Dethklok’s Brendon Small recently shared his thoughts on his favorite Mastodon song, explaining the profound impact one particular track had on him, in an interview with Revolver Magazine.
When asked to pick his favorite Mastodon song, Small highlighted a track from the band’s acclaimed “Blood Mountain” album. He praised both its musical qualities and the personal connection he formed with the band.
“There’s so much good music on Blood Mountain. Crazy energy. Insane worlds. Song explosions. Rage. Sci-fi. Lunacy. Then… a pop tune that sounded like it existed forever: ‘Colony of Birchmen,'” Small said.
He went on to describe the unique vocal style that drew him to the song and its lasting appeal.
“Brent [Hinds] has a particular swagger, an almost Bob Dylan quality: sing-talking with big confidence,” he continued. “‘Birchmen’ will, maybe, not go down as their heaviest, most esoteric, inward journey, but who cares? There’s mastery in short songs that immediately inject their moods into our system altering emotional states.”
Small also shared a memorable exchange he had with Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds during their 2009 tour together.
“Dethklok toured with Mastodon in 2009 [and] as I was getting to know Brent, I told him how much I liked ‘Birchmen.’ He said, ‘I shit that out’ — and made a drooping downward gesture with his hand,” Small recalled. “‘However you did it, it’s a great song.’ Brent looked at me, serious expression, ‘I shit it out.’ I personally can’t take compliments, so I knew I liked him immediately.”
The Dethklok creator concluded by reflecting on his relationship with the band and his enduring appreciation for the song.
“Watching Mastodon evolve has been joyful, especially since I like them all so much as individuals. So when they got a win, I feel like my team won, and when there’s a tragedy, goddamn it f*cking sucks to the moon and back… Anyway, I still think it’s a good song,” he said.
Small’s admiration for “Colony of Birchmen” reflects the broader significance of the album that houses this standout track. The album marked a pivotal moment in Mastodon’s career trajectory.
Prog Archives noted that “Blood Mountain” served as Mastodon’s third studio album and major label debut. The publication described it as arguably the most outlandish entry in their entire catalog. The album’s conceptual framework centers around a hallucinatory mountain climb filled with survival struggles and strange encounters.
Drowned In Sound outlined the album’s thematic approach. The review explained that it explores the experience of being stranded on a mountain, dealing with starvation, hallucinations, and encounters with mysterious creatures while being hunted. This conceptual depth aligns with Small’s description of the album’s “crazy energy” and “insane worlds.”
The album’s creation process was deliberately designed to capture an otherworldly experience. Metal Archives revealed that “Blood Mountain” was recorded to essentially serve as the musical equivalent of an acid trip. The album incorporated a myriad of psychedelic features throughout its composition.
Critics have consistently praised the album’s ambitious scope and execution. Sputnikmusic characterized “Blood Mountain” as one of the most monumental and mind-crushing compositions ever committed to record. The review highlighted the album’s ability to balance complexity with accessibility—a quality that Small specifically noted in his appreciation of “Colony of Birchmen.”
