Leviathan is the work of a band that�s getting tighter, more accomplished, and focused on writing good songs. While their strain of math-metal is a bit more tempered this time, they still have plenty of thrashy riffs that bring to mind Tommy Victor and Alex Skolnik, cut with the occasional southern rock lick or two. They set a mood with the songs, and that mood is sustained throughout. And the band adds another instance of growth by having actual singing on a couple tracks. It's still Mastodon - their sound is unmistakable. But if you were hoping for Remissions II, go listen to Remission again and lament that the band isn�t churning out carbon copies. If you want to see how the band�s progressed since then, get Leviathan. You won�t be disappointed.

If Remission sounded ancient, this shit is fucking biblical! A labyrinth of dark melodies to explore.

Some may notice a change in tone from Mastodon's previous sophomore release, Remission. The recording is cleaner, the production is tighter, and the wild gonzo jazz metal percussion styling of Brann Dailor have been reigned in slightly. However, the music itself is profoundly dense in ways that other bands trying to fuse various experimental and extreme styles with more melodic rock conventions are not. Leviathan is a triumph that finds the band showing intriguing intelligence, tremendous growth in song craft and even enhancement in their already impressive instrumental capabilities. Whether or not you care to read into the Moby Dick theme deeply or simply take it for what it is on the surface, there is no doubt that Mastodon's Leviathan is as its namesake, an American Classic.

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