Anime Review: Yu Yu Hakusho (Season 4)

Well fellow Otaku & Metalheads......this is the end.

I find it funny that I’m ending this review series on what is the 400th post on this hobby blog of mine. A review series that I started back in the plague ridden year of 2020 (The 6th of May of 2020, to be specific), and nearly 2 years later I’m finally finishing it up today. A series I knew of for ages, but only in recent memory did I begin to enjoy it as much as I have. As a way to conclude a month of posts for a dear friend’s birthday gift, I can think of no other way to end my series of posts for this February than with one final look at a legend. So sit back, relax, and enjoy my review for Yu Yu Hakusho season 4. Let’s begin!

Story/Setup
Taken from the box:

“The gateway between worlds lies open and past must battle present, but with Yusuke’s final death his friends rush onward. Risen once more with the blood of ages coursing through his veins, the young man sheds humanity as the war shifts realms to the land of demons. Three legendary kings seek power where only one can rule, and friends are enlisted as champions to become foes in the final struggle for control. From troubled teen to royalty, Yusuke’s final chapter unfolds.”

If Season 3 was the “Infinity War” of the series, then Season 4 is it’s “Endgame”. What I mean is that in this last season, shit has genuinely hit the fan. Thanks to the actions of Yusuke & the gang, there is now a giant turf war between some of, if not the strongest demons in Demon World, and everybody has a side to choose......whether they like it or not. More than the first 2 seasons, and maybe even season 3, the stakes are raised to a level where it does feel like it could all be lost. There’s this underlying feeling of tension from the more passive beginning episodes, all the way till the end where it explodes. It’s pretty intense, but it’s also kind of fun at the same time. Guessing when it all goes to shit is pretty neat, as everybody will have a different point where they think said shit hits the fan, leading to some fine arguments/debates.

I do want to make a special note, and it’s one of the two reasons why I enjoy season 4. There is none of the heavy & pretentious philosophy that was so prevalent in the previous season, and not at any point did I feel like I was being talked down to because of said philosophy. Though there is a little bit of the grey morality coming over from season 3 into this one, I found it considerably easier to consume, as it was better utilized throughout my viewing. They didn’t just slather it all over, but instead used it at just the right points. As you can tell by that statement, it’s the other reason why this final season is one of my favorites.

Animation
(See review of season 1 for details)

Voice Acting
(See the previous 3 reviews for details)

Characters
By this point in the series, everybody from primary to secondary characters are solidified in their.....character. Make no mistake: Yusuke & the gang still evolve & grow over the course of the final season. As you can tell by the descriptor above, our street punk is tested like he’s never been tested before, and is put into a situation that he really doesn’t want to be in. Kurama & Hiei are sort of in the same boat, as they’re shoved into the power struggle between the Demon Lords as well, and even Kuwabara has his own struggles in this last season also. I will say I do wish that certain characters had something different happen with them by the end, but that’s probably because of the optomist in me. I will say that despite some seriousness, everybody does get a happy ending of sorts, and that’s a-okay with me!

Availability & Pricing ***
As I said before on the past 2 reviews of the series, I snagged Season 4 at Katsucon 2020 alongside season 2 & 3. Currently, on Amazon it costs $22.39 for the multi-format release, $34.49 for just the Blu-Ray, and a whopping $62.34 for the standard DVD edition. As you can plainly see, the multi-format and Blu-Ray releases are the best options to go for.

Overall Impression & Rating
Yu Yu Hakusho: Season 4 ends on a damn good note. Sure, there are some things I wished would have happened instead of some other stuff, but for the most part I liked what happened. There was some great fights, great story moments, and the characters felt like they’ve finally solidified into their final forms. If you couldn’t stand how philosophical & grey the last season was, then you will find that the final season of this Shonen classic will more than make up for it.

Yu Yu Hakusho: Season 4 gets a 8.5 out of 10.

And that was my review for Yu Yu Hakusho: Season 4, and by extent my end of looking at this series. I had a lot of fun watching this franchise, and even though I may not have as much of an attachment to it as some old-schoolers do, that doesn’t mean I can’t see why it’s fans dig the hell out of it! If the OVA movie ever crosses my path, then maybe I might look at it as well. Well everybody, Elden Ring came out a few days ago, so I’m gonna explore The Lands Between as a break. See you sometime in March!


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If you haven’t looked at my reviews for the first 3 seasons, then click on the links below:

Yu Yu Hakusho: Season 1 (Review)

Yu Yu Hakusho: Season 2 (Review)

Yu Yu Hakusho: Season 3 (Review)

Also, the prices I mentioned above were from when I first typed this out, and may have changed since I posted this review.

Convention Review: Katsucon 2022

Well, I just had a good weekend recently fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

The convention I’m about to examine was the only convention I managed to go to back in February of 2020, weeks before the Great Plague took over the entire world. A con that left a pretty big impact on me, and in turn made a big fan. I’m of course talking about the Metro D.C. area’s pre-imminent convention devoted to all weeby things, Katsucon! With Genericon at RPI effectively being taken out the pasture, shot in the head, and left for dead, a new con has filled that early-year hole for me. I’ve certainly got a bit to say, so let’s not waste anymore time, and take a look at my review for Katsucon 2022. Let’s begin!

Good Points
Much like Connecticon, I have to give credit to Katsucon’s entry requirements. Like the previously mentioned convention, you were to either have you COVID vaccination card, or you were to have a negative COVID test result from the past 72 hours (If I recall correctly). Not only that, but you had to have a mask on all the time save for when you’re at one of the various eating areas within the hotel. Even though cases of people getting the plague are going down, requirements to enter events are still needed in my view in order to keep the con-guests, con staff, and con-goers as safe as possible. As far as I was able to see during the entire weekend, nobody was having a hissy fit because they had to wear a piece of cloth over one’s face. If anybody was complaining about it, I didn’t hear or see it.

