Classical Composer Reaction/Analysis to Blood and Thunder (Mastodon) | The Daily Doug (Episode 459)

#mastodon #bloodandthunder #mastodonreaction
In this episode of #thedailydoug, I'm returning to the music of Mastodon. I reacted to their song Oblivion last November, and this time I'm listening to Blood and Thunder off of their 2004 concept album, Leviathan. I was overwhelmed with the song's sheer intensity, and I was most intrigued by the 'all diminished' chorus. Come along for the ride!
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[@Lokrion]

Brann Dailor is a treasure. His drumming turns even the simplest riff into "try not to head bang" challenge.

[@pratyushbzr]

And I love his vocals too!

[@Hitical_Crit]

The man never plays the same thing twice! Absolute weapon

[@ContaminatedBeef]

lol i remember a bunch of online reviews back when this album first came out where people complained about him overplaying. those people were stupid, of course

[@pascalg16]

​@@ContaminatedBeefThere's still complaints

[@thomascollette6322]

@@pascalg16 They're still stupid.

[@IgnacioCentu96]

As a non native english speaker, when I started reading Moby Dick after hearing Leviathan, everything clicked. This book is so metal man

[@fearvo]

You could probably get the same out of Kate bush with wuthering heights

[@tomaspabon2484]

The whole book is goddamn brutal. "He piled upon the whale's white hump the sum of all the general rage and hate felt by his whole race from Adam down; and then, as if his chest had been a mortar, he burst his hot heart's shell upon it" Melville was fucking hardcore, man

[@liammcmahon6039]

Hearing blood and thunder live was one the craziest things I’ve ever experienced

[@Sam-cv6un]

That's really cool, I'm jealous XD

[@CaptainTurdherder]

Hearing it live at Red Rocks with Neil Fallon caused me to lose my shit.

[@ramirof1986]

Same man…three times so far and it never gets old. Cant wait for the fourth with Gojira coming up!

[@FeratueTTV]

I saw them in September last year and they didn't play it! was super disappointed. Seeing them again in August this year, really hoping they do this time.

[@ToadsWorse]

When i went they unfortunately didn't play it but hearing black tongue live was so powerful

[@BillyBong]

I love that they use many actual quotes from the book as part of the lyrics. Example: "aim directly for his crooked brow"

[@albreezy26]

A crack the Skye album reaction would be so killer. One of my favorite bands ever because of all the different influences of prog, stoner, southern, etc. The range, the exceptional playing, the multiple vocalists, they really have done it for me over the past 15 years (I'm only 28 so lol) Thanks as always Doug!

[@TheCorpsehatch]

I can only imagine Doug's reaction to The Last Baron. One of the best album closers ever.

[@fearvo]

Hell yeah. Just even divinations... You know that duel video of Brent and Bill, just the two of them? Be bloody fantastic to get Doug's reaction

[@georgysukhinin]

Doug did a reaction video of "Oblivion", and that video was awesome.

[@rammsteinrulz16]

Just got it on vinyl for Christmas. Definitely my favourite next to Leviathan 🤘

[@michaelclements5793]

I strongly recommend a full album listen on this one. Leviathan is imo one of the best albums of all time. There's a metrical theme to it (in addition to plenty of other themes), which I picked up: the play of 6/8 vs 3/4, subdividing 6 eighth notes into 3 duplets or 2 triplets, playing on that ambiguity. This runs through most of the album (except Blood and Thunder, funnily enough, but at least the 5/8+6/8 section tells us that there's something metrically interesting in store). It culminates in the climax of Hearts Alive with the 7/8 section, pushing the duplets and triplet into one measure. And laughs at us on the way out in the Joseph Merrick outro, which is in 9/8, but in places comes off as 3/4+3/8.

[@nathanadams1332]

Been playing hearts alive intro for several months. Wacky intervals. Very very wacky intervals.

[@puppetmaster8551]

Brann Dailor is a god on the drums, hell of a vocalist too. Mastodon absolutely rules. Good stuff man, honestly you should do this whole album, one of the best metal albums of all time and widely considered a masterpiece that’s pretty much perfect, shit is legendary.

[@kurtkish6970]

This album is so EPIC. And I don’t use that word lightly.

