Such a legendary video. I remember discovering the album and then discovering this video not long after and proceeded to try and lift my jaw from the floor.
Hi all! Just wanted to say thank you, thank you, thank you for watching. I had no idea there was this level of interest in this sort of thing. I can't wait to put more stuff up. Also, go buy the new Meshuggah album that just came out. It is the greatest thing I've heard since, well, the last Meshuggah album. (Bonus points: it has the word "Leviathan" in the opening lyrics.)
Hey brother I just want to say it might be a decade but this is possibly the greatest piece of art on all of RUclips. I revisit it and share it with other musicians regularly
I want to play this at a fancy dinner party and when someone asks, "This is a wonderful piece. Very reminiscent of Bach. Who composed this?" I can answer, "Oh, this is Symphony #2 by Mastodon. More popularly called Leviathan." This is amazing, thank you.
That happened to a friend. He was hired to play at a wedding reception. He was the guitarist (acoustic) and apparently the other musicians were late, to he started playing metallica songs apparently some people asked him to tell them who was he playing. :P
@Bitte Bilden surprised and also not surprised to see another brother of Trouble in these parts of metal, surprised because we are so far and few in between, but not surprised because to have to have Psalm 9 as your Prof you have to have a very developed taste In music. Cheers mate, RIP to that old wizard in the sky!
Can you imagine playing Aqua Dementia at those parties? I don't know what they do on those fancy-people parties but I reckon they would probably square dance to that badass verse and it would be glorious
simplethunder Try this one, Prokofiev Sonata no 6, or a bit older Mussorgsky Babba yaga (try the Kissin version) that one is for me that start of Metal!!!!
proof that heavy metal is one of the few tha if not the only one that is combined perfectly with classic music.Listening to these songs played on piano it seems as if they were originaly written there
Hi all, Joseph Merrick is linked to an annotation at the end of the video - I want to post it as a video response but can't seem to. RUclips is cramping my style for some reason (I think it thinks you are all a bunch of spambots). Thank you so, so much for watching - I'm still in shock that Mastodon posted this on their page.
I'm not surprised they posted it on their page. It's a brilliant composition and played with great energy and intensity. Would love to see you do Crack the Skye.
I just watched an interview with Troy where the interviewer asked him about this and he was familiar, this is fantastic and be proud that they've probably watched it!
I was going through a huge Mastodon phase long ago and remember loving this video. Used to play this on repeat all day at work for months. Glad to see it's still here!
Oh my god.... This is utterly incredible. So incredible that Mastodon themselves are the ones that showed me this video! PLEASE DO CRACK THE SKYEEEEEE!!!!!
How great is still life... I don’t think it’s gonna happen anytime soon but I’d love to revisit some songs from that album. I did godhead + moonlapse a while ago, super fun
Have to say that this is one of the most incredible things I've seen on RUclips. I don't usually bother posting comments, but this is just staggering. The arrangement was brilliant, as was the fact that you played without a score. Thanks very much for this.
I've been watching this periodically for at least four years (since I bought my house) and I greatly enjoy it every time. This man is a genius. I sincerely appreciate everything he is doing! I love Mastodon and the original songs but theyre is something so far badass listening to this album in piano.
It is very interesting to see how the various songs translate to piano. Songs like I am Ahab, and Sebeast translate extremely well, while songs like Iron Tusk translates worse. It is interesting that the songs I like best on the album are the ones translating the worst. It inspires my tastes to explore the ones I like less, further.
what strikes me most is that - even tho this piano performance itself is amazing, the fact it translates so beautifully via piano is a real testament to the absolutely unfuckwithability of the guitar/writing/arrangement of Leviathan. Powerful stuff
This has the most evil and foreboding atmosphere I have ever herd. This is like Beethoven or something, amazing. Also your finger, do you have a weapons license for those things?
Seabeast and Hearts Alive have come out so brilliantly! You have GOT to do Crack The Skye on piano. Mastodon's arpeggiated style of riffing is bloody perfect for this instrument. Great job, mate.
imo the most passionate and creative cover of Mastodon's work, I found this video in 2014 and was so stoked. since then I watch it at least once a year. your skills are impressive and it is a joy to watch, I can feel the emotions and passion, goose bumping. and the fact this is a one take blows my mind everytime :D Thanks for sharing!!!
