With an album as
stunning as 'Crack The Skye' it's no surprise that Mastodon have
announced that they will be playing this masterpiece in it's entirety.
However the enthusiasm and energy almost palpable from the audience in
this run up to special night was almost completely destroyed by the
debacle that was their support. Totimoshi, an uninspired, turgid three
piece from Los Angeles, play a flagging set which didn't even have the
decency to die quietly. Instead they blustered through a clumsy,
unengaging disaster of a performance, which left most relieved when
they finally departed the stage.
However from the moment Mastodon take to the stage all the excitement,
all the energy, comes flooding back in one euphoric wave. From the very
beginning their rendition of their latest offering, 'Crack The Skye'
stuns every member of the audience. Even though the album is
comparatively mellow compared to previous releases 'Remission', 'Leviathon'
and 'Blood Mountain' the crowd sings every word and the band engages
with the audience creating an energetic and surprisingly heavy
atmosphere. Behind the band a huge screen plays a film which supports
the main concept of the album providing a mesmerising backdrop which can
at times be both abstract and at others almost hammer horror. Though
this could distract a potential audience the band play such a
charismatic set that it almost feels as if the band are playing on a
personal level for each and every person assembled.
Following 'Crack The Skye' would normally have been an impossible task,
but not for a band of this calibre. Returning to the stage Mastodon play
a second set directly juxtaposed to their previous one. Launching into 'Circle
Of Cysquatch' Mastodon attack a series of their old material like hated
rivals and pull out some rarely played songs which drag the audience by
the scruff of the neck through their back catalogue. The old material
contrasting the new, sounding better now than it ever did.
Overall one of the best gigs in recent memory from a
band undeniably at the top of it's game.
Reviewer:
