Mastodon | Blood Mountain | Story Explained

[@owenkitzmiller533]

In the “making of blood mountain” video, Brann gives a quick rundown of the album. Specifically at the end he says the hero succeeds and eventually evolves into the next human form. Great evaluation!

[@austinnuttall8648]

Here after PunkRockMBA's Mastodon video. I'be been a fan of this album for years and have never seen a breakdown this in depth. Great work! Subscribed!

[@JJMetalhead]

Thanks for the sub!! PunkRockMBA did me a solid!!

[@john0044ify]

I think this album is very interesting beacuse this story has many deep insights, like, when the protagonist is attacked by the birhcmen and is forced to become a wolf to survive, is a way of saying that to survive in this world, and even to evolve as a person, you will have to give in to your primal instincts, that giving in and acceptcing/disvoering your primal self, that we all judge so evil, is necessary to surpass certain obstacles. In general, I see this album as a metaphor for evolving past the human form/conscience, trasscending if i must. Although its very complicated, and its stilll unclear in my mind, as mastodon always combines many mesages in their albums, but I find it specially interesting how they make this goal sound "evil", as siberian divide says "evil lives atop my crooked spine", making me understand that they think humans are inherently not good, and that their life form is corrupt, as they also say that "the atmosphere that floats above the earth is corrupt for man", implying that humans are completely unable to achieve their higher goals as humans, and the only way is dying. I feel that last part specially matches what u said about how he leaves his regret behind even though it causes a sort of apocalypse. If you actually read this, know that i liked your video. Keep it up!

[@aberwood]

Great analysis. I think they're at their best in their storytelling albums like Blood M, Emperor and Crack the Skye. You have an awesome look btw🤘

[@JJMetalhead]

I agree! Emperor of Sand is also a favorite of mine and has a great story. Thank you!!

[@JakeCarlini]

I love this channel! I found you when I was looking for Year of the Black rainbow information! Stayed for the good content!!!

[@tannerslomko]

I’ve been looking for the story of this for years. Awesome, awesome video and channel. Thank you for this.

[@Robert-White]

my personal favorite mastodon album its soooo good

[@solarwolf857]

Colony of Birchmen is the song that got me into listening to metal and what made Mastodon my favorite band

[@zachcloyd9589]

You just made my favroite album 100% more bad ass. Love It!

[@deadtotheworld936]

It's so nice too meet other people that understand there's a very detailed story behind concept albums. Its basically a book written through in within the whole album. I definitely subbed. Keep posting m!!!

[@EarthenDemon126]

Pendulous skin lyrics (as I understand them): I, I have run away I, And I was bound to know That you were on the way I wasn't able I wasn't able I'll have you know that I'm on my way back I, I have run away I, And I was bound to know That you were on the way I wasn't able I wasn't able I'll have you know that I'm on my way back I, I have run away I, And I was bound to know That you were on the way I wasn't able I wasn't able I'll have you know that I'm on my way back I, I have run away I, And I was bound to know That you were on the way I wasn't able I wasn't able To me this implies that the protagonist did not survive or did not make it back.

[@sackfullofrocks4292]

Really cool video. This and crack the skye are my favorite albums by them, and it was really cool to see someone make such in depth and thoughtful breakdowns of them, and I see them in a different light after these really perceptive breakdowns. Really good content, can't believe this doesn't have more views. But you have made a fan here, and I can't wait to see what new content you post. Thanks!

[@SickBoyOC]

I never knew the story of this album until I saw Finn McKintey's recent video. He referenced your vid so I came to check it out. After watching, it puts such a different perspective in the music for me. The album feels so different now I can feel the adventure of the protagonist takes. Awesome vid I loved your breakdown of it

[@JJMetalhead]

Thanks so much for watching! Finn is the man!

[@Brightbix110]

Love this analysis. You really gave me another dimension to this album keep up the awesome work. Would love to hear your analysis of In Contact by Caligulas Horse

[@JJMetalhead]

THank you! And I've not heard of them, but I'll have to check them out!

