Mastodon, Crack the Skye, Album Review
The Unique Prog-Thrashers Return for An Epic New Album.
Mar 28, 2009
From the early thrashy noises of Remission and Leviathan to the more layered and open sounds of Blood Mountain, there always seemed to be an evolution occurring throughout the Mastodon timeline. And making sure to keep audiences eagerly on their toes, Crack the Skye sounds as refreshing to long-term fans as it does to wary newcomers.
Crack the Skye
With their combined might, the Atlanta Georgia foursome may always have been destined for higher things than the confines of thrash metal.
From the relentless jazz drum beats of Brann Dailor and the clean steady bass of Troy Sanders, to the immaculate and ever progressing guitar work of Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher, as well as vocal contributions from nearly all members, Crack the Skye is a fine example of how Mastodon's music has matured into deeper and more intriguing depths, more varied elements, and musical influences founded in music of both past and present.
Mastodon's Latest Concept
Whether they are self written stories or musical homage to existing literature, Mastodon are a band who if nothing else, tell an intriguing story through their music. Based deeply in mythology and mysticism familiar in their previous records, Crack the Skye is their most intriguing and in depth piece of audio literature yet.
Even from the start, during the epic sounds of opening track Oblivion, it becomes clear that this a something of an upbeat record compared to the dark roaring tones of Leviathan and Blood Mountain. This latest release is however, no less intense. Mixing wide complex melodies, fast punchy riffs and psychedelic interludes, Crack the Skye concentrates on breaking the mould of what to expect from a band now widely appraised in the metal scene.
At the same time, tunes such Divinations and title track Crack the Skye will have listeners rocking their heads in familiarity, and the bafflingly mysterious guitar scales of Quintessence and Ghost of Karellia means that this new record is still unmistakably Mastodon.
Mastodon's Homage to Old Music
The musical scope really begins to open out during numbers like The Czar - which introduces the rare element of keyboard synths into Mastodon's arsenal of musical technology- and then further on in the closing track, The Last Baron.
These songs are possibly the bands most experimental yet, cycling through eerie melodies, pummelling loud riffs and expressive layered progressions, taking listeners on a journey of numerous movements. Emotionally, these songs are Mastodon's most complex yet, serving to widen their horizons outside the confines of any one single genre.
On listening to the whole album, listeners may also hear several moments of nostalgia. With strong elements of 1970's progressive and classic rock, Crack the Skye is in parts what Pink Floyd may have sounded like if they had somehow been a metal band. This album also manages to pay tribute to several other groups of that same era such as Led Zeppelin, Yes and Deep Purple. It's a strong indication that Mastodon are on a mission to bring back a long lost vintage sound, infusing it with their own mystique and heavy metal mastery to create something altogether new and effortlessly captivating.
Crack the Skye is a triumph of musical integrity, not just in metal, but in many other genres as well. It is proof that there is still room for experimentation, that 'progressive' doesn't meaning boring, that 'upbeat' doesn't mean shallow and that if listeners thought Mastodon were a band that were going to turn stale with critical appraisal, they were very sadly mistaken.
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