After the massive success of the previous album (2004's Leviathan), Atlanta's Mastodon decided to continue in experimenting with their already distinct sound. What resulted was their most daring and ballsy album yet, 2006's Blood Mountain. On this particular recording, they took things a little bit further than they did on Leviathan as they added proggier and more psychedelic bits to their sound. This one resulted in a mish mash of different sounds and approaches. It is an album that I enjoy quite a bit. Blood Mountain is yet another concept album for Mastodon (Fun tidbit:3 of their first 4 were actually concept albums). The concept deals with the element of earth and it tells a story of a man who journeys to the top of a mountain (Blood Mountain obviously as it is the album title) but the journey is not an easy as he comes across cysquatches, birchmen, etc. Musically, this is also yet another album that continues what I like to call "The Progression" as Mastodon approaches in delivering the vocals in a much clearer and more intelligible manner (it works brilliantly in my opinion). Melodies are more prevalent on the album too and although none of the songs are all that long, there is a lot going on in them. I found them all to be very interesting and refreshing to say the least. Let's how I feel about each individual track shall eh??

1) The Wolf Is Loose - This one begins with Brann hammering the hell out of the drums. It then leads to the belting out of "The hero of the gods, the crossing of the threshold, the belly of the whale, refusal of return (I just love the part). The simplicity and phrasing of the lyrics is sublime. It goes through quite a few changes throughout. It also has a bit of dueling guitars towards the end. Eventually climaxing in a fury. I found the song rather hardcore punk rockish (crossover thrash perhaps??) and thrashy in nature. The whole song is brilliant. I love it. 10/10

2) Crystal Skull - Yet another adventurous but brutal piece of music. It might not even eclipse the 4 minute mark but there is a lot going on in this. A great track in my opinion. "Intooo the blaaack hoole, searching for crystaal." 10/10

3) Sleeping Giant - Mastodon took a leap of faith with this one. It was one of the most spacey and daring songs that they had done up this point. It is also another piece off of this album that I absolutely adore. I especially love the ending when the band is going all out and Troy is essentially speaking the following lyrics out: A vast, calm wilderness. The call to adventure comes. Lead and land atop this rock. Infinite path carved with unrivaled skill. Very odd but that's what I love about it. A really great song. 10/10

4) Capillerian Crest - This one is just ridiculous(in a good way though). Very mathy and very complex. So many different time signature changes. It does not get as bad as some bands though (I am looking at you Dream Theater). A lot is going on in it. Brilliant track. 10/10

5) Circle of Cysquatch - This one begins with that iconic Mastodon riff(If you haven't heard it yet just listen to it) before becoming a furious track. The way the music and vocals are done is just amazing. Yet another song that I love off of this album. I love the mechanical voice part. 10/10

6) Bladecatcher - Although this one is really good and really crazy it is my least favorite track on the album up to this point. 8/10

7) Colony of Birchmen - This one is probably the biggest and most famous song off of the album. It has killer guitar hooks and a very memorable pre-chorus and chorus. Even though it might be a really popular track (nothing wrong with that). I quite enjoy it. 10/10

8) Hunters of the Sky - This one is also really good but probably my second least favorite off of the album (just barely above Bladecatcher). Don't overlook it though. It might get to you (it does just that to me sometimes lol). 8/10

9) Hand of Stone - This one is one of the most underrated Mastodon songs in my opinion. I don't think it gets the credit it deserves. Everything is great about this song. I just love the part after Troy blurts out "The hand matches. The hand that leads the way. To kill the shepherd. Just to see his face. Heed the warning. Ingest the rotten bone. The hand that falters. The hand that turns to stoooneee." Grade A. 10/10

10) This Mortal Soil - I love, love, love this track. My favorite song on the album. Everything about it is awesome. From the trippy beginning, vocals, arrangements to the melodies. The vocals during the initial verses are just amazing in my opinion. Mastodon is not afraid to experiment I tell you. Best track on the album in my opinion. 10/10

11) Siberian Divide - This one is rather foreboding and one that I enjoy a lot too. Brutal but haunting and not so brutal if that makes any sense. 10/10

12) Pendulous Skin - A psychedelic and rather melancholy track. One that was rather unusual for the band(but then again it probably wasn't??). I loved it. However, I could do without the long parts of nothing and then Josh Homme speaking lol. It was a really great track. 9/10

2006's Blood Mountain was yet another album that kept me interested in Mastodon's music. I believe it was the 3rd album (I don't quite remember as a lot has happened in my life since I purchased the album) I got from them after 2011's The Hunter and 2004's Leviathan. In this album they were able to freshen their sound up a bit and make it even more grandiose than before. It definitely continued to steer them in the right direction(remember that this is just my opinion, you might have a different one though). Another great and grandiose album that should be talked about for years to come. It too receives 4.5 solid stars from me!! Peace out!!!

