Live: Neurosis & Mastodon @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple

(PHOTO: Kate Glicksberg)

Walking the quaint, residential blocks of the borough before the show, it was almost surreal to encounter the horde of metalheads and black-clad Hessians waiting in line, wrapping around the corner. Mastodon's set started early, setting off a roaring tempest that resonated through the concrete walls to the outside world, teasing ticket holders who shouldered their way into the room. The Atlanta group's burly, larger-than-life presence devoured the stage -- charmingly reminiscent of a grade-school auditorium's -- with their ambitious 14-minute opener, "Hearts Alive." The acoustics may have been unkind to their intricate time signatures and the band a bit disconnected, but their explosive, arena-ready set was a Leviathan fan's wet dream for the see-and-be-seen attendees nonetheless.

But it was Neurosis' rare and momentous performance of moody prose that ultimately reigned supreme. The 22-year-old Bay Area band took the stage without introduction, in customary unassuming manner, getting right to work. A thinned-out crowd of twenty-, thirty- and even forty-somethings -- and fans who traveled from as far as Germany -- hung onto every note Neurosis bled out, enthralled by the serene slide-show illuminating the stage. Opening with “Given to the Rising" and following with five more songs from their latest -- and much acclaimed -- album of the same name, Neurosis dove deep into the psyche of their latest effort. The longtime fans were reminded of the group's historic impact, while the newcomers were welcomed to the pained darkness of their legacy.

(PHOTO: Bram Teitelman)