[@caseyshawn5]

They throw in a major chord. Doug: “Major?” 😂😂

[@vinisilva_guitar]

LoL

[@StuartDootson]

My favourite Mastodon album - and that opener really sets the agenda… I’d love to see you listen to some Baroness - maybe A Horse Called Golgotha from The Blue Record

[@yves78]

Albums red and blue are the best.

[@StuartDootson]

@@yves78 I love Yellow and Green too (the later albums less so), but I can’t disagree with you!

[@user-mq7de9yz9o]

The Birthing from Red!

[@RyTrapp0]

YUS - gotta have some Baroness, great pick too!

[@pedroissa7096]

Need for speed mostwanted introduced me to this song

[@eighteen-naked-cowboys]

I think Mastodon is a band you could really dig into, much like Opeth and Maiden. Everything in their discography is beautiful in so many different ways. Their albums are best enjoyed in one sitting. Masters of their craft.

[@ThexCatmanx]

Catching lyrics to metal music is a skill. I learned it a lot in high school when the lyrics were more important to me and it taught me a lot about how singers structure their words and tones. I would read the lyrics while listening to songs for albums I loved (System of a Down - Toxicity as an example) and it came more into perspective for me.

[@Meowmeow0506]

Doug a listen through this entire album is HIGHLY recommended. Another Mastodon song I would love for you to check out Jaguar God, it's the closing song of their "Emperor of Sand" album which is a concept Album with metaphors to Cancer. One of their Proggiest songs. Other Mastodon prog masterpieces I'd recommend are: The Czar, The Last Baron, and Hearts Alive.

[@ogulcanyolcu8714]

Jaguar God makes me wet.

[@chriscoote2690]

Last Baron!!!

[@metalmark1214]

All good for Patreon.

[@jimofthenorth8090]

I've been trying to point Doug towards Jaguar God since he started doing these :)

[@mattyesfan2]

One of the greatest albums of the 21st century. Bar none.

[@Ninom26]

Thanks for the reaction! Brann Dailor is an amazing and crazy musician, speading drum fills in every tiny free space in the songs! I love it, even if sometimes it leads me to a drum overdose... And what a voice (when he sings)! Please, consider listening to "Sickle and Peace", from their latest album. Much calmer, and with an interesting structure. And with Brann singing the chorus! Thanks!

[@johnwentz2149]

The progressive Metal Band Voivod use diminished 7th chords pretty frequently, and we're a big influence on Mastodon. "Tornado" is a good example of the way the used them to build up tension, although "The Unknown Knows" might be a better overall introduction.

[@whahappend8222]

Definitely can't recommend Voivod enough. Diminished, whole tone, lydian, quartal harmony, all kinds of concepts you don't hear enough of in metal. Not only that, they're the only band I can think of that can be progressive regardless of whether they sound like Mad Max or explore lighter sounds like they did with Angel Rat. Doug should listen to End of Dormancy or Jack Luminous. They're like the entire discography in song form.

[@jtsiren1676]

Voivod rules for many reasons, among those are the infinitely creative chord voicings.

[@ryn5671]

Yes... Voivod .... " pre-ignition " off NOTHING FACE . Track is sick. whole album rules

[@jtsiren1676]

@@ryn5671 It's true. They hit the prog from a unique angle. Long time fan of those dudes.

[@ryn5671]

@@jtsiren1676 same... Saw them on the "Munsters of Rock" tour in around 89-90 Was Voivod, Soundgarden, Big F, and Faith No More

[@thebomb78]

One of the best metal bands around for the last few years. What a great song!

[@marcelosartori7988]

Great reaction Doug. That song was an opener to heavy metal for many people around 2006, mostly children or teenagers like me at that time. I heard this for the first time in the racing game Need For Speed: Most Wanted, released in 2005 and an classic in the genre. I'm 24y now. Anybody else heard Blood and Thunder because of the game?

[@stevehartke]

Would be great to hear you do the whole album!! You are so awesome picking apart these songs... ✌️

[@BrettBrothers]

Hey Doug! "Sleeping Giant" by Mastodon - One of the MOST BEAUTIFUL guitar-centric songs of all time. Will blow your mind!

[@deadpool20345]

Man if you really want some challenge try Behemoth. It's a Polish blackened-death metal band and they recently released a new album. I believe "O Father, O Satan, O Sun" off of "The Satanist" would be best for you to listen to on the next Metal Monday.

