MASTODON Roots Remain Reaction!!! 

You know you want a Mastodon week.

So this was my pick. Jacob Johnson here. I tried to send you guys more info on this album but I don't know if you looked at any of it. This songis a tribute to the mother of the Guitarist who died from cancer. There is a narrative point of this song, EMPEROR of SAND is a concept album, and a metaphorical point. This song is a little bit more simple lyrically, however expecting a theological meaning might have missed the theme of loss but still believing the person is still alive in a sense, the roots. I'm glad you guys did the song, I was a little saddened by the underwhelming reaction, but I think this song takes a few listens to really "get". It's one of my favorite songs by this band, and I LOVE their proggy shit. This song really strikes a cord with me. I recommend looking into the album. There's a lot of great info on the album. I hope this isn't the last Mastodon song you do because they're one of the best active bands out there today. Anyways, thank you and happy new years.

Like someone else said, The entire album is about cancer. During the writing, Bill's mother died of cancer. Troy's wife also had a battle with cancer which I think she came out of okay. Anyway, the metaphor employed in the album is that the protagonist has just begun a journey through the desert. This journey is similar to the emotional journey someone goes through when they find out they have terminal cancer. I think "Roots Remain" is mostly about how even when the branches break (meaning the person dies), their roots (the effects they had on the world and the lives of the people they touched) are still there.

Second Mastodon review...Y'all have done Oblivion.

NO, VIN. SORI BUD.... SHE AIN'T WRONG. THIS ISN'T your first time doing Mastodon, because you reacted to "OBLIVION" 6 months ago. Anyway, this song is from their current album "Emperor Of Sand", a concept record whose narrative revolves around a Sultan who leaves his life of affluence behind because he was handed a death sentence and so, wanders out into the desert to reflect on his mortality and look back on his life while staring into the eyes of his impending death. Sand symbolizes time and time is the great killer. Every human being is granted a large window of 70-100 years in which to be productive and enjoy life to the fullest, but the countdown to our exit from the world's stage begins at birth. The band talks about what I just described in an 8 part web series which also covers the album's creative process. Bassist Troy Sanders and Guitarist Bill Kelliher lost their Mother and Grandmother to Cancer, and Troy described the nature of the disease in the following poetic way: "Since the dawn of time, people have dealt with this.... and what it is, is a very stealthy disease. It's something you can't see, and it's in you [benign Cancer cells]. You're born with it. It's silent all its life and it's running without vision. Something that can hollow you out inside and change all that's right." MALIGNANT CANCER IS A FIRE THAT RAGES THROUGH THE BODY'S CIRCULATORY SYSTEM -- A FOREST OF VEINS, ARTERIES, BLOOD VESSELS, NERVES AND NODES -- AND BURNS THE ENERGY AND LIFE RIGHT OUT OF ALL PEOPLE WHO SUFFER IN THE GRIP OF THE DISEASE'S MERCILESS HEAT. The chorus: "Beauty fades Death's decay Fires on high Reach the sky Branches break Roots remain Strong in mind Beauty" These lyrics might sound figurative and simple, but this is actually quite a deep chorus. THE SURFACE MEANING: How a Tumor ravages the Brain. "Beauty fades".... Between the disease and the Chemo, Cancer patients look like their lives are being are sucked out of them, because they lose a lot of weight and look very gaunt. "Death's decay" is what's touching them as they're battling for their lives, because the process of going through Cancer treatment is a major beating. The lines "Fires on high, reach the sky" refer to the fact that parts of the Brain surrounding the Tumor are greatly inflamed, and this causes painful headaches and sky high fever. "Branches break" means the degradation and destruction of the neural pathways, blood vessels, synapses, and if you look at a detailed diagram of a brain, you'll note these look rather arboreous (tree-like). "Roots remain strong in mind" refers to how the Cancer's tendrils infest the Brain and render it impossible to remove the Tumor without killing the patient once it has gone too far. The word "Beauty" at the end refers to the arguably beautiful simplicity of viruses and pathologies. These micro-organisms don't think or feel, they just progress towards the goal of ending life. THE SECONDARY MEANING OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE CHORUS (MORE POSITIVE): Branches break on the Family Tree, meaning family members die, but whenever the people we love die, whether it's a Friend, Girlfriend, Boyfriend, Husband, Wife, Son, Daughter, Brother, Sister, Cousin, Aunt, Uncle, Mother, Father, Grandmother, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather and/or Great-Grandmother the roots of their memories remain strong in the minds of the family that survive them, because their lives are part of ours until they leave us, and they become our roots. This is the positive side of the Beauty. THE CHORUS' THIRD MEANING: The sight of a fire burning through a forest is pretty terrifying, but when the fire ultimately ends, new growth and life eventually replaces the ash and the forest returns healthier than before. This happens with Cancer patients who survive the pain of their ordeal, too. They have a vibrance and a "joi de vivre" about them, because they look back on the experience of overcoming Cancer with the feeling that it made them stronger. "And all that I have come to lose Gone so long it doesn't matter anyway And all that I have come to gain Will remain with me until the bitter end" Going through Cancer is a life reforming experience, and the handful of people I know who suffered through it and came out on the other side can all attest to having faced their own fragility while in the disease's grip. They changed their priorities, habits and lifestyles, they stopped taking things for granted, and the ordeal clarified for them what really matters. This clarity, which they gained in the midst of their suffering, was the most valuable thing they ever received. "And when you sit and picture me Remember sitting in the sun and dancing in the rain" People in the grip of a potentially fatal disease want their loved ones to remember the happy memorial imagery, not the imagery of suffering and being taken from the world by something as insidious as Cancer, because going to the Hospital and seeing someone in their final moments is always in upsetting experience. I watched Mastodon's web series leading up to EMPEROR OF SAND's release, and when I went into my first listen through it, knowing that it was about Death and Cancer.... IT JUST SHATTERED ME INTO A MILLION PIECES, because Cancer took my father in 2011 and so, this collection of songs from one of my favourite bands about a subject which has already touched my life, was a very emotionally resonant listen for me and I was crying for most of it. In light of their own losses, Mastodon forsook exploring new ideas on this record in favour of crafting a set of songs devoted to ruminating on mortality and reflecting on what they've accomplished on their journey as a band so far. This album is a greatest hits made of riffs instead of songs, which highlighted the importance of taking a break from the grind every so often, to stop and enjoy the view while it lasts, and look back at how far you've come all-the-while mentally drawing up plans of how far you think you can still go.