Music is different from, say, text or numbers. You can memorise a very long *sequence* or melodies. If you stop, and lose the mood, then it is hard to get going again. But you can always remember what comes after 'Ta-ra-ta ta-ra-ta ta-ta', no problem.
I can't express how amazing this is. Leviathan is one of my favourite albums, and the piano just makes it that much more visceral and powerful! Just magnificent. I just wish the band would get to listen to this someday (they might have already) :D
Pianist: "Sure, man, it'll be awesome. Just stand there and hold this camera." Camera guy: "...uh, okay... If you say so, bro..." Pianist: *starts playing* Camera guy: *drools a little with pleasure*
I cant stop watching this.. iron tusk and naked burn on a grand are the most beautiful thing i've ever heard done with metal songs.. Leviathan is my favorite album and you my good sir made one of my all time favorite covers!
+Jason Statham Sorry Mr. Statham. Maybe one day but not working on CtS at the moment (i've tried - last baron is the blocker). Please don't beat me up.
+Sam Abbott Sam you are a piano Idol. I mean some parts of this, ESPECIALLY Hearts Alive, are VERY reminiscent of an modern Mozart. I know it may not originally be your musical dialogue ,but you conveyed it into a beautiful art form. It is simply astounding man! I have wanted to show this to my Dad for a while now, then compare it to the actual song ( vice versa really ) but I will show him in the next!!! Half of these songs, (comming from a decent drummer living in MS ) are a more beautiful adaptation of the original songs. Have a great day/career in music :)
+Sam Abbott Absolutely no problem :) I am 22 years old, have drummed for 5 years plus and been told I am amazing....but I do NOT have the dedication you do. I mean you are brillriantly a perfectionist. You had hints of Mozart in your scaling of volume. It is amazing. Don't know why I haven't before, just never really thought this deep into it until now (have seen this atleast 50 times in the last 2 years) but I will subscribe right now. You are trully talented in the way that you understand how music translates and how dedication equals satisfaction. You Mr. Abbot I not only wish success, but, as well, recognition. Have a good one man :)
+Sam Abbott Also Mastodon is in my top 10 of my favorite bands, if not top 5, and they would be proud!!! If they hated I would buy them a 24 pack of beer....after kicking the shit out of them. You are tallented Sam....I just hope you don't forget me when you get big hahaha
Wow! Just wow!! You did such an amazing job the whole way through but that Hearts Alive ender was truly art. Brent Hinds solos are so uniquely him and they are neigh impossible to replicate, but you got so damn close during the solo in this song that it sounded like Brent playing his solo, but on a piano haha One more time...WOW!
This beautiful video really confirms to myself a thought I've had for a while that Metal music is closer to Classical music than any other modern or contemporary genre. Metal has a complexity, depth, drama and beauty only matched by Classical. Mastodon's Hearts Alive, in my opinion, is a masterpiece. When I listen to Hearts Alive, despite its complexity, it sounds primitive, dare I say almost spiritual. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Theoretical Physics graduate and an Atheist. I say "spiritual" in the metaphysical transcendent philosophical way.
Yeah , it's pretty well accepted that metal has more in common with classical than anything else , just don't tell that to the 'SLAYER!!!!!' people , they won't get it.
I dunno, i'd call it closer to jazz and blues in terms of motif with a splash of impressionism, but i guess i could see how it's somewhat like music of the baroque sometimes. I would say heavy metal's reliance on lower pitch, hammer-ons, and sudden dissonant and discordant transitions is pretty much its own thing kinda.
Actually there's an explination for that. The lead guitar style of heavy metal was inspired in classical. Up until the 70's guitar leads were mostly blues pentatonics. Then a few visionaries like EVH, Blackmore, Rhoads etc. tought that style didn't matched well with the heaviness and speed of the forming Heavy Metal. So they adapted techniques from piano, violin and classical guitar (Tapping, sweep picking, ascendant/descendant picking patterns, legattos) into the new heavy metal lead playing. Also dissonant scales like the diminished and armonic minor that are used a lot in metal riffing come from classical and have literally no connection to classic rock/blues rock. If you listen to Tocatta e Fuge by bach you will notice many of the lead patterns of heavy metal guitar. Almost like it was a foundational piece of heavy metal.
