The most anticipated metal record of the year has finally arrived! And was it worth the wait? You betcha! As far as this reviewer is concerned. With "Leviathan", MASTODON has made the same giant leap METALLICA did when they followed "Kill 'em All" with "Ride The Lightning". Yep, it's that good! Especially when you consider "Leviathan" is a (gasp!) concept album based entirely on Herman Melville's literary classic "Moby Dick".

People who loved their previous album "Remission" just for the sheer brutality of it may want to give this a listen first. The brutality is still there, but it's counteracted with some other things. First, there's the production which is a lot more crisp and clear. And Brann Dailor's drumming, though still quite excessive, is a lot more controlled and more in service of the song material. The raw guitar chords are now equally balanced with the more old-school metal leanings like semi-acoustic and twin guitar parts. The melodic possibilities that were only hinted at in tracks like "Trainwreck" (from "Remission") now come to full flourish in songs like "Seabeast" and "Naked Burn". These tracks even go so far as having (shock! horror!) clean vocals! There's some guest singers on the album as well. Neil Fallon from CLUTCH delivers a thundering performance on opening track "Blood and Thunder" and Scott Kelly from NEUROSIS gets to screech a few lines on the amazing "Aqua Dementia".

Don't worry, MASTODON have not gone commercial, their sound is still as metal as hell, but the musical growth they have gone through is no less than amazing. This is most aptly proven by the album's two closing tracks. "Hearts Alive" (which clocks in at 13.40) is a virtual cathedral of a song that has 'classic' written all over it. The album ends with an acoustic instrumental called "Joseph Merrick", which will probably have some metal purists squirming in their seats, but which I think is a nice, dramatic conclusion to this epic tale. And if that's not enough there's also the bonus audio DVD which combines songs from "Leviathan" with material from their previous releases like "Remission", "Lifesblood" and the first 7".

"Leviathan" is one of those records that should be right up there in the all-time classics lists with such albums as "The Number Of The Beast" and "Reign In Blood". But we'll just have to see if that happens, since MASTODON's sound is probably still a bit much for unpracticed ears. Personally though, I really don't think there will be a better metal release than "Leviathan" in 2004. Sorry for the lack of critical viewpoints, even after repeated listens I just haven't got any. "Leviathan" is awesome.

- Van Hoften

OFFICIAL SITE: www.mastodonrocks.com

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