[@dustinbeck3807]

Please please please do more Mastodon. They are probably the greatest song writers of the last 20 years. Crack the skye is an absolute masterpiece of an album.

[@poropuri]

there's a version of the entire album performed by a string quartet, it's called A Taste of Chaos Ensemble, you should check it out also. :v

[@jakemertz2660]

I love all of Mastodon's albums, but Leviathan, Blood Mountain, and Crack the Skye are absolute masterpieces front to back that I can't recommend enough. Mastodon truly is the greatest rock/metal band of the 21st century.

[@andrewfarelli9241]

Wow, that's an impressive reaction. It's really cool to see how you dissected the song in a way I've never quite seen before. Give Dillinger Escape Plan, Killer Be Killed, High On Fire, and some others a try.

[@ramirof1986]

Troy’s vocals are unparalleled tbh…love his work on Killer be Killed

[@jkitchen2003]

would love to see him dissect 43% burnt lol

[@mr.scurvy]

I would be so thrilled if Clutch ever makes it to the channel.

[@corykinane2898]

Neil Fallon has the voice of god and the beard to match, and Clutch is the most consistent band out there; they do no wrong and kill it every time. Definitely recommend checking them out!

[@jimz6850]

Clutch is so groovetastic. Neil and the boys get it done no fuss no muss they just rock out.

[@kompjutr]

I already watched this from the future

[@abdulit182]

mastodon is the best metal band, today

[@PatoGreto]

CUUUUUUURSE YOU BAYLEEEEEEE!!!!!

[@ctlhenderson]

The last Baron by Mastodon and I’ll make a charity donation!

[@buckeyechad1]

I got to see Mastodon open up for Ghost two weeks ago in Atlanta.

[@zakuworks000]

Ghost opened for them in the Once More Around the Sun era.

[@w4rm_]

Its Amazing how they have reached the way to portrays the idea and the sound of waves, currents, fears, panic, tides. Ill Always love these guys.

[@eduardoreis5614]

important detail: it was Brann Dailor, the drummer, who wrote the riffs for this song (as well as several other songs in which he wrote guitars, drums and lyrics)

[@asharmstrong6730]

Splendid album. And Moby Dick is one of my favourite novels! For as much as I've enjoyed listening to Mastodon over the years, and it's frequently complex and thrilling music, I've never really paid much attention to their lyrics.

[@alexandre_am]

André Matos would have turned 51 last 9/14...how about getting Angra back on the channel, Doug? Many great songs to pick and I'm sure you'll like whichever you'd choose: Stand Away, Never Understand or Angels Cry, from Angels Cry; Make Believe, Silence And Distance or Nothing To Say from Holy Land; Lisbon, Fireworks or Gentle Change from Fireworks

[@russdesaulniers3112]

Yay, Mastodon!

[@cris_j]

This MUST have a full album reaction at some point. It is such a great work! It's intense, to be sure, and a lot for "non-headbangers" but worth working through.

[@alegn99-15]

You have to listen to hearts alive, such a masterpiece

[@GabrielRibeiro-pp2ef]

2:24 ☝"I wish I could...." A FIGHT FOR THIS FISH IS A FIGHT TO THE DEATH 🗣🗣🗣🗣

[@kylelewis4685]

Mastodon forever man. Aqua Dementia gets my vote for the next Mastodon to try out.

[@WutWutWhaat]

This is one of my favorite reaction videos of yours! I love how quick you pull out the key, the mode, the time signatures and all the nuances within.

[@revcanada2147]

Listen to the Rest! Then go and listen to the Newest album Hushed and Grim ! You will be blown Away! Best Metal Band in the 2000’s hands down.

[@Brewtalgaming]

Well delivered! Such a fantastic song and album. Their newest album Hushed and Grim would be a good one to follow up with to hear the evolution of the band.

[@scottchrismon4492]

Some others have commented that Crack the Skye album would be great as an entire album review. Yes.... Voivod has also been mentioned. Very cool French Canadian metal band from way back in the 80's still producing great music. Yes....

[@user-wy3mn3jf8q]

Please do “Jaguar God” by them

[@francoissyfert6483]

"the Wolf is Loose" is great too, also "The Last Baron".

