INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THE NEW MASTODON RECORD
Monday, February 23rd, 2009 at 1:58pm by Vince Neilstein
There’s an incomplete version of Mastodon’s Crack the Skye that hit the webernets last Friday; we’re told it’s missing one track and one is named incorrectly. The bit rate is also low (128kbps). But yo, NEW MASTO-FUCKING-DON!
As previously reported, with all the big releases slated for the early part of ‘09 Mastodon kinda got lost in the shuffle for me; but boy was I wrong to underestimate the ‘Don.
Let’s put it this way. If you’re into Mastodon for the mosh, you are probably not going to like this album. If you’re into Mastodon for the heady/proggy stuff, this is the album you’ve been waiting for Mastodon to make. Yes, the statements from band members that Crack the Skye has got a more classic-rock edge are true, but fan worries that Brendan O’Brien’s production would dumb-down the songwriting should be put to rest; if anything the band has grown more experimental and are pushing themselves even further outside of their comfort zones with songs that are bigger, longer, more grandiose and even more epic.
I’ll leave further ruminations for the eventual official MS review, but I’ll leave you with this final thought: guitar solos!! Lots of ‘em.
-VN
Holy fucking hell, I can’t find it anywhere, someone throw me a fucking bone!
i noticed that in the track listing that the last song didnt mention “the elephant man”.
I’m gonna say what I’m gonna say hoping that I don’t regret this but I think this is gonna be better then Wrath album. I heard pieces of each song this weekend and it sounds AMAZING!! Blood mountain was good and I love Leviathan but Crack the Skye definitely takes the whole cake. I ordered the deluxe cd with worm hole and kick ass art work. I told plenty of jerk off in 04 that this band was going grow in to something special because of their unique style. This album will validate that quote.
I’m actually pretty disappointed in this cd…. For me, it doesn’t have any songs like March of the Fire Ants, Iron Tusk, or Blood and Thunder… nothing that hits you as awesome. Crack the Sky with the Nuerosis singer is pretty awesome, but it feels like they’re just moving too far off from what they started out as. I’m sure some will like it, but I’m not feeling it at all.
I was put off by Troy’s new clean vocals from the start and missed the heavier, headbang inducing stuff from previous records, but this album is definitely meant for repeat listens. After listening to the available tracks (in the lowest quality possible) a few times now I’ve fallen in love with this album. If you think Remission is the greatest thing they’ve made then you might want to stay away from this, though. I can’t wait for that last song to finally leak, and for that deluxe edition to finally arrive in the mail.
Also, there’s some awesome stuff in http://www.cracktheskye.com (lyrics, videos, pics)
That snorefest “Wrath” doesn’t even hold a candle to “Crack The Skye.” Man, I hope I get to seem them live sometime soon.
@Axolotl: Apparently Brann is doing vox on the record.
I personally love this album already even though it’s missing a track. The classic rock that’s in the mix is outstanding. The guitar solo in czar just WOW.
just waiting for my pre-order and to hear that the last baron
Ok I like this album (at least what Ive listened to so far) I downloaded it from demonoid.com (torrent) but you need an Account so… dunno. Pretty FUCKING AWESOME album
Real Fucking Mature….This stuff is for grown ups.
I’ve always had a slightly sketchy affair with mastodon. Some stuff rocks beyond belief, while others get a quick Skip on the player. But this. This. Wow. Been listening at work, and i’m loving the melodies. Crack The Skye just kills.
They’ll probably release a brutal album next. Just cause.
This is NOT A Full length…its considered an EP….WTF is seven songs?!….I waited two years from blood mountain so mastodon could rush to put out an album?!….they should of taken longer to write some more songs…i’d rather wait for a quality full length LP then a rushed-in-two-years EP…..come on If TOOL can do it…Mastodon could do it too…I’m sure People would be willing to wait for a full 12 track cd another year….
BTW…I am a fan of the cd…I was just wanting a little more…
If you want it….Btjunkie.org….you need Bitlord or Bit torrent….to dwl
Ive read about it and heard about it for so long, I don’t want the first time I hear it to be a sketchy incomplete 128kbps copy.
@uglymicrowave
dude, it’s 7 tracks, but the Last Baron is 15 minutes long. The record totals to something like 52 minutes… that sounds like full length to me. Just because they songs are not individually separated doesn’t make them worth less, brah.
VN mentioned how one of the tracks was named incorrectly. I don’t see it. I checked it out and it all matches up.
Great album. Previously my favorite Mastodon album was Leviathan. I particularly like Naked Burn and Seabeast. This changes that. The Czar is just an amazing song. Period. Everything about this album is great.
By the way, trying to compare this to Wrath is just fucking stupid. They are completely different albums with completely different sounds. There is no comparison to be made.
Mastodon really kicked some major ass with this new record.
Crunch240 –
Send me an invitation code to Demonoid….that would be cool.
killertone AT ymail DOT com
@ uglymicrowave
I realize drew already gave you a response summing up why you’re wrong, but I thought I’d add:
You’re an idiot.
I got Crack the Skye and Wrath the same day…I have listened to Skye at least 10 times. Wrath…one listen. I love Lamb of God too but Crack the Skye is a classic.
I can’t wait for CTS! It’s gonna be EPIC!
I have been looking at the lyrics, and oh god are they awesome. I think The Czar is my favorite song on the album so far.
I hate to admit it, but I’m not feeling the new CD. I thought Remission was good, though a bit “noisy”. Leviathan was an opus, and Blood Mountain was just damn groovy. This one though… I don’t know. It feels predictable, formulaic, stifled, and unoriginal. Plus, where’s Dailor? The man makes drums SING – and he’s using 8th notes on hi-hat for intros! That’s not Mastodon. That’s radio rock crap. I’ve only listened once, so I’m giving it all I can. Still, I didn’t think Mastodon could do me wrong, but I’m beginning to believe they did. Hopefully, I’ll see the light, if its only a little slice through a small crack in the sky.