Next up is the hotel itself. Like I said in my 2020 review, the Gaylord is a behemoth of a place to stay. The Hartford Marriott up in Connecticut certainly is grand, but the Gaylord comes across like a small city! There are restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, you name it! I don’t want to repeat too much here, as I’ll just be bringing back points I brought up just under 2 years ago. Same with all of the various shops & such that are nearby the hotel. There is one negative I do have to say about the Gaylord, but I’m saving that for later. Suffice it to say, but the Hotel is a blast to be in!

Finally, I want sum up this part of the review with a bunch of things in my previous review that I thought was just as awesome in 2022. There was the extensive cosplay, as there was so many various costumes & outfits that really stood out. There was the Dealer’s Room, which had an inventory of goods just as expansive as I remembered over 2 years ago, and I was able to purchase quite a few things. To round things out, there was also the extensive selection of panels & events that took place, and while I didn’t go to many of them, the ones I did partake in were lots of fun. I especially liked the Masquerade this year, as there was some pretty fun skits & the cosplays within were perhaps the best out of the entire weekend.

(When I get my pictures off my phone, I’ll update this review with some of them.)

Okay Points
Much like Connecticon from last year, the lack of social distancing is the only thing I can think of to put here. There wasn’t that much, and the only place I can think of that had any was in the autograph lines (I wasn’t in line for any, so I’m only assuming there was). To go down the Devil’s Advocate route however, the strict COVID regulations probably made this less of a concern, and the con-goers more than likely had far more common sense.

Bad Points
So the first thing that’s bad doesn’t have to do with the convention itself, but the trip getting down. Now, people that live nearby the Gaylord aren’t going to have an issue, but I’m from New York State, and it takes a good chunk of the day to get to the hotel & convention center. Back in 2020, it took about 9 to 9 & ½ hours going down, and 8 & ½ to 9 hours going back up. This year was a little shorter, as both going up & down took what felt like 7 to 8 hours each. It was a little easier to deal with, but still was kind of a pain.

Secondly, and perhaps a bit more major to me, would be the lack of a sellable con t-shirt. Now, you were able to get one (As well as a couple more goodies) through doing some volunteer work, so technically you could get one. However, in the Dealer’s Room, there were none to be found. I was told by staff at a table that there were supposed to be people there selling them to con-goers, but they never showed up. This is really frustrating, as I really liked the design of the t-shirt this year, and wanted to show it off to my friends!

Finally, and perhaps this is more of my fault that the convention or the hotel staff. Back in 2020, there was the kitchen on the bottom floor, and there was a fantastic breakfast buffet available in the morning with some choice Southern dishes that you don’t always find in Upstate New York. However, I come to find out that it was closed! There was construction going on not only where the kitchen was, but by one of the escalators as well. Now, if the Gaylord website stated that this was going on & I didn’t see it, then this is completely on me. If this was going on and the hotel didn’t tell anybody, then it’s on them.

(Tiny side tangent: who the hell has a high school class come to one of the most packed & wildest conventions on the east coast!? Who the hell scheduled it during Katsu!? If anyone has an answer, please let me know!)

Final Thoughts & Rating
Katsucon 2022 was a ton of fun! There was a dent or two in the armor, but it was nice & refreshing to come back to a con I first visited just before the Great Plague hit. Like Connecticon from last year, it was so great to see geeks/nerds/Otaku/weebs to all different kinds of stripes wandered the hollowed halls of the Gaylord once again, and it helped make one’s self feel better....if just for a weekend. If you’re interested & have the money, please give Katsucon a go. It is worth your time!

Katsucon 2022 gets an 8.5 to  9 out of 10.

And that was my review for Katsucon 2022. Once again, it was a lot of fun to travel down south for a weekend of fun, and be surrounded by like-minded people. It was refreshing when we’ve had a plague for as long as we’ve had, that we were able to get together & feel just a little bit safer for a few days. With that said, tune in around the end of the month for the previously mention review I’ve been working on. See you then!




***
If you’d like to read my review of the first Katsucon I attended, click on the link below:

Convention Review: Katsucon 2020

Metal Overview: Mastodon (Part 2)

Welcome back to my look at Mastodon fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

At the beginning of the month, I took a look at the building blocks of the band in the 2000s. During this decade, the group released some of their most classic records, and to this day many of them are talked about in high regard. Now, we enter the 2010s & last year. Would the quartet be able to continue the level of quality they established, and create some equally impressive albums? Well, continue to read on, and see for yourself. Let’s begin!     

The Hunter (2011)

With Crack the Skye having set the bar pretty high, Music critics and fans were wondering how Mastodon was going to proceed forward. Would they be able to somehow top what they previously put out, or would they at the very least tie? Well, we got our answer with The Hunter. Released on the 27th of September in 2011, it was a release that......certainly created a wide variety of opinions. Music critics certainly dug the record, as BBC Music writer Mike Diver concluded his review with the following:

“The Hunter, with its monstrous choruses, powerful percussion and jaw-on-the-floor fret-work, is sure to connect with anyone who's previously rocked out to the band's wares just as easily as it will absolute beginners. Don't like metal? You might just love Mastodon.”

Allmusic gave The Hunter a 4 out of 5, saying:

“Mastodon's increasingly accessible sound may not land them a hit anytime soon, but cuts like 'Black Tongue', 'Curl of the Burl' and 'Blasteroid', all of which arrive in sequence at the front of the set, show a willingness to write within the parameters of 21st-century pop music's dark side.”

It’s the Mastodon fans where said variety of opinions crop up. There are many who praise the album, but there’s a similar number of people who think it’s the absolute pits. For me? I’ll be repeating this a little later, but the music on here isn’t bad. Not a single song feels awful, lazy, or slapdash, and Mastodon isn’t the kind of band to go down those routes.....but it comes across as the most pretentious. Much like Bathory’s 1991 release Twilight of the Gods, I don’t know how The Hunter is pretentious, but I know that it is. It’s a shame that I’m saying this, as there’s some personal connections to the band. The album got it’s name in honor of Brent Hinds' brother, who died in a hunting accident while the band were recording, and the Chinese element of "Wood" is a common motif throughout the album. So there’s definitely the feeling that Mastodon put in a lot of emotion and some spirituality, but somehow, someway, the band come across as upity hipsters....and I don’t think that’s what they’re going for.

