Sometimes you just need a good facemelt.

The boys in the throes.
Are our faces melting yet? Yes, I believe so.
Jeff demonstrates the appropriate behavior for a metal concert.
The band. Killing us.
We continue to be slayed.
Destruction.
Troy, I want to have your babies.
Rock face.
Jeff toasts a Newc.
Ted toast.
Double-fisting. Okay, not really.
Brent and Troy rock.
Bill and his Explorer.

Dude. Mastodon was incredible. I think the show just may have landed in my top five mid- to large-size auditorium shows. They headlined, so we conveniently lost most of the emo-children who were there for the previous band as we were walking in. Brilliantly timed. It is unreal to me that Mastodon can keep such technically demanding, up-tempo, low-tuned songs together and in tune. Amazing. It's metal, but metal for geniuses. Which can only be a good thing. Brann Dailor is one of the sickest live drummers I have ever seen. These guys routinely use odd meters, harmonic and melodic minor scales, and crazy-ass-fast 16th notes. Hells yes. We were sufficiently blown away. Plus, how often do you get to hear songs with titles like "Colony of Birchmen" (my favorite), "Bladecatcher", and "Circle of Cysquatch" (that's one-eyed Sasquatches, in case you were wondering)? I mean, really. It's just incredible. An album about a dude who must journey through a mythical land in order to scale a mountain of blood. That's just... well, AWESOME. Their second album, Leviathan, is loosely based on Moby Dick. I LOVE THESE GUYS. Especially Troy Sanders. Holy hell.