![Lil Uzi Vert - Chill Bae [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/D7F42F_JM3U/mqdefault.jpg)
i'm just coming back here to remind you that you, sir, are a supreme badass.
Uncle Ben full album cover when?
Such a legendary video. I remember discovering the album and then discovering this video not long after and proceeded to try and lift my jaw from the floor.
Awesome!
You're awesome!
This guy would be an amazing interlude at one of their shows
@@zse3442 great idea
You, sir, are a surpeme badass.
Unkie Ben approved! 🤩
Hearts alive... what a composition.
Welcome back 😂
I love how he whispers "harpoons thrust in the sky"
Hi all!
Just wanted to say thank you, thank you, thank you for watching. I had no idea there was this level of interest in this sort of thing. I can't wait to put more stuff up.
Also, go buy the new Meshuggah album that just came out. It is the greatest thing I've heard since, well, the last Meshuggah album. (Bonus points: it has the word "Leviathan" in the opening lyrics.)
Hey brother I just want to say it might be a decade but this is possibly the greatest piece of art on all of RUclips. I revisit it and share it with other musicians regularly
You are very talented! This is badass.
I want to play this at a fancy dinner party and when someone asks, "This is a wonderful piece. Very reminiscent of Bach. Who composed this?" I can answer, "Oh, this is Symphony #2 by Mastodon. More popularly called Leviathan."
This is amazing, thank you.
piano scales c
That happened to a friend. He was hired to play at a wedding reception. He was the guitarist (acoustic) and apparently the other musicians were late, to he started playing metallica songs apparently some people asked him to tell them who was he playing. :P
@Bitte Bilden surprised and also not surprised to see another brother of Trouble in these parts of metal, surprised because we are so far and few in between, but not surprised because to have to have Psalm 9 as your Prof you have to have a very developed taste In music. Cheers mate, RIP to that old wizard in the sky!
Can you imagine playing Aqua Dementia at those parties? I don't know what they do on those fancy-people parties but I reckon they would probably square dance to that badass verse and it would be glorious
I feel like I'm playing a hardcore version of Zelda Twilight Princess hearing this composed on piano. Much props to you.
Never heard such a heavy metal piano. Holy shit dude!
simplethunder Try this one, Prokofiev Sonata no 6, or a bit older Mussorgsky Babba yaga (try the Kissin version) that one is for me that start of Metal!!!!
WalyB01 Agreed - I played a lot of Prokofiev in a past life. Extremely metal
Sam Abbott I can see and hear it, the percussive use of the piano . In general great use of the piano Btw.
WalyB01 It sounds like Progressive Technical Doom/Death
+simplethunder Listen to Tigran Hamasyan's song Entertain Me. That's a heavy metal piano right there. Especially around the 1 minute mark.
Still coming back years later as this is still the most incredible performance I’ve ever seen 🙌🏼
The fact that he did a whole album is still mind boggling even to this day.
Please do Crack the Skye, please :)
Mastodon should give you a call so you can play keys on their next album!
Seabeast is amazing on piano! The intro sounds like it was written for it.
This video actually looks like he's playing in a tavern on a massive ship set to hunt down the white whale, holy grail.
I keep coming back for this rendition of Hearts Alive, it's brilliant honestly.
proof that heavy metal is one of the few tha if not the only one that is combined perfectly with classic music.Listening to these songs played on piano it seems as if they were originaly written there
Hi all,
Joseph Merrick is linked to an annotation at the end of the video - I want to post it as a video response but can't seem to.
RUclips is cramping my style for some reason (I think it thinks you are all a bunch of spambots). Thank you so, so much for watching - I'm still in shock that Mastodon posted this on their page.
I'm not surprised they posted it on their page. It's a brilliant composition and played with great energy and intensity. Would love to see you do Crack the Skye.
@@jp1041041you had me at Crack
Hearts Alive intro is fantastic and eerie on piano!!
This whole performance is incredible.
