Metal Scenes: Atlanta / Savannah, Georgia

Key Release: Leviathan (2004)

Mastodon

From its thunderous debut Remission through 2009’s psychedelic journey Crack the Skye, Mastodon has reinvented itself with each of five stellar LP’s. The band's most recent effort, The Hunter, netted it a second Grammy Nomination and “Album of the Year” awards from prominent magazines Kerrang, Metal Hammer, Rock Sound, Classic Rock, and The Times.

Metal Radar: Spring 2013

Hype Rating: A-

April 30: The Ocean – Pelagial

Post-metal, Progressive / Berlin, Germany

A concept album based on descending through the ocean, Pelagial is a single, massive piece of music that starts out with shimmering piano chords and ends with crushing doom metal. Take your pick from vocal or instrumental versions of this highly-anticipated album.