Best Track? The Sparrow comes across like a lost track from the Crack The Skye days, and thus is my pick for the best track of the album. It seems to carry a lot of emotional weight like that off of the previously mentioned release, the instrumentation & vocal work feel roughly the same, and the atmosphere and vibe feels similar to their 2009 output. Not much else to say, other than The Sparrow is a great way to end this release on.

The Sparrow

Worst Track? I don’t know what it was about this album, but Mastodon was trying way too hard on this album. They were way too Prog, way too weird, and in the process marked the only time in their career (At least in my opinion) that they came across as pretentious. This isn’t to say the music on The Hunter is bad, because I don’t think there’s a single tune that sucks. It’s just that they come across as unintentionally uppity, and are really tooting their own horn with this release.

The Hunter. Not the hideous abomination that some music critics and fans say it is, but at the same time is the most pretentious record in their entire discography. Because of this, it remains the one album from Mastodon that I’m least likely to pick up if I’m in the mood. Still, there’s definitely some great material on here, and the quality alone is enough to say that it may be worth your time. Next album!

Once More Round The Sun (2014)

With The Hunter being highly praised by critics, but fans having a more mixed reaction among listeners, the release to come was definitely on people’s radar. In late 2021 guitarist Brent Hinds mentioned that he and the rest of the band had begun writing material for the band's next release. While they were still touring for their last album in 2013, they were writing and demo-ing for the followup to come, and later on in that year they began recording at Rock Falcon Studios in Franklin, Tennessee, with producer Nick Raskulinecz at the production helm. After putting their nose to the grindstone, Mastodon released what was to be known as Once More Round The Sun on the 24th of June, 2014, OMRTS seems to move in the direction that some people wanted. The album sold around 34,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week, landing it at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart (For comparison, The Hunter sold 39,000 in it’s first week), and ended up being one of their best at the time.

Reception for OMRTS was high when it was released. AllMusic writer Thom Jurek wrote that “Once More 'Round the Sun furthers what Mastodon began on The Hunter: expanding their music past metal's rigid borders – toward an integrative sound that doesn't leave metal out”. In his Consequence of Sound review, Michael Madden claimed that “Mastodon are starting to look more like that band's peers [Slayer], not disciples. Nick Raskulinecz's eternally crunchy production helps them reach those heights on Once More 'Round the Sun, and, as Oakland artist Skinner's cover suggests, the record is vibrant, too. There could be more structural risk-taking and the band could stand to have more grandiose moments, but, well, you know: consider them six for six”. Finally, Dom Lawson of The Guardian said that “Once More 'Round the Sun sounds very much like the album they need to make to edge a little further into the mainstream – it has a largely straightforward air and a tendency to favour the big hooks of 2011's The Hunter over the labyrinthine weirdness of 2009's Crack the Skye”.

Best Track? Asleep In The Deep immediately caught my attention. Partially because the music video stars a cat taking the weirdest acid trip of a journey, and I own one of the best cats in the entire world. The other reason is that this song comes across like a track that wasn’t included on Leviathan. The guitars, bass, and drums are played equally weird, & the vocals fluctuate among different singing styles. This seemingly alien experience ends up being perhaps the strongest thing on OMRTS, and definitely un-skippable as well.  

Asleep In The Deep

Worst Track? Unfortunately for Once More Round The Sun, the one thing it shares in common with the band’s previous release is the unintentional pretentiousness. The band still seem to be more Prog than necessary, and are still trying too hard to be weird. Funny enough, I don’t think it’s as bad on here as it was on The Hunter. Sure, it’s still noticeable, but Mastodon seem to scale it back a little, and in the process there are moments where OMRTS comes across like something from the 2000s. Definitely a step in the right direction!

Once More Round The Sun. Certainly a step on the right track, but the band still aren’t standing all the way straight yet. It would take a few more years before they stood all the way back up, but the release to come next would most definitely help. If you felt that The Hunter was a disappointing record, then this will be a great substitute.....and as we transition into 2017, we’ll encounter the release that converted me to the faitthful. Next album!

Emperor Of Sand (2017)

And here we are everybody. The album on which I became a member of the Mastodon religion. Emperor Of Sand. Released on the 31st of March, 2017, EOS may be in fact the most emotional out of everything in the band’s discography. Thematically, the concept and story follows a desert wanderer who has been handed a death sentence by the titular “Emperor” of the record, but the idea came from an all too real source.....Cancer.

Yep, the whole album is inspired by someone going through Cancer & Cancer Treatment, as Troy Sanders’s wife got cancer, and Bill Kelliher’s mother tragically passing from the disease. As Brann Dailor said one time:

“At the end of the story, the person simultaneously dies and is saved. It's about going through cancer, going through chemotherapy and all the things associated with that. I didn't want to be literal about it. But it's all in there. You can read between the lines.”

In a statement, Troy Sanders said:

“We're reflecting on mortality. To that end, the album ties into our entire discography. It's 17 years in the making, but it's also a direct reaction to the last two years. We tend to draw inspiration from very real things in our lives.”

As with practically every single album in their discography, Emperor Of Sand was met with high praise upon it’s release. Calum Slingerland from Exclaim! stated that “Drawing as much from their past as well as their present, Mastodon refuse to go extinct just shy of two decades of music-making. Emperor of Sand is at once emotionally powerful and musically arresting”. Anita Bhagwandas in her NME review sad that “Metal needed this album. It needed a record that's doomy, heavy and magnificently multilayered, and Mastodon's seventh album is exactly that”. In a more critical take on EOS, Thom Jurek of Allmusic said “Emperor of Sand is not perfect; it doesn't attain the glories of the first trilogy. That said, it's easily on par with The Hunter and stronger than Once More 'Round the Sun, while being more diverse than any record they've cut. Arguments about quality should go beyond the aesthetics to embody process and honesty, which are what ultimately matters. In order to be true to themselves, Mastodon had to make Emperor of Sand at this time. There was no other option. As such, its urgency, sophistication, and emotional heft make it a necessary entry in their catalog”.