Blood and Thunder 00:00
I Am Ahab 03:34
Seabeast 06:16
Island 10:27
Iron Tusk 13:35
Megalodon 16:13
Naked Burn 20:23
Aqua Dementia 23:16
Hearts Alive 26:33
Dude, I wish I could exist as good as you play piano.
You sir, win the internet with this comment
Hearts Alive was beautiful
Fuck yeah, headbang and piano. Now that's metal at its finest.
The beginning of Seabeast sounds so beautiful, like a genuine classical piece you would hear at a play.
seabeast sounds brilliant
them cameraman vocals though
i think it's him whispering!
@@rafa3lico It's hard not to chime in when seeing the pianist ripping the keys
I just watched an interview with Troy where the interviewer asked him about this and he was familiar, this is fantastic and be proud that they've probably watched it!
You killed Aqua Dementia. I've been playing for over 15 years and I could not do this in one take.
At least twice a year, for the past (most of a) decade; I have shared this album.
Good on you.
DO MORE.
Any Mastodon fan would appreciate this. Thanks. An epic, surreal rendition.
I was going through a huge Mastodon phase long ago and remember loving this video. Used to play this on repeat all day at work for months. Glad to see it's still here!
Man, shows that Mastodon creates symphonies of music, not just songs!
Oh my god.... This is utterly incredible. So incredible that Mastodon themselves are the ones that showed me this video!
PLEASE DO CRACK THE SKYEEEEEE!!!!!
5 years later I'm back listening to this
masterpiece cover, masterpiece album.
i wish you do this format for opeth still life as well.
How great is still life... I don’t think it’s gonna happen anytime soon but I’d love to revisit some songs from that album. I did godhead + moonlapse a while ago, super fun
@@jsabbott0 It's pretty fkin great. I'd love to see you do that too!
oh but nice, I'll check those out
Have to say that this is one of the most incredible things I've seen on RUclips. I don't usually bother posting comments, but this is just staggering.
The arrangement was brilliant, as was the fact that you played without a score.
Thanks very much for this.
Always come back to this. Made me appreciate Mastodon on another level so, so many years ago.
Hearts Alive has never sounded more epic. This was worth every second.
I've been watching this periodically for at least four years (since I bought my house) and I greatly enjoy it every time. This man is a genius. I sincerely appreciate everything he is doing! I love Mastodon and the original songs but theyre is something so far badass listening to this album in piano.
oh my god, seabeast was phenomenal.
when I first watched this video years ago I was blown away, and I still am! this is one of the best metal alternative versions I ever heard
Stunned.... that is amazing.. After years of listening to the Leviathan album, hearing in on piano keys is just stunning!
Seabeast intro sounds AMAZING!! you should do a Crack The Skye version now lol their best album in my opinion
It is very interesting to see how the various songs translate to piano. Songs like I am Ahab, and Sebeast translate extremely well, while songs like Iron Tusk translates worse. It is interesting that the songs I like best on the album are the ones translating the worst. It inspires my tastes to explore the ones I like less, further.
what strikes me most is that - even tho this piano performance itself is amazing, the fact it translates so beautifully via piano is a real testament to the absolutely unfuckwithability of the guitar/writing/arrangement of Leviathan. Powerful stuff
Watching this made me realise just how amazing Mastodon is at composing such well thought out and complex pieces of music.
I have played guitar for over 30 years,is guy makes me wanna go buy a piano!!
Excellent job, sir. The world is a better place....
This has the most evil and foreboding atmosphere I have ever herd. This is like Beethoven or something, amazing.
Also your finger, do you have a weapons license for those things?
pilotoatomico
No idea what my brain was doing there, I apologize.
Smithers6650 freudian slip
Came just to check it out, but ended up listening to the whole thing. That was freaking amazing!
The most amazing thing is that he plays the entire thing, in ONE playthrough
One of the most awe-inspiring videos on youtube
This is pretty damned incredible. How am I just now finding this?
Tell me
I am Ahab worked ridiculously well on the piano...
Well done, this is one of my favourite albums. Excellent tribute.
you are a fucking genius ...