This entire album is a masterpiece of a 10.

LOL Sori callin out Vin on his error. How can you not remember doing this band before??? xD

I've been listening to rock and metal music for 20 years and Mastodon is my favorite band at the moment. I can't really believe I've waited so long to know them. But they're definately not a "first listen" band. Their songs take time to really get into.

Mastodon - The Last Baron or Jaguar God. Now this is my favourite song from the new album. The Sparrow, The Hunter, Ember City are also very good!

Jaguar god or last baron are go to Mastodon tunes

I love how she just left the Mastodon reaction on screen during that whole debate XD Y'all should cover more Mastodon for sure. Steambreather off this albums a personal favorite.

Not really a Mastodon fan but this song was good. And gotta give their drummer props for being able to sing while drumming. That takes some serious skill.

Massive burn, Vin always thinks he's right when he's wrong

Guys, it's about guitarist Bill Kelliher's mother dying of cancer, as well as the bassist Troy Sanders wife and drummer Brann Dailor's mother surviving cancer within a 2 year period. In fact the whole album is about Cancer aka The Emporer of Sand(album name)

Mastodon is my favorite band, would really like to hear you guys do more reactions. Leviathan and Blood Mountain are their heaviest, Crack the Skye is their most proggy and experimental (and my personal favorite). This whole record is about their battles with cancer in their families.

Anything Mastodon is AMAZING

Get em Sori. U tell Vin what's what lol

Mastodon - "The Sparrow" reaction. Hello from México.

I am still amazed how you didnt even know mighty Mastodon better, even 3 years ago.. Roots remain is masterpiece.. It is about person who fights cancer.. Gets me every time strong..

POWERWOLF!!!!!!! Literally anything from them! Another good track from Mastodon is Toe to Toes!

machine head - halo (full version)

Never clicked one of your vids so fast. More Mastodon PLEASE!!!

