“WE'RE DIRTY NEANDERTHALS PLAYING HEAVY METAL, BUT THERE'S A DEEP SIDE TO MASTODON”
Total Guitar|December 2021
"With an unorthodox two-guitar attack and a mountain of gear, a band in mourning created a monumental double album. How Mastodon" dug deep: by guitarist Bill Kelliher
Amit Sharma
“WE'RE DIRTY NEANDERTHALS PLAYING HEAVY METAL, BUT THERE'S A DEEP SIDE TO MASTODON”

When it comes to earth-conquering riffage and head-crushing psychedelic warfare, Mastodon are seasoned masters of their trade. From the sludgy brutality heard on 2002 debut Remission to their more progressive exploits in recent years, they’ve continually conjured a perfect storm of leftfield tunings and time signatures and harmonies that stun. Similar things can be said of the 15 tracks that make up the band’s new double album Hushed & Grim, which features some truly inspired fretwork from Bill Kelliher and Brent Hinds.

As ever, it’s the interplay between the two guitarists that separates Mastodon from their peers. And this time it feels like they’ve capitalised on their twin-guitar assault to the absolute fullest.

Speaking with TG from his home in Atlanta, Bill Kelliher talks about the mountain of gear used on the new recordings and explains how, after losing long-time friend and manager Nick John, the quartet turned the grief of into a colossal work of art...

There’s a lot to take in over 15 sprawling tracks. How do you even begin to envisage music with that much detail?

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Denne historien er fra December 2021-utgaven av Total Guitar.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA TOTAL GUITARSe alt
"You Can Imagine a Song in a Completely Different Genre" - The mysterious Lord Phobos, guitarist for TWRP, has covered everything from disco to Def Leppard in his collaborations with tongue-in-cheek duo Ninja Sex Party.
Total Guitar

"You Can Imagine a Song in a Completely Different Genre" - The mysterious Lord Phobos, guitarist for TWRP, has covered everything from disco to Def Leppard in his collaborations with tongue-in-cheek duo Ninja Sex Party.

The mysterious Lord Phobos, guitarist for TWRP, has covered everything from disco to Def Leppard in his collaborations with tongue-in-cheek duo Ninja Sex Party. He explains what makes a great cover version - and reveals the one guitar and the one pedal he couldn't live without...

time-read
9 mins  |
August 2024
Some Things You Want to Tweak and Make Your Own- How the Foos' Chris Shiflett reworked two rock classics on his recent solo EP
Total Guitar

Some Things You Want to Tweak and Make Your Own- How the Foos' Chris Shiflett reworked two rock classics on his recent solo EP

Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett is also a solo artist in his own right, and his latest EP Starry Nights & Campfire includes Lights covers of two great old rock tracks - Thin Lizzy's Cowboy Song and the ballad Don't You Ever Leave Me by Hanoi Rocks, the Finnish band that did so much to inspire Guns N' Roses.

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5 mins  |
August 2024
"It Gives Me Physical Satisfaction To Play Funk Riffs!" - Into the groove with Giacomo Turra, the Italian guitarist who made his name covering classics by Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars and more...
Total Guitar

"It Gives Me Physical Satisfaction To Play Funk Riffs!" - Into the groove with Giacomo Turra, the Italian guitarist who made his name covering classics by Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars and more...

Into the groove with Giacomo Turra, the Italian guitarist who made his name covering classics by Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars and more... Born in Milan, his funk guitar sensibility can be traced back to the dance studio where his mother taught, and the tunes he heard blasting out of her boombox. "I like to experiment with a lot of genres, but the really interesting thing for me is I really grew up on funk, and a little bit of jazz and fusion music," he says.

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6 mins  |
August 2024
- Try out these creative tips and make your cover versions stand out
Total Guitar

- Try out these creative tips and make your cover versions stand out

Try out these creative tips and make your cover versions stand out

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2 mins  |
August 2024
BEAUX GRIS GRIS & THE APOCALYPSE
Total Guitar

BEAUX GRIS GRIS & THE APOCALYPSE

Heavily requested on rock radio stations thanks to their unique twist on bluesy Americana, Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse are the kind of band that thrive in front of large crowds on hot summer days just as much as more intimate performances inside sweaty underground basements.

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2 mins  |
August 2024
BOSS KATANA-50 GEN 3
Total Guitar

BOSS KATANA-50 GEN 3

The Japanese giant cuts through the noise with its new practice amp

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2 mins  |
August 2024
SOLOKING MS-1 CUSTOM 22 HH
Total Guitar

SOLOKING MS-1 CUSTOM 22 HH

A great value guitar looking to clash headstocks with the big boys

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2 mins  |
August 2024
IK MULTIMEDIA TONEX ONE
Total Guitar

IK MULTIMEDIA TONEX ONE

The most powerful amp modeller for its size, bar none

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2 mins  |
August 2024
YAMAHA PACIFICA STANDARD PLUS PACS+12M
Total Guitar

YAMAHA PACIFICA STANDARD PLUS PACS+12M

Yamaha's long-running doublecut finally gets a makeover

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3 mins  |
August 2024
NO MORE MR.BRIGHTSIDE!
Total Guitar

NO MORE MR.BRIGHTSIDE!

The 10 songs you should never cover. Or at least think twice before trying...

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3 mins  |
August 2024