Best Track? For me, I gotten give it to the title track! Not only was this the first single of the album, it also was the song that finally got me hooked on to the band. This song really does sound like it comes from the desert: you feel the hot wind flowing over you, the desolation of the land, and all the while the eyes of the titular emperor watching you from far away. The instrumentation opts for a slower pace, and the vocals are much the same way. Mastodon were smart to start off the album with this song, as it’s the overall face of the CD. A great song!

Emperor Of Sand

Worst Track? I can’t really think of any track that’s bad. Maybe it’s because that this was the first album from Mastodon that I properly listened to back in 2017, but I didn’t feel like anything on here was a waste of time. There is the argument that can be made about the band still trying too hard to be Prog on this release, but I consider it to be the least offensive on here when compared to the last two releases.

Emperor Of Sand. The album on which I became a member of the Mastodon faithful, yet it still doesn’t quite grasp the bar....but it was pretty close. If you were dissatisfied with the last two releases, then this trip to the desert will be up your alley. Next album!

Cold Dark Place (2017)

Before we get to the behemoth of Mastodon’s discography, I want to talk about this surprising little curiosity. Released digitally & on CD on the 22nd of September in 2017, and a limited-edition ten-inch vinyl on October the 27th in the same year, Cold Dark Place is a 4-song collection of tracks that the band compiled from prior albums. Three tunes are from the Once More Round The Sun sessions (More on that in a moment), and perhaps the biggest song out of all of them, Toe to Toes, was done during the relatively recent Emperor Of Sand recording. It’s odd that the band would put these songs out on an EP instead of their respective records they were originally recorded during, but at the same time they’re not being wasted. These four tunes are great, and show off how the band was at those two times. Not only that, but CDP was the other release that got me hooked onto Mastodon, and was a gift from a very dear friend of mine.

Best Track? Blue Walsh is the most dreamlike of the 4 songs on here, and the one that I enjoy the most. The guitars & bass are played in a misty, groove-like way, while the drums act as a support. The vocals for the most part aren’t sung too loudly, save for when the louder parts come up. As the 2nd of the 3 songs recorded during the Once More Round The Sun sessions, I definitely consider it to be the best out of that trio.

Blue Walsh

Worst Track? Really this bite-sized record’s is that it’s short. Clocking in at just over 21 minutes (21 minutes & 46 seconds to be specific), the EP seemingly comes & goes at the drop of a hat, and it will take a few listens to in order for it to stick around. It’s a shame, since all 4 songs on this are really well done, and could have easily fit on their respective main releases.

Cold Dark Place. Perhaps a bit short, but at the same time carries over quite a bit of quality from Emperor of Sand. If you need a quick fix of this band before you have to go somewhere, or just want a quick metallic fix in general, then this EP is for you. Next album!

Hushed & Grim (2021)

And here we are. The album to conquer all other albums in this band’s storied career, and the one that I can say with a straight face is my absolute favorite release from Mastodon of all time. Hushed & Grim. Released on the 29th of October in 2021, the album came out in rather interesting and tragic times. In early September of 2018, Mastodon lost their longtime manager & dearest friend Nick John to Pancreatic Cancer (They did a great tribute here), and then of course COVID-19 hit back in 2020, along with the subsequent lockdown that year. Coupled with some of the emotions they were still feeling from Emperor of Sand and Cold Dark Place, it would be obvious that the next album the band would put out would be their heaviest & most emotional ever. Like I said above, Hushed & Grim is my absolute favorite Mastodon album of all time. This album here, much like Rammstein’s self-titled release back in 2019, feels like the culmination of everything the band has done in the nearly 20 years since their very first release. It also feels like Mastodon finally grabbed that bar that they set so high all the way back in 2009, and they’re finally standing tall once again.

Hushed & Grim was receive pretty highly upon release. AllMusic critic Thom Jurek said that H&G’s songs were “rendered with abundant creativity, massive power, and searing honesty”, and Rolling Stone said that “Hushed and Grim never stops giving, and the album’s energy, depth, and power make it a completely unique addition to the band’s mammoth catalog”.

Best Track? Teardrinker was the track to immediately get me excited for Hushed & Grim, and is a great tune in it’s own right. Fundamentally, Teardrinker reminds me a lot of tracks from the Emperor Of Sand/Cold Dark Place era, but with the emotional aspect turned up quite a bit. The instrumentation plays soft one moment, then will go hard & heavy the next moment. Same with the vocal work: soft at one point, then heavy the next. This is pretty important, as the song seems to deal with the concept of a broken relationship, and whether or not wanting to leave it broken, or trying to fix at least some of it. It really tugs at the heartstrings, and almost gets me to cry at times. Certainly the highlight of the whole thing.

Teardrinker

Worst Track? Not a single track on Hushed & Grim is bad! Like I said before, the band finally seemed to grasp the bar they set so high over a decade ago, and it really shows in the overall quality. It’s only fault, however, would be that this record is long. Clocking in at an almost 90 minute playtime, H&G is the longest album in Mastodon’s career, and it’s definitely on that you can’t simply listen to on & off. When you put this in whatever sound system you have, you’re in it for the longhall, so make sure there’s no distractions around when you listen. I personally don’t necessarily hate long albums, and this one definitely doesn’t disappoint in that regard, but if you don’t like records like this, then it’ll definitely be a kink in the armor for you.

Hushed & Grim. Definitely on the long side, but at the same time is perhaps the best release that Mastodon has done since Crack The Skye. If you’re in the mood for an emotional juggernaut that manages to tug at all sorts of emotional strings, then you will want to listen to this.

And that was part 2 of my look at Mastodon. The 2010s were certainly an interesting time for the band, but it would be a time where they would experiment with different sounds & play styles, but it was also the time where they would eventually regain their footing. I’m glad that I took a look at these guys, and I hope that I tempted any of you to give these dudes a listen to. In any case, I got one last post around the end of the month, when we’ll look at the final season of an iconic series. See you soon!