If you aren't aware, the amazing clean singing is all done by the phenomenal drummer, Brann Dailor 😁 Check out their cover of Stairway to Heaven!

Guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds proposed to his then girlfriend while on stage during a performance. It was one of my personal favorite moments in metal. They were later married. This is another band where the drummer also takes part in vocals. I remember how impressed you were seeing a drummer play and do vocals. I’m not a huge Mastodon fan but they have a huge following is one of the bands who broke through the underground to mainstage.

Steambreather and Jaguar God are musts from this same album. Would have been a really good album reaction.

Mastodon is what perfection sounds like.

This song is dedicated to the guitarist Bill Kelliher's Mum who died from Cancer. The whole album 'Emperor of Sand' is about cancer and time I'd suggest you watch the making of the album documentary on their youtube channel. There's so much more behind this album it's well worth the watch

Hey can you guys react to Prehistoric Dog by Red Fang? It's a kickass song with a pretty cool video too. Thanks! 🤘

Yes!!!!!!! More Mastodon! Please!!!!! It's very important that you go back to previous Albums. This is from Emperor of Sand their latest album in 2016. Go back to Remission, Leviathan, Blood Mountain, or Crack the Skye. Crack the Skye is my favorite Mastodon album. The Czar is my favorite song of theirs. No matter what, you gotta do more Mastodon and do almost anything from those albums! Help me out people!

One of my favourite Mastodon songs, I love the lyrics midway through, very deep.

The whole concept album is a metaphor for the rythim guitarists mothers battle with cancer. She passed during the recording of it.

It would have been better if Sori had left that up the whole video. I fully expect a Vin apology on the next video lol. This was a really good song. Not generally a Mastodon fan but I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Had some nice progressive touches but was still very heavy and had alot of great melody lines running throughout. 9/10 for me.

Damn wish y’all would have done Steambreather instead of this off the Emperor of Sand Album. Next song from Mastodon, Divinations.

Sori got his ass on this one lol

it's about damn time yall did another mastodon review!!! this is one of my favorite songs by this band. i think this one is at least partially about cancer, since three of the four band members have family that got really sick and died from it. it really hit the whole band hard and they've used music to cope with all that. mastodon is pretty known for their concept albums, this one is about this dude trying to get through a desert and he's like. calling on different gods trying to get help. i think. there are videos of the band explaining the whole thing but it's been a while since i've seen em. ANYWAYS. i love you guys annnd i hope yall do MORE mastodon sometime. take care!!

so, the 'something that they did for Game of Thrones' was to act in it Respect :)

Opeth - Demon of the Fall!!

Anthrax - In the End, In My World, Indians, Inside Out and What Doesn't Die

Moonspell - Night Eternal

The hour long song that was requested has to be "Sleep" Dopesmoker, and you should definitely react to it. It is an amazing piece of music!

Has to be one of my favourite songs, saw them in December last year in Manchester and played guitar with Billy, this album and seeing them really helped me with the stress of taking care of my mum when she found out she had cancer- as this album is really heavily inspired with the struggles that a few of the members went through in similar circumstances. This band will always mean the world to me.

This song is pretty awesome. Surprised you guys didn't dig it a bit more.

More Mastodon please. Huge band.

More Mastodon please!

Song is about a family member dying of cancer. Theres a making of video about it.

the song is about the rhythm guitarists mother who died of cancer a little while before the album was released

the whole album is about a loved one with cancer and how you just watch them become a shell of their former self right in front of you

Gojiraaaaaa - Of blood and salt

Couple dynamics. Lol

Finally! more mastodon, please do more. Check out "Steambreather" off of this album as well....Also, would it kill you to do an ISIS the band reaction?

Concept albums should be really reacted to as a whole. Please, do King Diamond - Abigail full album.

This album is about cancer, veiled in a story of a guy who is condemned to death in a desert. As I understand it, atleast part of this song was written on the day that guitarist Bill Kelliher's mother died. Emperor of Sand is an absolute classic, definitely in my top 3 Mastodon albums

Tool - Third Eye System of a down - Mind Slipknot - The Nameless

Mastodon is a great band! Thanx for checking them out!

Great f'n song!!

