Day 31, Mastodon - Crack the Skye

Stars: 4
Song: The Last Baron
Show: 40$

Mastodon hooks what we know and love of metal, reels it in, and then casts back out again to find more. We get a taste of metal’s roots with Ozzy Osborn-style vocals, some Tool-ish expressive ambiance, some head banging force like Slayer, and they even polish a few heavy grooves like Rage Against the Machine. I’ll stop there, because I don’t want to overwhelm this review with comparisons. Mastodon deserves more than that. Every metal group I have tried so desperately to love (all groups named above, Megadeath, Iron Maiden, The Sword, Primus) satisfies at least one, but never all of these characteristics: energy, exploration, fantastic lyrics, technical mastery, deep understand of and ability to use theory, driving rhythm, and cohesive melodies. Mastodon has them all. Their guitars will melt your face, their tactful modulation in and out of time signatures and keys will test you, and yet they keep you involved by not breaking up the groove to harshly. And throughout all of this, they maintain an ear for melody.

This album has long, journeying songs, as well as tighter ones, and Crack the Skye benefits from both. The first track, “Oblivion,” although perhaps a minute too long for consistent radio play at 5:45, could definitely be a commercial hit. To be able to fill a six minute track with such a high level of musicianship, power, and creative exploration and still say that it is kind of catchy is a groundbreaking achievement. “Oblivion” still draws from the same stuff as it’s two 13+ minute brothers, “The Czar” and “The Last Baron.” That "stuff" is like a spaceship that packs enough energy to shoot itself through unknown territory, appearing to careen wildly, but actually carrying out an extremely well calculated route. The long tracks are not filled directionless jams or pointless ambiance; they have a course which is clear from the beginning. What is not clear, though, is what you will find along the way.

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