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If you’re curious about listening to these albums, then click on the links below:

The Hunter

Once More Round The Sun

Emperor Of Sand

Cold Dark Place

Hushed & Grim

Metal Overview: Mastodon (Part 1)

Hello there fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

We’ve certain had a good month so far, as We’ve taken a look at some Soul Metal. Now, it’s my annual tradition of taking a look at a band’s discography for my friend Alex’s birthday, and what a group I have chosen this year! Hailing from Atlanta, George, this quartet of Prog & Sludge Metal maters have crafted some of the wildest and weirdest records in all of metal. It took me a very long time to become a convert, but once I did, I have never once considered leaving the faithful! However, there’s 2 sides to this group, so I’ve decided to split this overview into two separate posts, as I feel that it covers the career of these guys more clearly. In any case, grab the nearly blunt you can find, get familiar with Herman Melville, and enjoy part one of my look at Mastodon. Let’s begin!

Remission (2002)

Our story begins on the 13th of January, 2000. Drummer Brann Dailor and guitarist Bill Kelliher moved to Atlanta, Georgia from Victor, New York, and met future bassist/singer Troy Sanders and guitarist/singer Brent Hinds at a High on Fire show. All four of them discovered that they liked sludgy bands like Melvins & Neurosis, legends like Iron Maiden, and hard rockers like Thin Lizzy. Not long after this, they all realized that something was there, and decided to form Mastodon.

The band recorded a demo in 2000, which featured Eric Saner on vocals, but he would leave after just a few months due to personal reasons. After putting out a four-song demo and a 7-inch picture disc through Reptilian Records, they would get signed onto Relapse Records in 2001, with the first thing that was released is their Lifeblood EP, and on the 28th of May, 2002, their first full album Remission was put out into the world for all to listen to. Remission is particularly significant to Brann Dailor, as it helped him cope with his sister’s death, and had this to say in a 2004 interview with the online magazine Lollipop:

“My sister committed suicide when I was 15 (she was 14)...I was never able to put that stuff anywhere. All that pain I was carrying inside. The pain of losing her had always been there. With Today Is the Day, there was a lot of anger involved. After that, I didn't want to be angry. When I start playing in Mastodon and moved to Atlanta, there was a big personal healing. Mastodon had a lot to do with that. That's one of the main reasons that the album is titled Remission. Remission means forgiveness and healing. Mastodon helped me do that: Forgive a lot of things that happened in my life.”

The reception for Remission was overwhelmingly positive upon it’s release. Brian O'Neill from Allmusic said that the record had a "technical ecstasy" to it, alongside a "a complex slant that nears prog rock proportions". Bryan Haywood of Pitchfork Media spoke highly of the record’s production, in addition to Brann Dailor being the stand-out musician. He stated:

“They drop in just enough [mathematics] to keep the arrangements flavorful, but not so much as to overload the vintage guitar riffs with Dream Theater-like complexity. And then they counterbalance it with some nice, old-fashioned, Sabbath-style metal attitude.”

He further commented:
 
“The complete package sounds timeless, but in that unbelievable way that you've never heard before.”

Best Track? Mother Puncher! The concluding track of Remission, it comes at you with the weight of a thousand tons of steel, and it’s unrelenting. Occupying a middle ground in terms of pacing, the band sure as hell knows what they’re doing. Brann Dailor is hammering on the drums like there’s no tomorrow, Bill Kelliher owns the rhythm guitar, and both Troy Sanders & Brent Hinds on bass & lead guitar respectfully (Not to mention that they kill it on vocals as well). The track is a great way to end a starting record, and isn’t a tune to skip!

Mother Puncher

Worst Track? Honestly, I can’t think of one! Remission comes out swinging, and hits perfectly every single time it plays. If there’s anything that I would nitpick, I’d say that nearly 20 years after it’s release it does show it’s age. Even on the reissue from 2014 you can still tell it’s age, but it’s not as obvious.

Remission. A brutal start to a storied career, and almost 20 years later this record is still talked about in high regard. If you like your Prog heavier than normal, and a bit more on the odd side, then this release is what you want. Next album!

Leviathan (2004)

Released on the 31st of August, 2004, Leviathan had a lot to live up to. Their prior record, Remission, came out of the gate rip roaring hot, and there was probably a lot of pressure on the band to crank out something just as good if not better. Fortunately, they most easily crafted not only a great record, but one of the best concept albums of the 2000s. Loosely inspired by the classic Herman Melville novel Moby Dick, the whole release feels like the tale of some creature from the deep sea. A creature that has existed for an incredibly long time, and one that doesn’t like the surface world all that much.

Much like it’s predecessor, Leviathan was given high praise upon it’s release. Avi Pitchon of Terrorizer magazine said that the record “rampages through in a shining epic flow, the 'crazy' parts never separate from the classic metal parts”. Pitchform Media placed it at no. 126 on their “Top 200 Albums Of The 2000s” list, and MetalSucks made a list of the "21 Best Metal Albums of the 21st Century So Far" based on the opinions of various musicians, managers, publicists, label representatives and writers, & Leviathan was number one on that list.

Best Track? I gotta give this title to Seabeast! Over a decade before I became the fan that I am now, this accidental discovery planted a seed within my mind that would ultimately bloom in 2017. Like Mother Puncher, this track occupies a middle ground when it comes to it’s pacing, but it is sped up a little when compared to the previously mentioned tune. From the instrumentation, to the vocal work, and to the weird effects added in, it makes the whole thing come across as more Lovecraftian rather than Moby Dick. The odd & absurd music video adds more to this Lovecraft vibe, so check it out!

Seabeast

Worst Track? Like Remission, Leviathan doesn’t have a single bad track on the record. The band kept the quality from their previous outing, and unlike that release, the recording on this CD seems to have improved quite a bit. There’s still a little roughness here & there, but it’s a bit harder to pinpoint. Pretty impressive if you ask me!

Leviathan. Taking the best parts of Remission, and putting those parts to the grindstone, Mastodon show that they can improve upon prior material in addition to making something some. If you liked their previous release but with a bit more polish, then 2004's Leviathan is for you. Next album!

