After blowing up metal album sales with newest release ''Once More 'Round The Sun'' it was time for MASTODON to head back to the British isles for a full UK tour supported by KROKODIL and BIG BUSINESS. This tour has been highly anticipated for a while now especially with the addition of super group KROKODIL and two man group BIG BUSINESS who have gained a lot more fans after gracing every city but MASTODON have blown everyone away with their set list which is full of new & old hits. The audience primarily is made up of men with beards, tattoos and hats but the women wearing denim and MASTODON merch was proof that girls can't help but love these guys.
First up in the packed out Rock City main room is KROKODIL, the British super group made up of members from SIKTH, GALLOWS, HEXES and CRY FOR SILENCE combine their love of metal and beards to perform angry vocals and loud guitars. The crowd were unresponsive at first but soon grew to love the band especially when they played songs such as ''Shatter'' and ''Dead Man's Path'' which had the audience head banging away, KROKODIL easily won some new fans over this evening. Vocalist Simon Wright was the most energetic of the 6 member group as he pounced into the crowd whilst providing deathly low growls to match KROKODIL's equally heavy sound. This super group is certainly a band to watch out for in 2015, their debut ''Nachash'' is flawlessly heavy in every way imaginable.
Next up is two piece BIG BUSINESS who may seem like a small package but they really do give a big punch, their drummer Coady Willis is the most energetic person you will ever see on such a small drum kit and vocalist/guitarist Jared Warren who knows how to put on one hell of a show! The pair certainly went down a treat with the MASTODON fans who were quiet at first but slowly grew to fall in love with them, by the end of their set they were cheering for the last songs. BIG BUSINESS are loud, exciting and fresh but still bring on surprise after surprise.
After a 30 minute wait and some extremely excited fans, MASTODON finally appear on stage to a packed out Rock City and make the fans extremely happy. The band opened up with ''Tread Lightly'' followed by ''Once More 'Round The Sun'', ''Blasteroid'' and many more but the crowd pleases were mainly ''The Motherload'', ''High Road'' and final song ''Blood And Thunder''.
Bassist Troy Sanders was simply explosive on the stage, when he wasn't singing lyrics down the microphone he was running around the stage swinging his bass round yet somehow still keeping in time with the rest of the band.
Brent Hinds mostly stayed in the same spot but he still pulled out some great vocals and guitar solos when supported by Bill Kelliher whose guitar work made tonight something to remember but drummer Brann Dailor kept the band on time yet playing to a great standard.
Overall the set list was great for old fans and new even though the set list was mostly supporting the newest release
''Once More 'Round The Sun'' but no matter if you had been into them since the beginning or recently it was impossible to not enjoy the show. Tonight's show was a blast with great bands and a relaxed atmosphere, nothing could be faulted. All of the bands from
KROKODIL to
MASTODON deserved to be listened to and be watched live as they will blow you away with the heavy tunes you hear.
Setlist:
1. Tread Lightly
2. Once More 'Round The Sun
3. Blasteroid
4. Oblivion
5. The Motherload
6. Chimes At Midnight
7. High Road
8. Aqua Dementia
9. Ol'e Nessie
10. Halloween
11. Aunt Lisa
12. Diviniations
13. Blade Catcher
14. Black Tongue
15. Ember City
16. Megalodon
17. Crystal Skull
18. Blood And Thunder
