fracesco Artusato and Kaoru and Die from Dir En Grey.
• We checked out the latest releases from All Pigs Must Die and Axel Rudi Pell.
• We were easily able to come up with twenty-five things we’d rather do than listen to the new Five Finger Death Punch song.
• We tried to figure out which label will snag Gojira.
• Gary Suarez urged metalheads to cut the shit and stop supporting Burzum.
• Sergeant D. wondered if breakdowns are the new guitar solos.
• Corey Mitchell discussed his ten favorite albums of the year thus far.

A couple of weeks ago, Mastodon released a teaser for their new album, The Hunter, which featured a full minute of a new song, “Black Tongue” — and it seems like the entire MetalSucks community more or less agreed that the song sounded AWESOME.

Well, guess what? Someone has stuck a radio rip of the song on the internet, which means you can listen to the full thing right now.

And guess what else? The full version doesn’t disappoint. Looks like The Hunter is gonna be yet ANOTHER amazing Mastodon release. How the hell do these guy do it?

-AR

MAJOR thanks to Stephen Parker for the tip!

Mastodon’s Troy Sanders is selling his suburban Atlanta home. The 3 bdr, 2 bath, 2-story new construction (2005) looks modest compared to the mansion that Joey Belladonna was reportedly selling two years back, but I think it would still represent a major upgrade for the majority of metal musicians (and one can only assume Sanders is selling it because Mastodon’s success has allowed him something biggerer and betterer). Here’s the Craigslist listing via real estate agent Justin Seeby:

Spacious Home in Convenient East Lake Location!

This Home Features a Large, Open Kitchen with Tons of Counterspace & Cabinets, Upgraded Black Appliances, Recessed Lighting, and Room for a Large Island. The Enclosed Back Porch Boasts Plank Wood Flooring and Large Windows. Enjoy the Open Deck Overlooking a Fenced In Yard- Perfect for Kids, Pets, and Entertaining! 1 Car Garage is Great for Parking & Storage. Gleaming Hardwood Floors, Crown Molding, and Spacious Bedrooms Complete This Home to Make it the Perfect Place to Call Home!

*Seller is Lead Singer of Rock Group MASTADON!*

Call Today to Schedule a Personal Showing!

MetalSucks called Mr. Seeby to ask if the cat shown in Photo 4 of the listing was included. No dice; Sanders loves his pussy.

-VN

Thanks: Hetal Bhatt

So, to review the ways in bass players let us down this week:

• Coheed and Cambria’s Michael Todd robbed a pharmacy.
• Nick Oliveri from Queens of the Stone Age/Kyuss held his girlfriend hostage in a four-hour standoff with a S.W.A.T. team.
• Jeroen Paul Thessling quit Obscura.

Last week Mastodon broke out the cover art for their new album, The Hunter; now they’ve released a one-minute trailer for the album, which is one complete minute of a new song, “Black Tongue.” Man, Brent Hinds is way into weird tongues, huh?

And I gotta say, it sounds fucking awesome to me. Maybe you won’t dig it if you’re still hoping that the band is gonna go back to their Remission sound, but that would make you dumb, ’cause that ain’t gonna happen. For those of us who appreciate how the band has matured over the years (even if they can’t really pull the vocals off live), well… doesn’t this rock?

The Hunter is supposed to be out sometime in October.

-AR

Thanks to Jon for the tip!

Have you ever noticed that the bands who metal nerds fawn over today were universally-despised rage magnets just a few short years ago? For example, trashing Pantera in 2011 is asking to get chased with torches and pitchforks — the polar opposite of 1993, when you would be hard-pressed to find a band that metal nerds hated more. Or how everybody jizzes over Suffocation now, but in the mid-90s you couldn’t read two pages of Metal Maniacs without someone pissing and moaning about “Suffoclones.” Are metal nerds crazy, or is there some rhyme and reason to their seemingly-contradictory behavior?? I believe that there is indeed a way to understand metal nerds, but it’s not what you might think!

Psychologists have long compared metal nerds to women. The similarities are certainly undeniable: like the fairer sex, they are fickle, emotional, and irrational. They even have long hair! However, my research suggests that, unlike women, they actually operate by a primitive form of logic and are highly predictable. After the break: my SCIENTIFIC MODEL OF METAL NERD PSYCHOLOGY, the FOUR KINDS OF METAL BANDS, and an exclusive METAL NERD CHEAT SHEET that reveals a foolproof formula for whether you should like a band or not!

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