Blood Mountain (2006)

From a trippy take on Moby Dick, we have Blood Mountain. Released on the 12th of September 2006 in both the UK and United States (It was out on Reprise Records in the US), the record further continues the band’s exploration of concept albums. In the case of this 3rd release, bassist Troy Sanders had this to say:

“It's about climbing up a mountain and the different things that can happen to you when you're stranded on a mountain, in the woods, and you're lost. You're starving, hallucinating, running into strange creatures. You're being hunted. It's about that whole struggle.”

Sanders also stated that Blood Mountain was “sonically the best album we have done”, as there was a greater emphasis on cleaner & more melodic vocals, as less of the harsher singing on their earliest material. Reception for Blood Mountain was as high as Leviathan was. Total Guitar Magazine voted it the no. 1 album of 2006, and fellow magazines Metal Hammer and Kerrang! thought it was just as good as Leviathan was, if not better. Blood Mountain would actually be voted the best album of 2006 in MH’s end-of year polls, as well as Total Guitar top 50 albums of 2006 in their magazine.

Best Track? Sleeping Giant is a sleeper hit of a tune, and that’s not a joke on it’s name! There’s a bit of instrumental in the beginning, and it just builds & builds over time, until finally the band unleash the full force of the song in question. They really do make it feel like the song is a genuine sleeping giant, and he wakes up to cause all kinds of havok as the band plays on. It’s a pretty impressive & epic sounding song, as they make the whole thing feel as epic as possible. This is definitely a song that you shouldn’t skip!

Sleeping Giant

Worst Track? Yet again, I can’t think of a single bad song on here. Mastodon really are that good (Outside of one) at crafting some incredible albums, and Blood Mountain is perfection from top to bottom. From the instrumentation, to the vocal work, to the various weird sound effects, and finally to the recording & production, everything is fantastic! Even the length of time it runs is great, as it doesn’t quite feel as long as their prior 2 releases could feel.

Blood Mountain. Finally stepping out of the roughness of the prior two releases , but still having a bit of that rough artistic attitude behind them. If you felt that Remission or Leviathan needed a little more polish, then you may want to seek this release out. Next album!

Crack The Skye (2008)

And here we are. One of the most iconic & important albums in Mastodon’s entire discography. Crack The Skye. Released on the 24th of March, 2009, Crack The Skye is the ultimate example of a “Bar Raiser” kind of record. As Troy Sanders said in an interview with Stereogum: “Crack the Skye is a departure from everything we've previously recorded in the sense that we kinda strapped on our aeroshells and departed from Earth for a while, and then captained to the ethereal element of the universe and kind of slept on the roof of the world for a while to get a perspective on this record. ... Basically we're exploring the ethereal world. We're dissecting the dark matter that dominates the universe, in a nutshell.”

When he was asked in multiple interviews, Brann Dailor said CTS was a story dealing variously with the art aesthetics of Tsarist Russia, astral travel, out of body experiences and Stephen Hawking's wormhole theories.

“There is a paraplegic and the only way that he can go anywhere is if he astral travels. He goes out of his body, into outer space and a bit like Icarus, he goes too close to the sun, burning off the golden umbilical cord that is attached to his solar plexus. So he is in outer space and he is lost, he gets sucked into a wormhole, he ends up in the spirit realm and he talks to spirits telling them that he is not really dead. So they send him to the Russian cult, they use him in a divination and they find out his problem. They decide they are going to help him. They put his soul inside Rasputin's body. Rasputin goes to usurp the czar and he is murdered. The two souls fly out of Rasputin's body through the crack in the sky(e) and Rasputin is the wise man that is trying to lead the child home to his body because his parents have discovered him by now and think that he is dead. Rasputin needs to get him back into his body before it's too late. But they end up running into the Devil along the way and the Devil tries to steal their souls and bring them down ... there are some obstacles along the way.”

Dailor also said that Crack The Skye was a tribute to his sister, Skye, who tragically took her own life at the age of 14.

“My sister passed away when I was a teenager and it was awful, and there's no better way to pay tribute to a lost loved one than having an opportunity to be in a group with my friends and we make art together. Her name was Skye, so Crack the Skye means a lot of different things. For me personally, it means the moment of being told you lost someone dear to you, [that moment] is enough to crack the sky.”

The initial response to Crack The Skye was pretty positive upon it’s release. Total Guitar's Nick Cracknell gave it a 5 out of 5 rating, describing it as "even more ambitious in scope and sound than 2006's Blood Mountain. Embracing elements of prog and country, but above all classic rock, Hinds and Kelliher literally add new dimensions to the band's ever-expanding sound", Nate Chinen of The New York Times noted the album's "ambitious vision and vivid execution", and New Yorker pop music critic Sasha Frere-Jones listed CTS as one of his favorite albums of 2009 on his personal blog and, in an article for The New Yorker, called Crack the Skye a "deeply entertaining album". He’s not wrong!

Best Track? The Czar is easily the most psychedelic & trippy song of their time in the 2000s, and given the kind of material they put out beforehand, that is saying something! Playing for nearly 11 minutes, Mastodon take you on a colorful trip through the mind of a rule who’s quite mad. Seeing enemies seemingly everywhere, he does everything he can to silence those he believes are out to get him, and the band provide just the right instrumentation & atmosphere to convey the story they’re telling. Simply a masterpiece!

The Czar

Worst Track? Like many albums in some band’s careers, Crack The Skye’s only fault is that it may have set the bar too high for the band to ever grab again. Whether intentionally or not, Mastodon put the bar way above themselves, and I think it would take a long time before they would ever grab it again. That doesn’t mean what’s to come isn’t bad (except for maybe one release), but I suspect looking back that it took the band quite some time to grasp the bar they raised once again.

Crack The Skye. A banger of a concept record, and while the band put the bar up maybe a bit too high, they still show that they are a force to be reckoned with. If you like your concept album more on the darker & trippy side of things, then you’re definitely looking for this!

And thus concludes part one of my look at Mastodon. Much like Prog Metal titan Devin Townsend, this band was proof that the subgenre could be nice & heavy in addition to be totally weird at times. Would they be able to carry over this level of quality to the 2010s & beyond? Find out in a week or so, when we’ll look at part 2 of my overview of the band. See you soon!