[@jiggly198402]

Awesome reaction in the end. "Major!?", massively surprised (and impressed?) :D

[@hesselvanderkooij4825]

I think this is an example where lyric and music matches perfectly, because it really makes you fell like you are stuck on a small boat in a storm in the north atlantic. I fell head over heels in love with mastodon when they came out with this album, and I still am 🤗

[@DTxMatt]

Peace and Tranquility for the next mastodon song!

[@wallbangerreactions]

Another great reaction Doug. Thanks for discussing the novel itself and the symbolism.

[@discostoo]

Wait until Doug gets back on the Gojira train. A taste with Amazonia, but Flying Whales etc will take him into a different plane.

[@AnyRoadAnyTime]

Mastodon's latest album is a metal masterpiece. Their evolution and maturation has been an absolute pleasure to witness.

[@spazemunky]

Every mastodon album is better than the last

[@luky757]

HI the song is called A BRIDGE THAT BINDS by SOUTHERN EMPIRE thanks again mate.

[@TheMothmonsterman]

I love when Metal Mondays are metal.

[@Brewtalgaming]

holy oh my fuck yes!

[@metalmark1214]

Check out Bruce Dickinson solo material, recommend The Tower or Tears of the Dragon

[@Wyocaster]

Hey Doug, as a bit of a recommendation I highly recommend listening to a song from Coheed and Cambria, their most popular one is Welcome Home but In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3 is also a really good song, I'd love to hear your thoughts about them

[@princet131]

Great choice Doug! The whole album is worth your time, such a killer opening track.

[@poropuri]

maaann, from this album you should've listened to Hearts Alive, maybe Seabeast or Megalodon. :v

[@Habszburg]

There is behind you two of my favorit albums.

[@steveford8999]

My son used to work for the label (Relapse Records) that first signed them. And I actually met them (weird concatenation) at Philly's 30th Street Station one time. And, yes, they knew my son.

[@Berkut888Gaming]

Mastodon is beyond great, what a band

[@ExUSSailor]

Georgia's masters of Prog Metal.

[@adolfofdez.7570]

always on the (metal) spot! Thanks Doug!!!

[@LaPiernaDeMiAbuela]

You may like 'Hearts Alive' from the same album... Actually, the whole album is great.

[@shemsuhor8763]

When I was younger I didn't like Mastadon, didn't get it. Saw them live and was blown away, absolutely hooked and convinced.

[@richardrondon4550]

You have to listen to this album completly, it's a master piece

[@sethkaicer319]

Doug and I resurrected a rainbow before it turned to madness.

[@GalegHelross]

I miss when Mastodon was like this. This was a hell of an album.

[@lunixcaptain]

So happy you enjoyed my favorite band and my favorite album. Sea Beast next!

[@nickjordano]

You must listen to "King Diamond - At the Graves", it will blow your brains out :)

[@atomicwest995]

Someone here on KZbin did this entire album on the piano and it’s amazing and sounds like classical music, at least to me with no formal music education. But it’s amazing. You really can appreciate how dynamic Mastodon is. Anyone know the video I’m talking about?

[@JaxonBurn]

Yup! That shit rules.

[@kenl2091]

This was my introduction to Mastodon as well (a few years ago) and i was captured straight away. What you don't mention is the packaging of the CD was excellent (rare in the CD era barring box sets) and is almost an inducement to buy without hearing a note of music.

[@TheBuglemouthBass]

Great to see you check out a little classic Mastodon. This album is still the band in pure progressive sludge territory, much less melodic and ethereal than more recent works, but truly spectacular stuff. I love Neil's guest vocal. To me he has always been the voice of pure testosterone, and there are few more testosterone-fueled tales than Moby Dick.

[@azwris]

Still the best song of Mastodon and one of the best songs in the history of Metal!

[@An0xymoron127]

One of my favorite work out albums XD Y’all have this composer geeking out and haven’t turned him onto Between the Buried and Me? Some of the most jaw dropping compositions.

[@rodsmith1856]

Mr. Doug, listen to Obscura by Gorguts. You'll be impressed

[@kurtkish6970]

Mastodon is one of the few American metal bands I like (and I’m American). They’re so phucking original.

[@justinman114]

TIL Neil Fallon did vocals on this track. Whoa.

[@someoneelse101]

If it helps they tune below 440 for the most part. Low to high: DGCFAD is their guitar tuning

[@imoldmayo]

Wanting Not so Much to as To - Dilliinger Escape Plan

[@MichaelAngst]

Doug you gotta do More Than I Could Chew by Mastodon. Amazing song.

