Mega-Monsters Tour:

Gojira and Mastodon

Ameris Bank Amphitheatre,

Alpharetta, GA

May 6, 2023

Mega-Monsters perfectly describes exactly what this tour is –two heavy metal giants teaming up for what is definitely the must-see tour of the summer. Gojira and Mastodon have both had slow rises from the metal underground to become two of the most influential and pioneering bands in the 21st century so seeing them together should be difficult for any metalhead to pass up.

Fans arriving early were treated to an unexpected performance by students from the Let There Be Rock School for Music Instruction. Run by Kyle Sanders (MonstrO, Bloodsimple, Hellyeah), who is also the brother of Mastodon’s Troy Sanders, Let There Be Rock offers instruction in a variety of instruments to students of all ages. Most of the performers appeared to be in their early to mid teens and were set up near the concessions and merch booths. They sounded great and entertained fans for about an hour with covers of classic metal songs including “Run to the Hills” and “Master of Puppets.” From what I understand, they also got to meet the headliners and watch the show from the side stage. You have to respect Sanders for going above and beyond for his students. Not only were they given a unique performance opportunity as aspiring musicians, but were also treated to an unforgettable concert memory. Not to mention, they will forever be able to brag that they opened for Mastodon and Gojira! In the brief moments I spoke with Sanders after their performances he was definitely having a ‘proud papa’ moment that any parent or teacher would understand. Student performances like this should become standard fare at all amphitheatre shows in the Atlanta area. If you have a budding musician in your house and are in the Gainesville, GA area, definitely look them up. Your future rock star will thank you!

Immediately following their performance, deathcore act Lorna Shore took the mainstage. Lorna Shore is touring in support of their latest album, Pain Remains, their first with new vocalist Will Ramos and bassist Michael Yager. Although I can appreciate the complexity of their music and aggressive performance, I’ve never quite connected with them. Maybe they’re just a little too ‘death metal” or ‘growly’ for my taste. That being said, I wasn’t an immediate fan of Mastodon or Gojira when I first heard them either so maybe I’ll give them another listen.

After Lorna Shore, fans were primed for Gojira. Hailing from the small coastal French town of Ondres, not exactly known as a hotbed for metal, Gojira was formed by teenage brothers Joe and Marco Duplantier in 1996. They have since released seven full length albums, been nominated for three Grammys, and established themselves as one of the most innovative metal bands of the 21st century. Gojira’s roots are firmly entrenched in technical death metal, but their sound has never been limited to one genre and has increasingly incorporated more progressive and experimental elements. Emphasizing the distinction between Gojira and most death metal is their avoidance of gore inspired lyrics. Lyrical subjects include nature, human’s place in nature, spirituality, environmentalism, extinction, pollution, and often have a more positive lean than might be expected. Distinctive lyrical subject matter, an ability to infuse an intellectual and emotional depth into what is typically angry music, and inventive songwriting have always put Gojira into a genre of their own.

As the sun began to set over Atlanta, the chants of “Gojira!” from the fans became louder. When the black curtain blocking the stage was dropped, the opening riff to “Born for one Thing” off their most recent album, Fortitude, filled the amphitheatre. Followed by “Backbone,” “Stranded,” and “Flying Whales” they played a balanced mix of songs from their last five records. Highlights included “Stranded,” “Amazonia,” “Silvera,” “The Art of Dying,” and ending on a high note with “The Gift of Guilt.” Mario Duplantier’s relentless machine gun beats kept the momentum driving forward with bassist, Jean-Michel Labadie, while his brother, Joe Duplantier, and Christian Andreu played the monstrous detuned riffs with precision. Duplantier pulls double duty as guitarist and vocalist. Their performance was accentuated with a generous use of pyro, lights, smoke, a confetti canon, and large screens for the fans in the back. The fervor in their music is magnified live. I have seen them several times and they never disappoint.

Following Gojira, fans had only about 30 minutes to wait for Mastodon. They are one of the few bands that can match the intensity of Gojira and follow them live (I saw them together at the Tabernacle in 2014). Before they took the stage, I couldn’t help but reflect on the fact that it has been over twenty years since I first saw Mastodon play a small club in Atlanta for a few dozen and today I am watching them as one the premiere metal acts in the world play to thousands. Mastodon rose from the sludgy depths of the metal scenes that spread across the South in the late 1990s and early 2000’s. Unlike many other bands who only doled out rehashed Sabbath riffs, Mastodon has separated themselves by combining elements of sludge, thrash, prog, and death metal with a more experimental and imaginative approach to songwriting.

When the curtain finally fell, Mastodon opened with “The Wolf is Loose” and “Crystal Skull” from 2006’s Blood Mountain. They played songs from seven different releases including reaching back a full twenty years for fan favorite “March of the Fire Ants” from Remission. As would be expected on a summer tour with a festival vibe, their setlist was essentially a greatest hits of their career. There was, however, a noticeable concentration on the earlier, heavier side of their catalog, perhaps in consideration that they would be following Gojira on many nights. “Iron Tusk,” “Megalodon,” “More Than I Can Chew,” and “Steambreather” were highlights. Surprisingly, “Divinations” was the only song from their 2009 critical and commercial breakthrough album Crack the Skye that made the cut, but in all fairness, they toured for the tenth anniversary of that album in 2019 playing it in its entirety (see review here). Mastodon closed out their set with what may be their most iconic song “Blood and Thunder.”

Mastodon’s set included a healthy dose of pyro and a dynamic light show. The psychedelic lights and lasers danced with the music all night and were more effective since it was dark by this time. Mastodon is consistently great live and that didn’t change tonight. Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher deliver the bludgeoning riffs over the technical drumming of Brann Dailor. Hinds and bassist Troy Sanders handle most of the vocal duties, with Hinds having a higher metal scream, somewhat reminiscent of Ozzy, while Sanders handles the lower metal growls. Dailor’s cleaner singing voice is highlighted on songs like “Pushing the Tides.” Having grown up on bands with one iconic vocalist like Bruce Dickenson, Layne Staley, or Chris Cornell, it’s a refreshing approach to see three band members share the role. Although I don’t think Hinds, Sanders, or Dailor would consider their individual vocal abilities to be on the level with the aforementioned singers, their different voice qualities and vocal styles always add an emotional and dynamic complexity to their songs, proving that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. That’s what a great band should be!

The tour is on hiatus at the moment but continues in August and September. If the Mega-Monsters tour stomps its way through your town, don’t miss it!

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