[@realhippiesarecowboys]

Here from Finn McKenty! Dope video

[@simonmodig]

I have returned to this album time and time again since it released. I almost never listen to metal anymore but this album is just transcending

[@hotdog7334]

You should definitely start doing interviews at shows. Get these artists to answer you deep questions!

[@JJMetalhead]

That would be a dream come true! Maybe one day.

[@alanthompson2753]

Great vid, thanks for breaking it down

[@OkieGrower75]

Why is this your last content? Hope you are well!💚💚

[@staar823]

I've always felt like the protagonist in Blood Mountain goes on to become the paraplegic person in "Crack the Skye" - from the damages he suffers while going up the Blood Mountain, getting caught in the avalanche and suffering frost bite. He gets rescued, and during the song Pendulous Skin, he drifts in and out if conscience, dreaming about what would happen if he succeeded and what happens now that he hasn't succeeded. He then goes home to his family, parents, and being stuck without arms or legs, and a deep depression from not having succeeded in his mission to get to the top of Blood Mountain, he starts to astral project, to seek answers from the gods on why they let him fail his task, or what would happen if he had succeeded. But as the song Oblivion mentions, he flies to close to the sun, and severs his umbilical cord anchoring his soul to his body, and goes on the adventure of Crack the Skye

[@JJMetalhead]

Cool theory! I had never thought about connecting the two albums, but I like it.

[@HexOmega3113]

Very interesting idea.

[@goodknight37]

This was my first Mastodon album. Still love it👍

[@MinorInfluence92]

I was driving up on Blood Mountain while listening to Blood Mountain

[@JJMetalhead]

Did sounds like the perfect storm for an out of body/spirituality/other worldly experience.

[@HexOmega3113]

Have you covered any of Opeths concept albums?

[@JJMetalhead]

Yes! kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2jTpH96idmcqZI

[@dispersion4333]

The chapter names got me cracking up

[@dsavage131]

You should do King Gizzard's Infest the Rats Nest! i might have my info wrong but, my interpretation is that's its basically a story about the human race migrating to Mars but with a twist, One ship is full of the Rich and one with the poor, "Venusian 1"( think like a First Class Ship compared to "Venusian 2" being a "coach seating" ship) "Venusian 1" goes to Mars as planned while "Venusian 2" is sent directly into the sun leaving "Mars for the Rich" and earth for the remaining poor left stranded an a crumbling planet. The final song on the Album "Hell" is Satan feeling pity for the poor that were sent into sun and allowing them to haunt the Rich on mars as a reward for them/ punishment for the rich.

[@JJMetalhead]

Thank you for the suggestion, I'll have to check it out. That definitely sounds like an awesome story!

[@fede2]

I gave the lyrics the old college try. If I hadn't had a basic index of what the band was going for I wouldn't have been able to make heads or tails of it in a million years. I'm not particularly wired to grasp this degree of poetry in writing.

[@rileycallahan6529]

Ive hiked blood mountain! I mean I live right beside it so it feels less special I guess...

[@JJMetalhead]

Riley Callahan Thats awesome! I want to hike it one day

[@rileycallahan6529]

@@JJMetalhead Definitely go in the winter then, it is a really hot hike if not! Also sometimes the streams and waterfalls freeze over and makes for a surreal hike

[@sackfullofrocks4292]

I live in metro atlanta and have hiked it, in the winter when there's some snow in north ga, yeah hiking up it definitely is a vibe. Would make for some sweet black metal album art some days lol

[@louisdemm1758]

The highest mountain on the AT is clingmans dome! Great video otherwise!

[@N3ukenInD3K3uken]

I thought it was about a very explosive period

[@adamkay3610]

Man, who did the chapter titles? Crystal SCHOOL? Capillary INCREASED?! The SIZE SQUATCH!? Colony of RICHMOND!? Seriously!? Like the content - that goes for all these videos - and JJ's interpretation of Blood Mountain but a bit of quality control on the presentation would go a long way and make a good video a lot better.

[@JJMetalhead]

Those are auto-generated by KZbin. I hadn’t even noticed they were there until now. Thanks for pointing it out, I’ll see if I can go in and fix it.

[@adamkay3610]

@@JJMetalhead Absolutely no disrespect intended JJ. Keep up the good work. x