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If you’re curious about listening to these albums, click on the links below:

Remission

Leviathan

Blood Mountain

Crack The Skye

Top 10 Soul Metal Songs (aka Feel Good Metal)

Well, glad I got that mess taken care of last month fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Now, I can get back to more lighthearted posts, and today’s is definitely that. I think even among the minds of some casual music fans can understandably believe that Heavy Metal is gruff, rough, and dark (Or at the very least serious). However, what many don’t realize is that the realm of metal is sometimes inhabited by some of the most upbeat, positive, cleansing, and dare I say......happy songs. For every track that can be doom & gloom, there’s another one that tugs on the heartstrings & can bring in some genuine warmth and happiness. Today I wanted to show off 10 metal songs that a friend of mine would call.....Soul Metal. The kind of metal that make you feel good after listening to them, and the songs you might share with some of your non-metal friends to lift up their spirits. So, grab a comfy blanket, have your favorite drink next to you, and take a look what I consider to be the top 10 Soul Metal songs that are out there. Enjoy!

10) Type-O Negative - September Sun (Song) & Ministry - Believe Me (Song)
On the initial surface, both of these song aren’t all that warm & fuzzy. If anything, these two seems rather serious & not at all fun. However, what these two songs definitely are is cleansing. Both of these tracks certainly purge the soul of the dark, but in different ways. September Sun is Pete Steel singing about finally letting go of the things that hurt us, and how it’s never too late to let go of said things if we want to. The Green Man knew to let go of what caused him so much grief, and while it took years to do so, eventually this Brooklyn juggernaut conquered what caused him such grief.

And then we’ve got a track from one of my top albums of last year, Believe Me. I’ve already talked about it twice over the past 2 months, so I won’t repeat that much here. Again, this song definitely embodies the thoughts of those that once followed former president Donald J. Trump, and now know the truth behind him after they left the MAGA cult. Even if they themselves could not come up with these thoughts, Al Jourgenson was able to help them come to this conclusion. Again, these songs aren’t happy in any way, but they can definitely help shed some skin off.....if that makes sense.

9) Eskimo Callboy - Hypa Hypa (Song) ***
Now we get to the real feel good songs!

Sometimes, all one needs to feel good is a big dose of laughter, and these German fellows easily succeed in that regard! Eskimo Callboy were one of just a handful of things that made the plague-ridden year of 2020 bearable, and their patented brand of heavy riffage mixed with absolutely ridiculous humor is highly obvious on that highly successful track Hypa Hypa. In the first few moments it comes across as if the track with be just a cheesy pop track tribute to the 1980s, but then you’re hit from practically out of nowhere by some of the heaviest instrumentation & vocal work that Europe has ever produced. What further adds to the humor is the lyrics, which are completely mismatched with the rest of the song, as you’d swear that they’d come from a cheese 80s pop song. Much like their compatriots We Butter The Bread With Butter (Yes, that is an actual band name), Eskimo Callboy have both the metal & the humor balanced perfectly, with one side not overwhelming the other in any way. It really is baffling at first, but the band really know how to use the elements from both worlds, and make something never really leaves your brain. Good on you Eskimo Callboy!

8) Stryper - Together Forever (Song/Live)
It’s been a little bit since I took a look at Christian oddity that is Stryper. Not since 2020 when I reviewed their lone release in the 90s, but that’s not what I’m placing on this list. Some Metal elitists may scoff at the band’s religious take on the genre, and I can easily understand why, but that would be doing the group a giant disservice! Together Forever is one of the most ultimate examples of Soul Metal: even taking the Christian message out of the picture, this track is highly energetic & happy. Michael Sweet’s vocal work is loud but clear, and when he does sing about God & Jesus Christ, he doesn’t come across as condescending or preachy. The rest of the band have instrumentation to match the vocals & overall atmosphere of the track, with Robert Sweet letting out some righteous fury on the drums, Oz Fox & Tim Gaines sounding divine on lead guitar & bass guitar respectfully, and Michael Sweet providing some sick guitar work in his own right. Again, I can easily understand why some would pick up a Stryper record, look at the album cover & laugh, but if you put the judgements aside, you will find one of the most surprisingly badass & upbeat metal bands out there. Definitely worth your time if you’re curious!

7) Loudness - Crazy Nights (Song)
The land of the rising sun has given us a lot of things. Anime, Pocky, Ramen, etc. In addition to those things, Japan is also one of the most surprising sources of Heavy Metal in all of the world, and Loudness is one of the best exports in that regard. I’ve already talked about this guys in the summer last year, but it bears a little bit of repeating: these guys are one of the best on this planet, and for a brief period of time they actually had a bit of a presence within the United States before record company mismanagement practically made sure they would never be popular in this country again. Perhaps the most significant record to help them stay popular in this country would be their (Technically) first all-English sung release Thunder In The East, and the opening track practically spearheads the whole album.

Now, let me get this out of the way and say that while Minoru Niihara can sing in English surprisingly well, you can also tell that it’s not his first language. The lyrics do have a bit of an Engrish feel to them, but at the same time they’re happy lyrics, and Minoru really does have some force behind his voice when he sings. The rest of the band add to the intense yet upbeat energy of the song in question, with Munetaka Higuchi pounding away on the drums, Akira Takasaki is a guitar warlord, and Masayoshi Yamashita takes the bass to town. Crazy Nights is a prime cut of 1980s Heavy Metal (Complete with a nice slice of the finest cheese), and acts as an easy gateway for anyone looking to get into a band from outside America & Europe.

