Mastodon – Powerstation

Atlanta metal monsters Mastodon came raging into town last night, filling Auckland’s Powerstation with huge slabs of sludgy guitar riffs and howling vocals.

Few things equal the anticipation felt just before a metal gig. The Powerstation was filled with black-T-shirted punters ready to have their senses assaulted by the four musicians known as Mastodon.

The band took the stage at precisely 10:00pm in front of a huge painted backdrop based on the cover of their latest album, Once More Round The Sun.

Bassist and vocalist Troy Sanders was looking suitably caveman-like as he whipped up some windmill moves on his instrument and led the band through Tread Lightly, the leadoff track from the new album.

Horns were thrown and heads were banged as guitarist Brent Hinds took over vocal duties for the album’s title track.

“We made it!” he announced triumphantly as they then blasted their way through Blasteroid, from 2011’s The Hunter…with Hinds and Sanders alternating on vocals.

Sanders’ voice can best be described as a controlled roar, while Sanders’ delivery is slightly more unhinged, a bit more maniacal.

The crowd was as much a part of the show as the band, often chanting “Mast-o-don” in between songs. A huge cheer went up as the first notes of Oblivion were played and the fans happily clapped along as lasers pointed out from above and behind the stage.

Drummer Brann Dailor sang much of The Motherload, kicking the tune of with a mighty drum roll and inspiring one of Hinds’ finer guitar solos of the evening.

Chimes At Midnight raised the energy level even more, with the mosh pit erupting at the beginning and the band finding its way adroitly through the song’s many tempo changes with Hinds and co-guitarist Bill Kelliher lining up for some twin guitar action.

And so it went…a bruising display of progressive metal for just under 90 minutes. A highlight late in the set was the anthemic Divinations from 2009’s Crack The Skye, that had the room singing along and Kelliher holding his guitar high over his head as the song finished.

The only drawback was the sound mix and quality. The level was just right…not too loud…but there seemed to be a lack of dynamics in the sound…it was all mid-range with very little bottom end. Sanders’ bass was difficult to hear and I wanted to feel Dailer’s bass drum vibrating through my body. Also, the vocals, particularly Hinds’ and Dailer’s were buried too far back in the mix for my taste.

But the show was a triumph none the less. The band returned for three encore tunes…all from earlier in their career and when it came time to say goodnight for good, Hinds and Dailor didn’t want to leave the stage, with the drummer taking the centre-stage mic for a good five minutes to talk about how thrilled they were to be here.

There is no crowd like a metal crowd…they always seem to be totally immersed in the experience and understand that their energy is as important as the band’s. The certainly was the case last night and it seemed the guys in Mastodon took note. I think they’ll be back relatively soon.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Michael Flynn:

Mastodon set list:

1. Tread Lightly
2. Once More Round The Sun
3. Blasteroid
4. Oblivion
5. The Motherland
6. Chimes At Midnight
7. High Road
8. Aqua Dementia
9. Ol’e Nessie
10. Halloween
11. Aunt Lisa
12. Divinations
13. Blade Catcher
14. Black Tongue
15. Ember City
16. Magladon
17. Crystal Skull
18. Blood & Thunder