Mastodon Changed my Life so any tribute to them is amazing. you have done something truly wonderful. especially with Hearts Alive. beautiful!
this is probably the most bad ass youtube video that I've ever seen. You sir are gifted way beyond regular means.
the way that you filmed this and the music you orchestrate
the angles are so peacefully blended in
my baby and I love this. he really loves it . he always stop crying when he listens
back after years, absolutely legendary playing
Seabeast and Hearts Alive have come out so brilliantly! You have GOT to do Crack The Skye on piano. Mastodon's arpeggiated style of riffing is bloody perfect for this instrument. Great job, mate.
Why don't you have 1.000.000 subs?! I'm in shock! Stumbled over this and saw that you have a load of other videos just now.
I'm glad Mastodon shared this amazing video with us! Masterpiece!
imo the most passionate and creative cover of Mastodon's work, I found this video in 2014 and was so stoked. since then I watch it at least once a year. your skills are impressive and it is a joy to watch, I can feel the emotions and passion, goose bumping. and the fact this is a one take blows my mind everytime :D Thanks for sharing!!!
Wait, is he doing this by memory!!???
He doesn't have to... He's just channeling the spirit of mastodon through his fingertips.
Music is different from, say, text or numbers. You can memorise a very long *sequence* or melodies. If you stop, and lose the mood, then it is hard to get going again. But you can always remember what comes after 'Ta-ra-ta ta-ra-ta ta-ta', no problem.
Muscle memory is a powerful thing
I can't express how amazing this is. Leviathan is one of my favourite albums, and the piano just makes it that much more visceral and powerful!
Just magnificent. I just wish the band would get to listen to this someday (they might have already) :D
Pianist: "Sure, man, it'll be awesome. Just stand there and hold this camera."
Camera guy: "...uh, okay... If you say so, bro..."
Pianist: *starts playing*
Camera guy: *drools a little with pleasure*
Man... I come back here to listen to Hearts Alive from time to time. What an awesome job man!! 🤘🤘
Your interpretation of Seabeast is incredible! Great job on this.
MEGALODON & AQUA DEMENTIA heavy as shiiiiiiieeeet. favorite
MEGALODON!
More Mastodon please! Crack the Skye would make my year!
You killed the whole album. Amazing work capturing the entire composition
The Solo at the end of Hearts Alive is honestly something I come back to about once every three months. It's so wonderful, keep doing what you do!
the intro to "hearts alive" is so spot on and eery, cant give enough praise for your hard work and dedication
I fear for any woman you may be romantically involved with.
Nice name, dude
@@sehguhnai8223 Thanks.
@@sehguhnai8223 I second this!
I cant stop watching this.. iron tusk and naked burn on a grand are the most beautiful thing i've ever heard done with metal songs.. Leviathan is my favorite album and you my good sir made one of my all time favorite covers!
Sam is there any chance to see "Crack the sky" ? i'm waiting for it, just like i'm waiting for the new album of Mastodon )))
+Jason Statham Sorry Mr. Statham. Maybe one day but not working on CtS at the moment (i've tried - last baron is the blocker). Please don't beat me up.
+Sam Abbott Sam you are a piano Idol. I mean some parts of this, ESPECIALLY Hearts Alive, are VERY reminiscent of an modern Mozart. I know it may not originally be your musical dialogue ,but you conveyed it into a beautiful art form. It is simply astounding man! I have wanted to show this to my Dad for a while now, then compare it to the actual song ( vice versa really ) but I will show him in the next!!! Half of these songs, (comming from a decent drummer living in MS ) are a more beautiful adaptation of the original songs. Have a great day/career in music :)
+dinosaurpotatoes Thanks bro!
+Sam Abbott Absolutely no problem :) I am 22 years old, have drummed for 5 years plus and been told I am amazing....but I do NOT have the dedication you do. I mean you are brillriantly a perfectionist. You had hints of Mozart in your scaling of volume. It is amazing. Don't know why I haven't before, just never really thought this deep into it until now (have seen this atleast 50 times in the last 2 years) but I will subscribe right now. You are trully talented in the way that you understand how music translates and how dedication equals satisfaction. You Mr. Abbot I not only wish success, but, as well, recognition. Have a good one man :)
+Sam Abbott Also Mastodon is in my top 10 of my favorite bands, if not top 5, and they would be proud!!! If they hated I would buy them a 24 pack of beer....after kicking the shit out of them. You are tallented Sam....I just hope you don't forget me when you get big hahaha
Watching this part playing the solo and backing part to hearts alive at the same time is just mind boggling, amazing
My god, this is so amazing. I wish you had the opportunity to have it professionally recorded.
