Live Review: Mastodon, Gojira

Both Gojira and Mastodon teed up in Sydney for one massive metal Monday, fresh from playing Download festival the weekend prior.

Initially, French group Gojira had a support-length set for the two sideshows, however after internet backlash and demand for Gojira to return to Australia, promoters announced that both bands would be playing full sets.

Gojira fans were there in force as the band took the stage. They opened with the track Only Pain from their latest album Magma, followed by The Heaviest Matter Of The Universe off their 13-year-old LP From Mars To Sirius. By this point, Gojira had the audience mesmerised by their heavy, technical riffage and powerful vocals. Joe Duplantier expressed his love for Australia on numerous occasions and, hypothetically, asked the crowd when they would get their own Australian headline tour. This has been the third time Gojira have toured Australia, supporting Mastodon all three times.

Mastodon took to the stage, opening with Sultan's Curse off their latest album Emperor Of Sand. The audience went nuts for the intro to Divinations. People watched in awe as the band played the song Oblivion, a ten-minute musical masterpiece from the album Crack The Skye. The band continued to play quality tracks from their huge arsenal of crowd favourites - including Andromeda, one of the heaviest songs on the band's newest LP, which no doubt intensified the mosh pit.

On the brink of selling out Sydney's infamous Luna Park venue, this was one show any metal fan would not want to miss and a great opportunity for anyone who couldn't make it down to Melbourne for the festival to see the duo.