6) Devin Townsend - Spirits Will Collide (Song)
I think people who aren’t into Heavy Metal will at the very least have heard of the Prog master Devin Townsend. When he’s not making music about an alien coming to our planet in search of the ultimate cup of coffee or silly country tunes, he’s created some of the most thought-provoking & soul-touching songs out there, and his 2019 release Empath is chock full of tracks like this. Made with the intent of “Don’t kill yourself. It’s going to be okay”, you could pick practically any track off of the main CD or the “Demo” disk, and it will soothe the soul. However, it’s the 3rd song, Spirits Will Collide, that really shows off this heartwarming mentality. Simultaneously lowkey & epic, the song’s message is simple but important: You are loved. There are people in the world that care for you, and are always there for you when you need them. It might be a tiny bit on the cheesy side, but it’s surprising at just how moving Spirits Will Collide is, and it’s obvious that HevyDevy takes this tune very seriously. If you feel that life is shit, give this song a go!

5) Everfrost - Actraiser (Song)
Hey, it’s been a while since I talked about this guys! A new world record!

Everfrost’s second album, Winterider, was a big step up from their previous out. In addition to better vocals & instrumentation, there’s improved recording & production, an actual record deal, more obvious anime & manga inspiration, and finally a more upbeat nature. While there are moments of seriousness and even tragedy throughout the record, songs like Actraiser really make the happier parts shine through. Though there is a touch of melancholy, it serves to make the happy aspect shine through so strongly. The instrumentation & keyboard seem to conjure up the power of hope itself, and Mikael Salo kills it when it comes to the vocals. The song may be a bit too weeby for some, but trust me when I say that Actraiser can genuinely soothe a wide variety of ills. Speaking of Power Metal.....

4) Sabaton - Christmas Truce (Song)
If you were to ask me what my favorite moment in the history of Christmas is, I would immediately say the Christmas Truce of World War 1. For one time in our world’s history, Humanity saw the futility of war. For one time ever, cannons didn’t roar, and machines guns didn’t cut soldiers down. For one time ever, Men saw each other as brothers & equals, and decided not to spill the blood of one another. Despite what happened afterward, it was a time of true peace the likes of which will likely never be seen again, and one of the most important bands in my life captured this feeling incredibly well off the first single of their incoming album. Joakim and the gang captured this moment in time perfectly, with instrumentation that reflected the joy of peace & the sadness of what was to come, and vocals that were simultaneously joyous and melancholy. Despite 2021 having been a better year when compared to the plague-ridden badland that was 2020, we all needed a reminder that miracles do indeed exist, and they can happen. I won’t say any more, other than to listen to this song.

3) Van Halen - Dreams (Song)
There are plenty of metal bands that practically rule the 1980s, but if I was asked as to who defined that decade, I would give it almost immediately to the Hard Rock/Hair Metal legends Van Halen. No band from that time was so energetic, so upbeat, so wild, and so cheesy (By today’s standards) as these guys. The funny thing about this song was that I had first listened to it at the end of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, and marked the 1st time that I can recall ever hearing the band. Even today, the first few keyboard notes conjure up memories of my childhood in the 1990s, and really tug at my heartstrings & nostalgia for that time. There’s the energetic guitar & bass playing from Eddie Van Halen and Michael Anthony respectfully, Alex Van Halen’s triumphant drum playing, the keyboarding I talked about a moment ago, and it’s all topped off by Sammy Hagar’s powerful vocal work. Even if you weren’t a child of the 90s, this embodiment of hope & light will wash away your pain & doubts......if just for a few minutes.

2) Queensryche - Best I Can (Song)
It is by a hair that my number 2 missed the no. 1 spot, and it is by a hair that my no. 1 got the spot. Make no mistake: Best I Can is a song that genuinely surprised me, made my jaw drop, and pulled at heartstrings I didn’t even know I had. Much like Spirits Will Collide at my no. 6 spot, this song deals with something pretty real. In this case it’s the story of a young boy who found his Father’s hidden gun, and an accident with it causes him to be permanently crippled from the waist down. Now that he’s older, he’s still in a wheelchair, but through sheer willpower & drive, he continues to live his life. In fact, he continues to pursue his dream of being a magazine writer, and doesn’t let the tragedy that befell him in his childhood have control. The instrumentation carries this power & hope, and Geoff Tate’s singing is some of the best of his entire career. I know that description doesn’t sound like much, but trust me when I say that this is one of the most powerful songs on this list.....and it was barely surpassed.....by a couple guys from India.

1) Bloodywood - Jee Veerey (Song)
Mental Illness. Depression. Suicide. These are perhaps the three biggest monsters that make victims out of everyone they catch, and if they don’t slay them, they will give said victims some of the most horrific scars they’ll ever receive in their lives. Here in the United States, these monsters aren’t talked about all that much, and on the few times that they are, not much is done to solve these issues (Or at the very least, lessen how often they occur)......and that is where the band known as Bloodywood comes in.

Even those who aren’t into Heavy Metal at all, they might at the very least have heard of Bloodywood. Originally, the group was conceived to make metal covers of classic Indian Pop songs and other Pop songs in general, it wasn’t until 2018 where they began to create their own original tracks. Mixing Indian Folk instruments on top of standard metal instrumentation, the band was a pretty big hit even before    their own tunes. The funny thing is that Jee Veerey is the band’s 3rd original track, not their first. Regardless of when it came out, Bloodywood’s message on Jee Veerey is as clear as crystal: you can get through this. The monster known as Depression has balls, so grip them as hard as you can, twist, and rip them right off. Then, let the filthy beast crawl away, where it can bleed away in the shadows where it belongs. The message is backed up with heavy yet spiritual instrumentation, and both Jayant Bhadula’s & Raoul Kerr’s gruff but forceful vocals just drive home the point that it will all be okay. All of these things mixed together is why Jee Veerey is the number one Soul Metal song on this list.

So these were what I considered to be the top 10 Soul Metal songs. Make no mistake, I absolutely love the more brutal nature that’s somewhat standard for the genre, but every once in a while I enjoy when Heavy Metal goes in a more positive & uplifting direction. Hell, with how things were in 2020 & 2021, it’s refreshing that this style of music can genuinely soothe the soul & heal the heart. So, with this out of the way, it’s time to have another Overview come out, and this one will be a doozy. See you soon!



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If you’re in the mood for perhaps an even funnier version, then click on the link below:

WBTBWB vs. Eskimo Callboy - Hypa Hypa (Official Video)