I really couldn't ever get over the melodic awesomeness that was Hearts Alive.. this just made it even more awesome. Keep it up! love it.
Wow! Just wow!!
You did such an amazing job the whole way through but that Hearts Alive ender was truly art.
Brent Hinds solos are so uniquely him and they are neigh impossible to replicate, but you got so damn close during the solo in this song that it sounded like Brent playing his solo, but on a piano haha
One more time...WOW!
12 years later still the best Mastodon cover on the internet
This is crazy. Such haunting atmosphere. Holy shit Seabeast sounds beautiful.
RUclips finally suggested something amazing!
What the fuck. This is too good.
this is epic, the whole thing, but hearts alive is somehow beyond all this. so glad I found it, so glad u did it.
Who are the 27 curmudgeons who downvoted this? This is by all objective measures a genuine kick ass accomplishment
How could you dislike this, this is the most perfect thing ever created. Every single note is perfect, correct to the album!
+Troy O'Brien That is a huge overstatement, but it is pretty good.
+garagavia No, this is perfect
My respects.That was beyond great!Keep getting better, if possible!
I was in awe watching watching "Hearts Alive" being played like that. The whole thing is a brilliant performance. Bravo!!!
This beautiful video really confirms to myself a thought I've had for a while that Metal music is closer to Classical music than any other modern or contemporary genre. Metal has a complexity, depth, drama and beauty only matched by Classical. Mastodon's Hearts Alive, in my opinion, is a masterpiece. When I listen to Hearts Alive, despite its complexity, it sounds primitive, dare I say almost spiritual. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Theoretical Physics graduate and an Atheist. I say "spiritual" in the metaphysical transcendent philosophical way.
Yeah , it's pretty well accepted that metal has more in common with classical than anything else , just don't tell that to the 'SLAYER!!!!!' people , they won't get it.
I dunno, i'd call it closer to jazz and blues in terms of motif with a splash of impressionism, but i guess i could see how it's somewhat like music of the baroque sometimes. I would say heavy metal's reliance on lower pitch, hammer-ons, and sudden dissonant and discordant transitions is pretty much its own thing kinda.
i'm a slayer fan and i agree that metal has more common grounds with classical music than anything else.
Actually there's an explination for that. The lead guitar style of heavy metal was inspired in classical.
Up until the 70's guitar leads were mostly blues pentatonics. Then a few visionaries like EVH, Blackmore, Rhoads etc. tought that style didn't matched well with the heaviness and speed of the forming Heavy Metal. So they adapted techniques from piano, violin and classical guitar (Tapping, sweep picking, ascendant/descendant picking patterns, legattos) into the new heavy metal lead playing.
Also dissonant scales like the diminished and armonic minor that are used a lot in metal riffing come from classical and have literally no connection to classic rock/blues rock.
If you listen to Tocatta e Fuge by bach you will notice many of the lead patterns of heavy metal guitar. Almost like it was a foundational piece of heavy metal.
It's amusing to see such delusional people like you dude.
I’ve been marvelling over this video for so many years. I really wish I was able to purchase it and listen to it at full quality. It’s pure perfection
I got them goosebumps poppin up all over everywhere. This is just fucking awesome.
Awesome. Leviathan is one of the best metal albums ever, this does it great justice and proves that metal is musical and creative!
This is so beautiful, specialy Hearts alive
Super beautiful! I watched this years ago and now I watch it again. Mastodon must be very proud.
did you sell your soul to the devil?! this is fucking amazing/flawless
I wonder if Mastodon have seen this. Leviathan is one of my favorite albums of all time and you made it even more epic. You sir are a god.
i wonder why there isn't more piano in metal
Yeah, there is! This depends which kind of metal you heard.
Symphonic black metal and Power Metal are example of style that have a lot piano.
Progressive Metal too.
I love this album and I love this Piano cover. The entire cover is amazing but I must say Hearts Alive was beyond perfection.
Masterful.
This is truly art