Mastodon Conquers Major-Label Deadlines, Album Leak

Metal quartet Mastodon barely has a week to recover from a European tour Europe before hitting the road again in support of its third full-length, "Blood Mountain," due Sept. 12. The set is the group's first major-label release, but the switch from Relapse to Reprise hasn't affected the its progressive sound or aggressive touring schedule. In fact, according to drummer Brann Dailor, "Blood Mountain" may be Mastodon's riskiest effort yet.

"It's technically more difficult," he tells Billboard.com. "The songs are really hard to play. We needed an extra month to rehearse before we recorded."

The follow-up to 2004's "Leviathan" comes on the heels of buzz-building tours with Slayer and Slipknot, as well as a stint on Ozzfest. "After we got done recording, it was the first time since 'Leviathan' that my brain could take a rest," Dailor says. "But when Reprise signed us, of course they want a record. We didn't force the music to come out or anything, but at the end of the day, you're contractually bound to make one in a certain amount of time."

Fresh off its Unholy Alliance tour with Slayer and Lamb Of God, Mastodon will headline 23 U.S. dates beginning Sept. 6 in Baltimore, with the Bronx and Converge supporting.

The band has also made headlines lately in its effort to keep "Blood Mountain" from leaking to illegal downloading sites. Recently, Reprise was able to track down an English music retail worker who made all the tracks available on his Web site, and had him fired.

"I think it's ridiculous that he thought it was O.K. to do that. We're not taking the stance that stealing our record is taking food from our kids' mouths or anything because, chances are, we won't make that kind cash selling this record. Our money comes from touring and selling T-shirts," Dailor explains. "One of the main reasons [we're against illegal downloading] is that its not a good copy. It is sh*tty compared to what it should be. It's not the way the record should be heard."

Actually, "Blood Mountain" can be both heard and seen, as a limited-edition release includes a "making of" DVD.

Here is the track list for "Blood Mountain":

"Wolf Is Loose"
"Crystal Skull"
"Sleeping Giant"
"Capillarian Crest"
"Circle of Cysquatch"
"Bladecatcher"
"Colony of Birchmen"
"Hunters of the Sky"
"Hand of Stone"
"This Mortal Soil"
"Siberian Divide"
"Pendulous Skin"

source: http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003086606