[@Davydd2]

"Call me Ishmael"

[@fl2857]

I had to replay 7:08 to 7:11 a few times and had a good laugh the first time: *Doug stops headbanging and freezes* "... major ?! ..."

[@MegitsuneSwe]

Been waiting for a new Iron Maiden video to post this suggestion on, but I guess I'll just do it on this metal monday. I'd love for you to check out "When The Wild Wind Blows" from their 2010 album "The Final Frontier". Based off of the book with a similar name, "When The Wind Blows" by Raymond Briggs, the song is about an elderly couple preparing for a nuclear fallout by bunkering down. There's some great lyrics, and in my opinion great instrumentation, that sounds quite beautiful. Overall it's probably my favorite Iron Maiden track. There are two versions, the studio and the live version from the En Vivo! live album. Both have pro's and con's. Personally I'd go with the live version though. It may not be the most unique song ever by IM, as it's another song in the E key, but it's done exceptionally well imho.

[@manictiger]

Mastadon music plays so very good on HD600s. I have some slight EQ to make up for the fact that it's not 3 grand electrostatics, but yeah, excellent headphone choice.

[@cristiangalvez1101]

Mastodon is a wonderful band, thanks! On "the hunter" and "hushed and grim" albums there are only jewels! any of those for the next opportunity 🙏🏼

[@kartoflanystefan4937]

Hello... I hope in the close future we will see reaction to Visions by Haken. Their best song to my mind.

[@Arrow2theACL]

Doug has done full album reactions of Aquarius and The Mountain by Haken on his Patreon and he throughhly enjoys Haken. I'm sure Visions will be done one day.

[@GiovaniGatto]

Man, a full Leviathan listen would be awesome. There's a guy that made a full-length piano cover somewhere on youtube

[@ryanweatherman-holt4805]

Well, seems ya gotta do CLUTCH one of these days. They cover several styles . Go deep-dive. Like #902 LOVE this channel, thanks, Doug!

[@rbkn8068]

Thank you for the intro to Mastodon. I am a fan of metal but not necessarily of metal where their singing is not understood. I know that is popular now. However Mastodon is an exception. Although their lyrics are much more understandable than say some tunes from Slipknot. I love the music though. Heavy and what I consider smooth. Transitions make the tunes especially in rock and these guys do that very well.

[@Luemm3l]

the cool thing with mastodon is how diverse they are. while their first two albums are arguably their heaviest, even a album like this one or "Remission" is incredibly varied, you have more short, in your face tracks, but also more midtempo, always great little musical ideas thrown in to keep things interesting. I can also really recommend their latest double album from last year or so "Hushed and grim". man, what a variety on that thing... and some big choruses.

[@puppetmaster8551]

Mastodon has the best discog in metal the last 2 decades Imo, so diverse like you said and everything they do is incredible. They’ve never missed in their lives

[@endacoughlan2670]

There are quite a few piano covers of Mastodon songs on KZbin. They are quite compelling. There are many great songs on Leviathan and also their album Crack The Skye.

[@mattzeroable]

"Crack the skye" track it's a must great reaction and analysis Doug Another suggestions from Mastodon: - Show yourself - March of the fire ants

[@sonnysutherland4245]

Listen to the whole record please.

[@brunoliberato837]

More Mastodon Songs please

[@hoon_sol]

_"Vengeance on a dumb brute!" cried Starbuck, "that simply smote thee from blindest instinct! Madness! To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain Ahab, seems blasphemous."_ _"Hark ye yet again - the little lower layer. All visible objects, man, are but as pasteboard masks. But in each event - in the living act, the undoubted deed - there, some unknown but still reasoning thing puts forth the mouldings of its features from behind the unreasoning mask. If man will strike, strike through the mask! How can the prisoner reach outside except by thrusting through the wall? To me, the white whale is that wall, shoved near to me. Sometimes I think there’s naught beyond. But ’tis enough. He tasks me; he heaps me; I see in him outrageous strength, with an inscrutable malice sinewing it. That inscrutable thing is chiefly what I hate; and be the white whale agent, or be the white whale principal, I will wreak that hate upon him._ _Talk not to me of blasphemy, man; I’d strike the sun if it insulted me."_