Mastodon at Hollywood Palladium — Photo: ZB Images

A sold out house celebrated 4/20 with Russian Circles and Eagles of Death Metal supporting Mastodon at the Hollywood Palladium. Opening the solidly metal night, was instrumental heavy weights Russian Circles. Their sound is one of industrial annihilation and dystopia pierced with rays of hope that peak through their nearly completely dark stage like dawn under a dirty sky. They are a soundtrack for a future that does not support the luxury of forgiveness.

Next, Eagles of Death Metal livened up with night with a life affirming pop metal set. Their music sets the pace for a fast drive across the desert to a promised land. EODM brilliantly covered Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream” and they were joined by pal Elle King for a fun rendition of Stealers Wheel “Stuck in the Metal (Middle) with You.”

By the time Mastodon took the stage, the full house was perfectly primed for the tumbling torment unleashed upon them. Musically akin to running through a forest of daggers or being caught in the littered whirlpool of an inescapable black hole. The set built with songs off their most successful album to-date Emperor of Sand, which has been topping charts globally. Mastodon unleashed the hounds with a thunderous ending that made it feel as though the earth would crumble but that demonstrated that our current state of affairs might ultimately be survivable.

Photography by ZB Images