On 2004's Leviathan (the 2nd album from Atlanta's Mastodon), the guys in the band decided that they wanted to take things a little further than they did on their previous effort(2002's Remission). On this, they had a win or go home kind of attitude. An attitude of wanting to go all out on the project. They wanted to reach out for that extra umph(inspiration) and do something that was a bit out there (with the whole Moby Dick and out at sea theme) and if you ask me, they executed it very, very well. Leviathan continued "the progression" that I talked about on the last review and will continue to talk about on subsequent releases. On this album, we see a band that still has plenty of those aforementioned musical chops to offer but we also see a band that wanted to throw in a little more than usual from the metal band. Let's how I feel about each individual track shall eh??

1) Blood an Thunder - Just like Crusher Destroyer from Remission this album opens up with a brutal, crushing piece of metal music but this song took things even further. Classic Mastodon. Even more badass than the previous album's opener. 10/10

2) I Am Ahab - A classic metal track in my opinion. It is absolutely jaw dropping. Wow. 10/10

3) Seabeast - Classic, classic old school Mastodon. Listen to those closing riffs. Wow just wow. 10/10

4) Island - Another great track but it is not nearly as captivating as the first three tracks on the album. Not a bad track at all though. It keeps with the album's theme. 8/10

5) Iron Tusk - A great and heavy track. I love how it just kicks ass. Everything from the vocals, the drums, the guitars. The band knows that it does too. It's all about the music on this one ha. It's grade A Mastodon. 10/10

6) Megalodon - This one is just insanity. Classic Mastodon in my opinion. Just listen to them go bonkers towards the ending, haha. 10/10

7) Naked Burn - A decent track but as of the first 7 tracks it is my least favorite. Something is missing here for some reason and I don't know what it is. It's not bad though. 7/10

8) Aqua Dementia - It's an intense piece of music and I like it. I give plenty of credit to it but for some reason it's not nearly as good as other songs on the album. It kind of loses footing. Don't get me wrong it is a good track though. 8/10

9) Hearts Alive - Wow, oh my. What to say about this epic?? On this one here we have a very ominous and heavy masterpiece of metal music. Prett much everything about it is fantastic, from the arrangements, to the lyrics to the music. You feel like you are lost at sea and doomed. It's much more complicated, progressive in comparison to the rest of the album but that's what I love about it. This entire track is bone-chilling and exhilarating. Just like Trilobite from Remission it too can horrify a person to the core. It's really, really great. Probably my favorite track on the album. 10/10

10) Joseph Merrick - A different (that's what I love about this band's material at times haha, they can be all out metal but also something else at times) but haunting and mysterious track. A perfect ending to the album in my opinion. I loved it. 10/10

Just like on Remission the music on this album was also really, really good but some of it was also a bit harsh and frenetic for my tastes. However, it was done with much more taste and I found myself enjoying it even more. Also, even though there were not enough clean vocals from Troy or Brent on this one too at least they tried to sound more intelligible so I have to give them some credit and the album a higher rating on the whole. As I said on my last review for 2002's Remission even though I have no real issues with growling vocals I usually like my bands to have at least some kind of melody and harmony or catchy hook to their vocals and on this album there was more of that and it was more than a welcome listen. This is the album kept me interested in Mastodon's music(it was the 2nd album I got from them after 2011's The Hunter). I feel it was also steering them in the right direction. To some, it actually is their best work(I don't believe it is though, ha). Great and grandiose album that should be talked about for years to come. 4.5 solid stars!! Peace out!!!

Ahh, here it is, the genesis of Atlanta's Mastodon, a great, great progressive/sludge metal band, one that I feel has gotten more mature (and better) as time has progressed with albums such as Crack the Skye (2009) and Emperor of Sand(2017). I will talk about that progression as I continue on with these album reviews. With 2002's Remission, we already see a band that has plenty of musical chops to offer but at times it is a bit too frenetic, wild and unhinged (not necessarily a bad thing, haha) for my tastes (keep in mind that my musical tastes are not nearly as frenetic and wild as most metalheads lol). While I do consider myself a metalhead I am more of the old school variety (Maiden, Sabbath, Priest) but that's me getting off topic ha. Anyway, with this recording Mastodon are able to do just enough to keep me interested in what they are doing(could be the melodies and intricate riffs, I don't know ha). Let's how I feel about each individual track shall we??

