Mastodon’s Blood Mountain is one of my favourite albums of the last year and I was astounded when no one took up the opportunity to interview them for thedwarf.com.au.

I somehow volunteered, having had no experience whatsoever in interviewing or writing up an interview! I was kind of pleased (as the fear level started rising) when I realised I would be unavailable at the scheduled time of the phone interview! Thankfully my awesome editor Jade conducted the interview on my behalf using some questions I’d prepared (as well as ones she had prepared herself). Below is my attempt, with thanks to Soph and my American pal Marisa (a budding Environmental Journalist) for proof reading and offering advice on what was originally a very unrefined piece.

Mastodon Reaches for Next Phase of Human Evolution

Instructions:
1) Climb Mountain
2) Find crystal skull
3) Insert crystal skull into head to eradicate reptile brain
4) Advance to next stage of human evolution

Although these directions sound like the ideas of a pasty-white sunlight-fearing Dungeons and Dragons geek, they’re actually the concepts behind American metal band Mastodon’s 3rd album, “Blood Mountain.” The album details the imaginary adventures of the band as it attempts to ascend Blood Mountain and complete the above tasks.

Lead singer and guitarist Bill Kelliher is far from a D&D geek, however. “We figure it’s interesting to tell a story or some kind of adventure” he says, referring to the lyrics of their albums.

Nevertheless, Kelliher warns his listeners to never take the lyrics literally, which he believes is a good thing because it leaves the music open to interpretation.

“It can mean anything to anyone…you fill in the blanks,” Kelliher states.

Mastodon formed in the American city of Atlanta, Georgia in 1999 when Kelliher and Brann Dailor (drums) met Troy Sanders (bass) and Brent Hinds (guitar) at another band’s show. Mastodon rose to notoriety following their sophomore album “Leviathan”, a concept album based on Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick.” “Leviathan” won many accolades including Album of the Year from magazines such as Kerrang, Revolver and Terrorizer.

Mainstream success hasn’t changed the modus operandi of the band: It continues to write music to rock out to. As “metal” as the band’s sound and image may seem, its humanity is evident in its motivations to play music.

“It’s kinda like a natural high, to get up there, have people stare at you and get into the songs and the music you’re creating with your hands. It’s a good feeling” says Kelliher.

“Blood Mountain” was written in the span of five and a half weeks and many of the tracks on the album come in at the radio friendly 3:00 to 3:30 minute mark. For Mastodon, the length of a song is not about fitting in 3 verses, 3 choruses and a bridge. Each song sets a mood and the music reflects, the song ending when the point has been made. Leviathan’s Hearts Alive is 13:39 minutes of ebb and flow, providing testament to Mastodon’s ability to change key, time signature and overall mood within a song.

“There’s a lot of stuff going on, a lot of drama” says Kelliher.

Often a band like Mastodon would have dark and heavy influences, but the members have been brought up on an eclectic array of music including artists like Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Genesis and Stevie Wonder. Dailor’s unique style of drumming with jazzy moments followed by pounding double kick-drum barrages provide testament to this varied influence.

“This album [Blood Mountain] is a nice collaboration of everybody’s character and individuality. I always felt we were four unique individuals making up the band, and we’ve combined to make a meal with wicked ingredients. But most important, everything we do is completely pure and honest,” bassist Sanders says.

Mastodon will be touring Australia and New Zealand for the first time in April. They will be supporting Slayer with shows in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland.

Oh yeah, to top things off, I got tickets to see them! It’s going to be sweet, let’s hope the idiots aren’t out in force.