Mastodon @ Roundhouse Theatre

Full Gallery by Rhys Bennett and Words by Chris Chaplin

Hearing these tracks as more matured offerings from MASTODON really showed the sky’s the limit for them musically and set up the end of the set to DESTROY with some of their heaviest material.

Last time I had the pleasure of seeing the mighty MASTODON was in 2008 when they toured with one of the heaviest bands in the universe and fellow lovers of maritime iconography GOJIRA. It was a killer double bill and in all honesty, following on after a band with the sheer back hole inducing weight of GOJIRA, I was left that night feeling they had stole the show, even though I was heavily in a phase of affection for the Sludge/Prog/Whatever they feel like legends MASTODON, it felt like they fell flat. With that memory in my mind as I tucked in to some Mi Goreng from the Uni Sushi n Ramen shop, I was excited to see how tonight’s “co-headline” offering of none other than KERRY KING would mix with MASTODON’S craft. 

A slightly subdued Tuesday night energy was felt from the metalhead faithful slowly starting to trickle into the Roundhouse (a mainstay for international touring acts, perfect for sideshows for this years edition of Good Things), but make no mistake, the excitement was in the air and for many having the opportunity to see these titans play their own full length sets outside of the festival environment, was an opportunity not to be missed. The merch line was already packing out (with some some very tasty offerings for the 20 years of Leviathan release from the Don, inc signed drum heads) and the upstairs balcony was already looking packed. A trip to the bar and some banter in the beer garden and I hear what sounds like the start of act number one. “Yep, this sounds like what I’d expect from KERRY KING” I thought, chuckling to myself at the intro track chugs with that signature thrash sound. A thought made even funnier when I find I’ve got a message from a mate asking “You out Kerrying your King tonight?” - hahaha why yes I am - acknowledging my preconceived notion I had for this band. I love SLAYER, but was not yet sold on Kerry King’s solo work, not in the slightest and whilst I respect the legacy of SLAYER, I find a level of comedy in King’s persona (guess it’s that Western Sydney piss-take humour I can’t escape).

The band dedicated the first portion of the set to this record and the experience on stage is nothing to slouch at, early on I’m reminded of Phil Demmel’s inclusion, as his leads were a stand out in what was feeling like a tight a set, but definitely Skim Slayer to my ears. Notably Mike Osegueda of Death Angel fame was absolutely ripping it, with powerful gruff vocals sitting in perfectly with the energy and mix of classic thrash tones. For me, the only thing really distracting from what King was going for was Paul Bostaph’s drumming. A legend in his own right with his work with SLAYER (and far more), his “late” drumming at times felt too loose for me and took me out of the shit grinning fuck yeah atmosphere I find I feel at solid thrash show. The slightly tired vibe on a Tuesday was mirrored by the audience and wasn’t until getting to cuts like Two Fists & Rage I started to notice the horns in the air and cries of SLAYERRRR fill the room and just like that, we get treated to REPENTLESS from SLAYER’S swan song record. I can’t lie, the whammy abuse from King and memories this track brought back gave that shit eating grin a show for a moment and I’m reminded that the nostalgia this project represents is well earned, even if most of the set to me, kept reminding me of tracks I’d rather hear…. by Slayer.

By this stage the place was packed and rightly so, it had been a LONG time (like 7 years?) since the Atlanta legends have toured Australia. Knowing the tour was paying respect to one of their formative records LEVIATHAN was a dream come true for me, something I found especially interesting considering they’ve taken their music down so many different paths since, with their last offering, a double album Hushed And Grim, being a far more eclectic affair than the album this tour is dedicated to. Not unlike Mr. King, the nostalgia effect from the thought of hearing this record live had on me was immense. 

They weren’t kidding, MASTODON’s usual closer of Blood And Thunder had been selected as the opener of the set (just like the record) and right from the get go, The Don were sounding as formidable as ever and signalled we indeed are getting the record in full.

Troy Sanders bellowing mountain giant vocals commanded the crowd to get involved, with the chorus being shouted right back at the band in approval and punters already losing it in the pit. Sounding absolutely at the top of their game, drummer Brann Dailor’s instantly recognisable “fills over the bar” style drumming as bombastic and powerful as ever. This ain’t a chore, rather it’s a celebration of a modern classic from one of the best bands to ever do it. The mix sounding mammoth and the equal parts intricate and intense guitar work from Brent Hinds & Bill Kelliher sounding the best I’ve heard it, with some additions of a keys player (which wasn’t quite cutting through the mix at this stage). Gear nerds like me getting a visual treat at the array of silverburst ESP’s from Bill, unique SG shaped flying V headstock rigs wailing from Brent & girth-y sounding Fenders from Troy, the band moved through tracks like I Am Ahab, Seabeast & Island without letting up and with album level ferocity, prompting movement and submission from the punters. Headbanging went into overdrive for the monolithic crusher Iron Tusk, MASTODON were on fire! 

A true testament to their identity as a band complete, the 2nd half of the set kicked into diverse select cuts from their catalog with a personal favourite Crystal Skull invoking a circle pit to squeeze the energy out of the mid-week crowd. Highlighting MASTODON’s dynamics and not losing step with blazing leads, they transitioned into one of the most epic riffs of the night and huge vocals from Troy on Black Tongue.

Wherever they chose to take us tonight, or whoever was singing (with Brann’s melodic inclusions as always, but less lead vocals so far) the rawness of their vocals always makes me appreciate the realness of the band, just plain epic. Speaking of epic, a highlight of the set was the canyoning depths of next track The Czar, taken from watershed album Crack The Skye. The trip inducing synths filling the room, I noticed eyes closed in a lot of the audience, soaking in the vocal harmonies and feeling the picked chordal sections - “they know how to write a song” a mate said, and after being taken on that sonic journey, I’m reminded at the sheer mastery the band has of their craft with yet another high point of the night. 

We finally get to new material from Hushed And Grim in the form of Pushing The Tides & More Then I Could Chew - both tracks cementing this notion further with sing along hooks and soaring leads along with baritone vocal tones and triumphant angst.



Hearing these tracks as more matured offerings from MASTODON really showed the sky’s the limit for them musically and set up the end of the set to DESTROY with some of their heaviest material next up - Circle of Cysquatch closing riff in particular set the mosh into a frenzy and the appropriately named Motherpuncher backed it up to make sure no one in attendance was wanting to get up for work the next day. Closing on the brooding fatness of Steambreather, the epic singalong from the crowd ended the set on a HUGE high. Brann’s yarn with the audience at the end of the night (cracking breakdancer Raygun jokes of course) highlighted the platonic love affair the band and punters have with this sludgey-proggy-psychedlic thing we call MASTODON. 25 years in and showing no signs of the affair ending, I’m not alone in saying I can’t wait for our next date.