1) Crusher Destroyer - A brutal, crushing piece of metal music. Hits you like a pile of bricks. Badass. 10/10

2) March of the Fire Ants - A classic metal track in my opinion. Those melodies late in the song brought something that was desperately needed in metal but was in short supply. Anywho, I love this track. Probably my favorite on the entire album. 10/10

3) Where Strides the Behemoth - Yet another brutal track. Nothing wrong with it. I love it, haha. 10/10

4) Workhorse - Another great track but for some reason it is not nearly as captivating as the first three tracks on the album. Not a bad track though. 8/10

5) Ol'e Nessie - A great, great ominous track. I love how dark and foreboding it sounds. It's not as heavy, frenetic or as thunderous as the other tracks on the album but it does a great job at creating a dark atmosphere. It's great. 10/10

6) Burning Man - A decent track but as of the first 6 tracks it is my least favorite. Not bad though. 7/10

7) Trainwreck - Another decent track but to me it is not as great as others on the album. 7/10

8) Trampled Under Hoof - Is the title of the track an homage to Led Zeppelin's Trampled Under Foot?(I don't know but it sounds like it is lol). It's an intense piece of music that I give plenty of credit for but for some reason it's not nearly as captivating as other songs on the album. Good track though. 7/10

9) Trilobite - Now, here we have a very ominous piece of metal music. Everything about it is fantastic. A bit different from the rest of the album but that's what I love it about. The ending where Troy screams out "Shades of 16, you're with me" is bonechilling. It can actually horrify a person. It's great. Probably tied with March of the Fire Ants as my favorite track on the album. 10/10

10) Mother Puncher - A great track that punches you in the gut. I love it too ha. 10/10

11) Elephant Man - An instrumental piece that keeps my attention. It's pretty darn good if you ask me. Solid, solid guitar work from Bill and Brent. Grade A guitar work. 10/10

The music on this album is really, really good but some of it is a bit too harsh and frenetic for my tastes so that's why it gets a lower rating in my book. Also, not enough clean vocals from Troy or Brent on it to give it a higher rating. I mean I have no issues with growls (every once in a while haha) but I usually like my bands to have some kind of melody and harmony or catchy hook to their vocal (you know something I can sing to lol, sounds corny I know but it's still the essence of music to me). Anyway, to me this album is a step in the right direction for Mastodon. A precursor of things to come. Great album. 4 solid stars!! Peace out!!!

Ah, we have come to "the album" of Sabbath for me.If you were to ask me or talk to me about Black Sabbath and my favorite from theirs I would instantly tell you "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" without hesitation.There is just something about this one that I love and I don't know what it is,ha.In my opinion, when it comes to Black Sabbath it does not get much better than Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and what an album it is.Released in 1973, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath contained some of the most daring experiments from Sabbath(like adding synthesizers and making a really peaceful and soothing instrumental in Fluff) yet as well as some of the heaviest sh%% that they have done(of course).They even had a guest appearance from Prog Rock legend Rick Wakeman(of Yes fame) on the album.Now for the goodies(the music)"Why do I love it?" Let me illustrate it for you as best as I can.First, the music on here is probably their most progressive in nature(aside from probably Sabotage)and I love Prog and experimentation and Sabbath hits it really good on here in my opinion.There is also a good share of melody on here too(Ozzy does a fantastic job on vocals as well).Second, the lyrics are just some of the best that Sabbath has done(I love the phrasing on Spiral Architect as it truly gives me chills)tackling deep subject matter such as questioning religion and God(Who Are You?) and other overall dark matters.I have made this review longer than others(not on purpose though I just had to get this one off my chest).Yet again, Sabbath comes up with another classic!!

With Vol. 4, Sabbath made somewhat of a change(but a welcomed one for me).There is some piano work(Changes) on here(the likes of which was not really used previously) as well a weird guitar experiment instrumental from Tony(Fx).Of course, we still also had the rockers(Wheels of Confusion, Tomorrow's Dream, Supernaut and others).Tony really came up with some really great riffs on this(The Riff Master, enough said).These songs are as infectious as the previous ones(probably even more so in my opinion).Apparently this album(here on MMA)seems to not get enough love with its 3.95 rating(or something like that,I think personally think that this deserves a 4 star rating but that's me being picky and somewhat selfish) but I happen to think that this was probably Sabbath's best and most diverse release to this point. Yet again another Classic Sabbath album. Even though this album is not really considered to be an essential release by some people. I happen to think that this album is every bit essential as their previous albums!!!I like it very much. Highly recommended in my opinion