I’m very sorry for your loss. That was a moving eulogy for your friend and I enjoyed reading it.
Re Remission, it’s the only Mastodon album I like, personally. I wish they had maintained that level of heaviness but they probably wouldn’t have had the same success, so I get it. Similar story with Baroness, their real breakthrough came when they made their sound more accessible (Yellow & Green, Purple) but unfortunately for me, they lost much of what made me love them in the process.
Thanks for the kind words. As a long time Savannah resident I'm sure Ryan would appreciate that we're talking about Mastodon and Baroness. I can totally understand preferring the early stuff for both bands. I think in both cases their debut full lengths are a culmination of their earlier short form work (Call of the Mastodon/the two Baroness EPs) rather than the start of their "professional" careers. Similar situation with Dillinger Escape Plan and Calculating Infinity, though that has much to do with changing personnel as with stylistic changes.
Oh man I love those two Baroness EPs, they really just a very specific itch for me so well. That was a pretty great period for metal from that corner of the U.S. when you throw Kylesa into the mix too. I miss that band.
I’m very sorry for your loss. That was a moving eulogy for your friend and I enjoyed reading it.
Re Remission, it’s the only Mastodon album I like, personally. I wish they had maintained that level of heaviness but they probably wouldn’t have had the same success, so I get it. Similar story with Baroness, their real breakthrough came when they made their sound more accessible (Yellow & Green, Purple) but unfortunately for me, they lost much of what made me love them in the process.
Thanks for the kind words. As a long time Savannah resident I'm sure Ryan would appreciate that we're talking about Mastodon and Baroness. I can totally understand preferring the early stuff for both bands. I think in both cases their debut full lengths are a culmination of their earlier short form work (Call of the Mastodon/the two Baroness EPs) rather than the start of their "professional" careers. Similar situation with Dillinger Escape Plan and Calculating Infinity, though that has much to do with changing personnel as with stylistic changes.
Oh man I love those two Baroness EPs, they really just a very specific itch for me so well. That was a pretty great period for metal from that corner of the U.S. when you throw Kylesa into the mix too. I miss that band.