It takes a special kind of band or musician to nail down a concept album that also gives them a major boost to their fanbase. Some genres of music, of course, are easier to accomplish this success than others – but it’s still not an easy task in any realm of the universe.
For Mastodon and their 2004 album Leviathan, they had plenty to prove. Their debut album Remission had caused quite a stir in the metal underground, with their multifaceted sludge // progressive metal being an unexpected success. Leviathan proved to be a monumental achievement, even by comparison. To say there were very few bands like this at the time is a huge understatement.
The synergy between each band member is startlingly effective. And so is the songwriting. “Blood And Thunder” is one of those songs that’s meant to be an album opener, with an instantly memorable salvo of riffs that draw you in. Much like the wrath of the sea itself, Leviathan ebbs and flows much the same. It helps that many of the songs on Leviathan, like the foreboding “Iron Tusk” and “Seabeast”, arrive in quick burst format – so it’s far easier to digest than other bands who play a similar genre. To this day, it’s one of metal’s most revered records, and is always considered at the upper echelon of Mastodon’s discography.
