The Concert:
Both the CD and the DVD document the same show from the Aragon Theater in Chicago, so it only makes sense to start here.
Mastodon have long been the metal band that non-metalhead critics heaped praise on in annual Top Albums of the Year features. They're definitely strictly a metal band, but they've been too loud, catchy, and flat-out good to ignore since 2004's Leviathan released. 2009's Crack the Skye took Mastodon's trademark heaviness-meets-technicality formula and married it to better songwriting, melody, and structure than they've ever exhibited (though they've certainly hinted at both). The album is an undisputed classic, a crossover success, and (for my money) the best metal album since ...And Justice For All.
The subsequent tour found the Atlanta, Georgian band playing the album in its entirety. Not really having a concert film under their belt yet, they decided to record this show in the Fall of 2010. What's immediately striking about Live at the Aragon is how close to the studio album the band plays, which is both good and bad. In the good sense, it's incredibly impressive how much pure sound and fury this band produces with just the four of them and a keyboardist. Incredible also is how, instrumentally, they rarely miss their mark, even as 3 of the members sing, harmonize, and shout their fucking lungs out. This comes at the cost of the spontaneity typically associated with a live album. The solos are almost completely the same as the studio album. There are no surprise structure changes. This is the same album you heard in 2009, followed by 4 older songs and a Melvins cover.
The previous paragraph shouldn't discourage you from checking out Live at the Aragon, though. The album is as great as it was when it came out, and the performance is superb. The vocals may shock you a bit at first, as Mastodon is much better with their instruments than their voices, but they quickly become more interesting than irritating. None of these guys can really sing well, but the effort they put in is endearing in a very rock and roll way. Good Heavy Metal is almost always about the overall sound anyway, as opposed to virtuoso performance (Yngwie fans be damned). And, oh, the sound this band makes. Crack the Skye has always been a "headphones" album, and its live counterpart proves this is due to composition and not studio layering. I'm continually amazed at how deep this band sounds with just 2 guitars, a rhythm section, and a keyboard. They thunder through the set, maintaining the intricate delicacies of the source material without ever losing the thump.
After the Crack the Sky performance, the band plays a quick set of favorites. The 4 songs are a somewhat curious choice, but they rip through them very well. I would have liked to see them play a few more of their hits ("Blood and Thunder" and "Colony of Birchmen" would have been awesome), but they're a metal band, not Bon fucking Jovi. What is here are songs that tend to breathe more than their studio counterparts do. Somehow, they take a song each off of Leviathan and Blood Mountain, plus two off of Remission and make them even more savage. The end the set with the Melvins "The Bit", which seems to be an odd choice at first, but quickly sounds right at home.
The CD: 69/100
It sounds like a live album. The sound won't blow you away, but it's impressive that the dynamics of the band weren't lost live. As stated before, I would have altered the set list a bit (especially as this is their first live release), but this was a great show. Live at the Aragon probably won't win you over if you're not already a fan. If you're not, I urge you to give Crack the Skye a go. Live at the Aragon is a good companion piece to that landmark album, but it's not essential to anyone but big fans.
The DVD: 82/100
Even though they're not a showy, jump-around-in-the-crowd band, watching these guys work is a treat. They play their asses off, and it really translates well on DVD. They have a cool light show, but the real star is the movie that plays behind them. They had a movie filmed based off of the (crazy) concept of the album (time travel, Czarist Russia, etc.), and it's pretty cool to watch. Even better, though, the film is included on the DVD, accompanied by the studio version of the album playing. It's not Oscar-worthy by any means, but it should appeal to anyone interested in independent or slightly avant-garde film.
I would have prefered to see Live at the Aragon marketed as a DVD with an accompanying CD, and not the other way around. That way, they could include some other features and extras and really have brought the DVD to the forefront. The DVD is a good deal more impressive than the CD is. Both are worth owning if you're a fan. If you're not, go check out the last three albums first, and we'll see you here later.
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