.dThis song, and this record is just almost perfect. Nuff said :D

Born of osris: Machine, Illuminate, Bow Down, Divergency.

This album is about cancer and about the band members experience with it. That strange creature on the cover symbolizes cancer.

If the hour long song is the one I think it is, I actually was the first one to bring it up, and then "The Patreon Guy" was like "Yeah they should do that". So one of your regular underground guys did mention it. I also stand by it being one of the greatest songs in all of metal.

Finaaaally some Mastodon. Toe to Toes would be great.

Great review. This album is great!

There’s a great documentary on Mastodon RU-vid channel on the making of this album “the Emperor of Sand” and their inspiration for the album. Oughta check it out it’s excellent and a great inside look on them as bandmates/friends/family.

Yes! Mastodon is my favorite band of all time!

Haha😆 they probably want you to do Dopesmoker by Sleep...

Do "Killer Be Killed - Wings of Feather And Wax" Troy Sanders was the vocalist bassist by Mastodon! You guys can check them out, I know you guys will love it.

Please react to I want to break free music video by queen or We are the champions music video by queen

@VinAnd Sori You reacted to Mastodon's 'Oblivion' six months ago.

Best part of the song is that incredible solo from Brent Hinds. Makes the song all worth it. He does that a lot though. The Last Baron and Jaguar God also come to mind where he just murders the ending.

Mastodon was the best style for a perfect metal and rock! (:

I am still waiting for vin and sori discussion/views on the yellow vest protest. They are now speeding across Europe.

If you haven't done it but this song hits home, disturb haunted

You've got to do "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly

Finally! I thought you'll never revisit Mastodon, I'm glad I was wrong. Honestly, I prefer their older stuff more, but any chance to spread awareness toward this band is highly appreciated :) If you're into more progy stuff, give a listen to The Czar, probably my favorite Mastodon song. Anyway, thanks, and happy holidays :)

Emperor of sand is my top3 mastodon album.

Happy New Year guys! Thank you for a year of amazing reviews. Looking forward to the reviews in 2019.

It would be cool if you could react to a song from "The Who", like "Behind Blue Eyes", or " Baba O´Riley".

Morphine - buena, early to bed. Classic drum bass, sax band

Sad you don't remember them, glad The Underground got you to do this reaction. For a good trippy Mastodon song try Sleeping Giant or Steambreather For a heavy Mastodon song try Mother Puncher or Aqua Dementia

Vin refusing to accept that he's wrong seems pretty common :D just like he thinks there's a god ^^

Great pick, one of my fav Mastodon tunes.. yall should check out Torn Between Scylla and Charybdis by Trivium \m/

What about a 30 min long song? It's from my favorite band Seventh Wonder. It's an interesting story and incredibly melodic all the way through...it never gets boring.

Primordial "nail their tongues" pretty pretty pretty pleeeaaase xx 🤘🤘

Epica-Kingdom of HEaven

Wish you guys would do more mastodon. Amazing song writers.

Mastodon- blood and thunder is epic and heavy AF.

12 foot ninja

Anathema - Internal Landscapes

Hells yes! Mastodon finally, wooo!

The Piper Never Dies - Edguy

This is a special one to me as it deals with the terrible disease called cancer. Best track on the album and the solo is so epic while staying grounded and small.

Please react to Angra - The Shadow Hunter Old band from the new lead guitarist of Megadeth Brazilian metal

Dang, sori looks GREAT

Amazing.

They appeared as Wildlings is season 5 and then as Wights (zombie wildlings) in season seven.

I am curious what the hour long song is that Vin speaks of. LOL

I've watched your reaction a number of times. Did you figure out how the song applied personally to your lives and marriage? I hope so. Branches break. Roots Remain. I know it. Bless you both. 🙏😌💗

Blind Guardian - Valhalla live do it for me guys

Shadow of Intent The Horror Within, you guys gotta do that

Still waiting for at least ONE reactor to step outta the box and do Iron Tusk.

You guys really need to do more Mastodon, their songs have such genius lyrics within them and they all have a great meaning behind them. 'Crack the Skye' is an absolutely crushing song. Please react to Rolo Tomassi - Alma Mater Rivers of Nihil - Where Owls Know My Name