This the first time this has happened – the randomizer has picked out the last album I bought! So I’m actually listening to this as a whole for the very first time. I had to go out and buy a normal copy as the Limited Edition I ordered from the band has not arrived yet.
Mastodon are a band I love dearly and have followed their development and evolution from the get go. I’m glad to report that this album is a whole lot of awesome and I am totally blown away. There are so many epic tracks, and weighing in at around 90 minutes, there is plenty to enjoy. The opening track, Pain With An Anchor, is delicate, beautiful, and monstrously heavy all at the same time. This is definitely hairs on the back of your neck time. The Crux has a supreme heaviness interspersed with mellow beauty. Sickle And Peace has a very King Crimson era Discipline vibe, at least to the music anyway, and shows the proggy side of the band. What sounds like a melotron intros the last tack on Side 1, More Than I Could Chew. The riff and groove is so heavy sounding with Bran’s very melodic tones over the top, and it has a superb solo on the exit of the song. Killer tune!
The Beast starts Side 2 with an almost country blues vibe, and a great vocal from Brent. This is such a beautiful song with killer lyrics “Pay no attention to the sound of the beast. Because you know it can’t hurt you when you’re with me”. Absolutely stunning! The fragility continues with Skeleton Of Splendour and I’m guessing there is more than one song written about Nick John – the band’s former manger who passed away – as this feel almost like a lament. A superb solo is towards the end of the song. I am almost lost for words here as this is a very emotional piece. The lead off track, Teardrinker, follows and Bran’s vocal is just fantastic and the melody and hook are just sublime – plus a great Mastodon heavy middle eight. Pushing The Tides closes out Side 2 and is awesomely heavy – it feels like Mastodon of old with a killer choppy riff and groove.
Peace And Tranquility starts the next Side with a very busy drum pattern and riff, keeping their Prog metal credentials up to date. This is a very wandering piece that is just phenomenal, there is so much to take in and digest. Dagger has an almost medieval beginning, and I love Troy’s deep tone to his voice. Had It All is the most laid back piece on the album, and again it feels like an homage. Savage Lands closes out Side 3 and we are off to a gallop. The band’s love of fantasy and D&D are to the fore here. The middle section of the song is epic with a killer guitar solo.
Side 4 is here and the delightfully named, Gobblers Of Dregs, starts us off. It has a very doomy intro and sounds huge, then we get to the middle section onwards and it sounds almost like a different piece as a tempo and groove change arrive (I’m guessing someone likes Yes in the band). The Eyes Of Serpents is the penultimate track, and this is as close as the band get to writing a ballad – that is until the instrumental section. The last track is Gigantum, and it feels as though we have reached an ending – we’ve been on a journey, and this is the getting off point. Although the music is very uplifting, the lyrics are very melancholic and a fitting end to an amazing record.
Mastodon are and incredible band that seem to channel all of their personal loss and grief into the most amazing music. I guess its cathartic for them. This album will have me coming back again and again as it is a work of genius.
10/10 from The Grooveman.
