Leviathan (Mastodon album)
Updated: 12/20/2025, 1:46:29 PM Wikipedia source
Leviathan is the second album by American heavy metal band Mastodon, released in 2004 on Relapse Records. It is Mastodon's first concept album based on the 1851 novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. The songs "Iron Tusk", "Naked Burn", and "Blood and Thunder" were released as promotional singles, and music videos were created for "Iron Tusk", "Blood and Thunder", and "Seabeast". Three magazines awarded the album Album of the Year in 2004: Revolver, Kerrang! and Terrorizer. In 2009 and 2015, MetalSucks named Leviathan the best metal album of the 21st century. Leviathan was also released with an audio DVD in a limited edition set with a black and gold slipcase. The album brought Mastodon widespread critical acclaim and, together with the ensuing tour, greatly extended their fan base. It sold 106,000 copies by September 2006. Guitarist Bill Kelliher considers this album a representation of the water element, in keeping with the elemental tetralogy of the band's first four albums.
Infobox
Released
August 31, 2004
Recorded
March 2004
Studio
Robert Lang Studios, Studio Litho, and the Electrokitty Sound Studio, Seattle, Washington
Genre
Progressive metalsludge metal
Length
46:43
Label
Relapse
Producer
Mastodon, Matt Bayles
Tables
Professional ratings · Reception
Source
Source
Review scores
Source
Review scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Review scores
AllMusic
Review scores
Blender
Blender
Review scores
Blender
Review scores
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles
Review scores
Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles
Review scores
9/10
Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
Review scores
Drowned in Sound
Review scores
9/10
Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Review scores
Kerrang!
Review scores
Metal Storm
Metal Storm
Review scores
Metal Storm
Review scores
9.0/10
Pitchfork
Pitchfork
Review scores
Pitchfork
Review scores
8.5/10
Rock Hard
Rock Hard
Review scores
Rock Hard
Review scores
8.5/10
Spin
Spin
Review scores
Spin
Review scores
A
Terrorizer
Terrorizer
Review scores
Terrorizer
Review scores
9/10
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Blender | |
| Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles | 9/10 |
| Drowned in Sound | 9/10 |
| Kerrang! | |
| Metal Storm | 9.0/10 |
| Pitchfork | 8.5/10 |
| Rock Hard | 8.5/10 |
| Spin | A |
| Terrorizer | 9/10 |
· Charts
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (2004–2006)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
110
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (2004–2006)
US Billboard 200
Peakposition
139
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)
Chart (2004–2006)
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)
Peakposition
5
US Independent Albums (Billboard)
US Independent Albums (Billboard)
Chart (2004–2006)
US Independent Albums (Billboard)
Peakposition
13
| Chart (2004–2006) | Peakposition |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 110 |
| US Billboard 200 | 139 |
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) | 5 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard) | 13 |
References
- "Mastodon Iron Tusk (Single)"http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/album-groupe-Mastodon-nom_album-Iron_Tusk-l-en.html
- mastodonaustralia.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20080609190047/http://www.mastodonaustralia.com/disc_promo.htm
- "Mastodon Blood & Thunder (Single)"http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/album-groupe-Mastodon-nom_album-Blood___Thunder-l-en.html
- Revolverhttps://www.revolvermag.com/culture/see-mastodon-discuss-leviathan-and-the-mets-new-moby-dick-opera/
- Billboardhttps://books.google.com/books?id=6g0EAAAAMBAJ&q=leviathan+mastodon+106%2C000&pg=PA26
- "MASTODON (TROY SANDERS/BILL KELIHER) INTERVIEW"http://www.musik.terrorverlag.de/interviews.php?id=421&
- Brave Words & Bloody Knuckleshttp://bravewords.com/news/mastodon-seabeast-video-available
- Workhardened.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20170906031442/http://www.workhardened.com/project/91/Mastodon/Leviathan%20%20Standard%20Ed.%20CD
- Leviathanhttp://www.allmusic.com/album/r706772/review
- "Blender is coming soon"https://web.archive.org/web/20061019131717/http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=3188
- Brave Words & Bloody Knuckleshttp://bravewords.com/reviews/mastodon-leviathan
- Drowned In Soundhttps://web.archive.org/web/20120610055331/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/3833/reviews/10469-mastodon-leviathan
- Kerrang!
- "Mastodon - Leviathan review - Metal Storm"http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=729
- Leviathanhttp://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/5143-leviathan/
- issue 209https://www.rockhard.de/reviews/mastodon-leviathan_290511.html
- Oct 2004https://books.google.com/books?id=neDQuF47lxQC&q=%22Mastodon%22
- Terrorizer
- Pitchfork Mediahttp://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7707-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-150-101/3/
- "The Real #1: Mastodon - Leviathan"http://www.metalsucks.net/2009/07/07/the-real-1-mastodon-leviathan/
- www.metalstorm.nethttp://www.metalstorm.net/awards/archive.php?year=2004
- Theprp.comhttps://www.theprp.com/2017/06/21/news/rolling-stone-share-choices-100-greatest-metal-albums-time/
- Boris Kaiser/Michael Rensen: Die 15 wichtigsten Progressive-Metal-Alben. In: Rock Hard, June 2010, p. 95.
- PR Newswirehttps://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/disney-pixars-monsters-university-hits-campus-with-music-from-randy-newman-and-axwell--sebastian-ingrosso-of-swedish-house-mafia-208499161.html
- zobbel.dehttp://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_M.HTM
- "Mastodon Chart History (Billboard 200)"https://www.billboard.com/artist/mastodon/chart-history/tlp/
- "Mastodon Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)"https://www.billboard.com/artist/mastodon/chart-history/tln/
- "Mastodon Chart History (Independent Albums)"https://www.billboard.com/artist/mastodon/chart-history/ind/