Atlanta quartet Mastodon rains down thunderous riffs that are as burly as the beards on its members' faces. Starting off as a thick sludge-metal group in 2000, the Mastodon have evolved over their decade-plus existence into a powerful metallic unit dabbling in prog-rock concepts. But they have not forsaken the riff for the sake of getting lost in progressive metal indulgence. Albums such as 2003's Leviathan and 2006's Blood Mountain are masterful displays of balancing heady lyrical inspirations, a winding road of musical twists and turns, and pure heaviness. Early material from their yet-to-be-released new album, Once More Round the Sun, continues in the more melodic direction of 2011's The Hunter. But Mastodon's modern brand of prog-metal is still suitable for those headbangers whose taste sways more toward Motörhead than Rush.

Fri., May 2, 6:30 p.m., 2014
(Expired: 05/02/14)

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