PRETEND THAT EVERYTHING'S FINE ( OR THE TOP TEN MASTODON SONGS)

It’s hard to put into words how much I enjoy the epic metal of Mastodon, so i won't even try. Instead, let's just jump right into the countdown, Follow us for more content at @thedeathofthemixtape on Instagram, Facebook and Spotify. Thanks for reading.

10 ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING: THE HUNTER

Something to know about me is that I love love love soaring vocals and big choruses. It’s almost as if it’s implanted in my DNA. This song has both of those things, which is likely why it ends up as Number three on our countdown. The “Just Close Your Eyes,” section of the chorus manages to tingle the skin as the story of a frantic family trying to survive is unfolded before us. Lyrically it’s a powerful song able to also shine musically in an introspective way. The band is utterly focused and winds through sections with ease and a grace that is missing sorely in music. In the end though, “All the Heavy Lifting” is about solidarity and remaining calm under extreme pressure


9 IRON TUSK: LEVIATHAN

Oh my god the opening of this insanely brutal song is like no other openings I’ve ever heard. They don’t even get to 100 miles per hour in the first five seconds because that’s where it fucking starts. It’s as in your face and rambunctious as anything they’ve ever written, and in the context of the Moby Dick inspired concept album, you can imagine this track being set to imagery of the mighty creature devastating everything it touches in the ocean waters, and not taking any prisoners, but only lives. It’s a polarizing song that hits hard with every punch, and also remains one of the heaviest tracks they’ve ever created.


8 AQUA DEMENTIA: LEVIATHAN

When listening to this blistering track from the epic “Leviathan,” I like to imagine the song being written while the band members, aka crew members, are fighting the great whale, and for their lives on a monstrous boat on the sea. It’s that chaotic energy that’s makes this song so powerful and intense. The guitars from Hinds and Keihler don’t much hurt either. At roughly four minutes, it’s more music than vocals, yet it never gets old or tedious. That’s how you know it’s being done right. You may not like the band or genre, but you simply can’t say these guys don’t know their instruments. 


7 MORE THAN I COULD CHEW: HUSHED & GRIM

A newer selection gets lucky number 7 on the top ten Mastodon countdown. The guitars and drums rose and fall like a storm passing through a heartland, while the vocals of Troy Sanders shimmers brightly through the murky instrumental sections. The high pitch wail matches well with the more throaty vocals, which again speaks to the versatility of the band  and of Sanders as a vocalist as well. In short, another heavy ass masterfully constructed epic price of music. 


6 THE MOTHERLOAD: ONCE MORE 'ROUND THE SUN

The video with the butts. Yes, you read that right. Mastodon tends to be all over the place with their music videos, and for this clip, they incorporate ladies you’re more likely to see in a Juvenile video than a metal one. Either way though it works its magic, and adds to the essence of the song. Speaking on the song, the drums and vocals, both presented by Brann Dailor make themselves the stars of the show, and thus they propel the song to a high energy place that makes it difficult to ignore, whether you like it or not. I also really dig the Ozzy-esque sounding vocals mixed through the track. It doesn’t come off as trying to rip him off either, which is easier said than done when you try to pay homage.


5 BLACK TONGUE: THE HUNTER

for my money there’s few opening moments guitar riffs that match the explosive kinetic energy of “Black Tongue,” from the often overlooked “Hunter” album, which in itself is a tragedy. Regardless the vocals are epic and full of dark whimsy, while Dailor’s  drums fight for the attention, much to the joy of this listener. 


4 COLONY OF BIRCHMEN: BLOOD MOUNTAIN

One of the best things the band does is concept albums. Time after time they’ve demonstrated, and with “Blood Mountain” from 2006, the may have made an album that matches up against their other great concept album “Leviathan.” Accompanied by Queens of the Stone Age founded Joshua Homme, the song whirls and climbs slowly up the treacherous mountain in search of safety, which likely won’t be found. Homme especially adds a great mixture to the track with his signature voice. I wish they'd have more guest vocalists, but if he’s all we ever get, I’ll gladly take it.


3 MARCH OF THE FIRE ANTS: REMISSION

My first introduction to this band was this video, as seen back when MTV2 played video(Seriously read that sentence again and mourn that the channel specifically made for videos doesn’t even do it.) Moving on, the vocals are cutthroat and gravelly, and the power behind the rhythm section is top notch, even for a band at their early days.  Almost everything about the song is a force unto itself, but of all the new wave of american heavy metal bands that came forth, Mastodon managed to stick through it and have become an amazing band,.

2 TREAD LIGHTLY: ONCE MORE 'ROUND THE SUN

It’s hard to top a killer album opening song, but they always seem to start off every album in wonderfully epic and big ways. “Tread Lightly” off the most recent “Once More ‘Round the Sun” is another solid example of the band blowing up sonically to introduce a new record. The vocals are harrowing and hopeful, and even enlightening at moments. Seriously it’s one of the most uplighting metal tracks I’ve ever heard, and because of this it finds itself way up on the countdown.  Doing this is tricky, especially in the genre they’ve been lumped in with. It’s an eye opening example of what metal can do, and along with the brilliance of the instrumentation, it never gets old and played out. If anything it gets better with every listen.

1 BLOOD & THUNDER: LEVIATHAN
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Maybe an obvious sort of choice, but the song is so well thought out and paced that it’s difficult to argue with, at least in my eyes. From the crunchy opening of the guitars, to the blowup at the end, this song easily has everything a fan could want out of his band. The opening track off of their mind-blowingly good, timeless record “Leviathan,” “Blood and Thunder” shatters windows with it’s sprawling drumming, the backup vocals, and especially the guitars. This is likely the band’s best known track, and always a highlight at their live performances. I can’t even imagine another track opening the record, which is good, because it sets the epic scale and quick pace for the remainder of the record. Records like this don’t come around too often, and it’s song like this that makes albums this special. The vocals at the end regarding “the White Whale” only add to the tension of the song, and for that reason it lands at number one. Thanks for reading!