Mastodon built Blood Mountain to top their own record. The Atlanta quartet had spent years building a reputation for heavy, image-rich rock, and their second album, Leviathan, had earned widespread attention. Now they wanted to prove they could do something bigger. The result is a twelve-track, sixty-eight-minute slab of prog-metal that trades the claustrophobic dread of Leviathan for something closer to a full-on epic.
The record is dense, ambitious, and often exhausting. It is also, in stretches, one of the most accomplished things the band has ever put out.
The Wolf Is Loose Opens the Door
The album starts with “The Wolf Is Loose,” a three-and-a-half-minute burst of riff-heavy energy that sets the tone immediately. It is a mission statement: this is a band that knows what it sounds like and has no interest in hiding behind subtlety. The track is muscular, direct, and it earns its place as the opener.
“Crystal Skull” follows, and it is the first real standout. The track builds slowly, layering guitar lines over a steady pulse, before exploding into a chorus that feels genuinely cathartic. It is the kind of song that rewards repeated listens, and it is easy to hear why critics singled it out.
Sleeping Giant Through Bladecatcher
“Sleeping Giant” is a slow-burning instrumental that leans into the prog side of the equation. It is atmospheric, patient, and it sets a mood rather than chasing a hook. It is not a weak track, but it is also the most forgettable moment on the album.
“Capillarian Crest” picks the pace back up, with a chugging riff that feels almost industrial in its intensity. It is a solid, if unremarkable, middleweight.
“Circle of Cysquatch” is a shorter, more direct track that lands somewhere between the two extremes. It is competent, but it does not leave much of an impression.
“Bladecatcher” closes the first half of the record with a burst of aggression. It is the most straightforwardly heavy track here, and it works as a palate cleanser after the slower middle sections.
Colony of Birchmen Finds the Heart
“Colony of Birchmen” is the second major highlight of the album. It is a sprawling, complex track that shifts through multiple movements, and it shows the band at their most adventurous. The songwriting is refined, and the production gives each instrument room to breathe. It is the kind of track that demands a full listen, and it pays off.
“Hunters of the Sky” is a mid-tempo rocker that leans on melody more than brutality. It is a pleasant change of pace, though it does not reach the heights of the surrounding tracks.
“Hand of Stone” is a shorter, more direct number that feels like a bridge between the proggy sections and the heavier ones. It is functional, but it does not add much to the overall picture.
This Mortal Soil and Siberian Divide
“This Mortal Soil” is a five-minute epic that stretches the band’s compositional ambition further. It is dense, layered, and it rewards attention. It is not the most immediate track, but it is one of the most rewarding.
“Siberian Divide” is the third major highlight. It is a slow-burning, atmospheric piece that builds to a climactic payoff, and it shows the band’s ability to sustain tension across a full track. It is the kind of song that critics singled out for a reason.
Pendulous Skin Closes the Record
“Pendulous Skin” is the final track, and it is the centerpiece of the entire album. It runs twenty-two minutes, and it takes the band through a range of moods, from delicate acoustic passages to full-throttle metal. It is a marathon, and it is a worthy one. It is the kind of track that critics singled out for a reason.
The track is a test of patience, and it passes it. It is not perfect — some sections drag — but the ambition is undeniable.
What the Critics Said
The critical reception was strong. The Metacritic score sits at 81 out of 100, which is a mark of general approval. That number reflects the album’s strengths: the refined songwriting, the dense production, and the vocal performances. It also reflects the lesser moments that hold the record back from greatness.
“Blood Mountain may be even better than Leviathan.”
The Verdict
Blood Mountain is a flawed masterpiece. The long tracks, the occasional filler, and the uneven pacing mean it is not the tightest record the band has made. But the peaks are very high, and the ambition is consistently impressive. It is a record that rewards patience and repeat listens.
The album succeeds because it commits fully to its vision. It is a dense, heavy, prog-influenced rock record that refuses to compromise. It is not for everyone, but for those who can sit with it, it offers some of the most compelling music the band has ever produced.
81 out of 100.
Key Facts
- Artist: Mastodon
- Album: Blood Mountain
- Year: 2006
- Tracks: 12
- Total running time: 68 minutes
- Metacritic score: 81/100
Final Word
Blood Mountain is a worthy successor to Leviathan. It is a denser, more ambitious record, and it mostly delivers on that ambition. The highlights — “Crystal Skull,” “Colony of Birchmen,” “Siberian Divide,” and “Pendulous Skin” — are among the strongest songs the band has ever written. The lesser tracks are merely competent, but they do not sink the record.
This is a band at the height of its powers, pushing outward into new territory while holding onto what made them great. It is a demanding listen, but it is a rewarding one.
- The Wolf Is Loose3:34
- Crystal Skull3:27
- Sleeping Giant5:36
- Capillarian Crest4:25
- Circle of Cysquatch3:19
- Bladecatcher3:21
- Colony of Birchmen4:20
- Hunters of the Sky3:52
- Hand of Stone3:31
- This Mortal Soil5:00
- Siberian Divide5:32
- Pendulous Skin22:16
