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This is Mastodon at their finest. They are fully balanced with pure parts aggression, shred, melody and abstraction. Truly this record has a little something for everyone, just so long as you like the messenger. Their key on this record (and on many of their others) is their drummer. Brann Dailor learned drums keeping up with (and competing with) guitarists instead of balancing with a bassist. Now, instead of feeling a solid foundation supporting the behemoth sound, you find the persussion in the exact same register as the melody. The result is chaotic which I found off putting to begin with but, in time, found that this sense of "heavy top, skinny bottom" helped add to a maddening feeling. Which is how this music is supposed to make you feel, right? And anyway, with such spectacular stringed virtuassos, would you really just want to be the support if you had the chops to keep up? Of course not. Most of this record will put you off at first but, after you put it down, you'll pick it up and fall in love with each song individually. And just like beer, coffee and cigarettes, you'll wonder how you ever thought life was good without them.

Genres: Rock, Music, Hard Rock, Metal

Released: May 28, 2002

℗ 2002 Relapse Records

Tracklist:

01 Crusher Destroyer

02 March of the Fire Ants

03 Where Strides the Behemoth

04 Workhorse

05 Ol'e Nessie

06 Burning Man

07 Trainwreck

08 Trampled Under Hoof

09 Trilobite

10 Mother Puncher

11 Elephant Man