Mastodon - Crack the Skye
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Free Music Notes for Crack the Skye
Free Music Review: The Skye is Falling
Hit: 5 Stars
Mastodon's last album (Blood Mountain) displayed their nastiest chops ever, but got a bit showoff-ish and self-indulgent. But now Mastodon is dead serious, and Crack the Skye is no laughing matter, lyrically or musically. A convoluted lyrical concept about space travel and czarist Russia is actually a cover for Mastodon's most haunting thoughts ever, inspired by the childhood death of Brann Dailor's sister and the recent severe head injury suffered by Brent Hinds. The band's music is becoming less flashy and more dramatic, played with an epic grandeur that easily becomes bigger than the sum of its parts. The four players have surrendered to the sound, with less hot-dogging and more teamwork. Even the monstrously hyper Dailor on drums has slowed things down a bit, reminding the listener less of a speed demon and more of a coiled snake. The vocals are more in tune with the mood of the music, and this album's lyrics are surprisingly deep and introspective. Mastodon have surely become big-thinking and forward-looking pure musicians.
All of the above has given Mastodon the biggest and most compelling sound in modern metal, and this album is sonically imposing and unforgiving from the first note. They even make a banjo sound ominous at the beginning of "Divinations." Epic grooves and jarring time shifts add to the success of the rifftastic "Quintessence" and the especially disturbing "Ghost of Karelia." And after dozens of listens I'm still trying to comprehend the two 10+ minute epics "The Czar" and "The Last Baron" and I know that these tracks will unveil new musical surprises for months and even years to come. And that's what makes this not just Mastodon's best album yet but also one of the best metal albums in recent memory. It will surely reward repeated listens. Mastodon's huge sounds and huge thoughts have come together in terrifying ways. [~doomsdayer520~]
Free Music Review: I Guess [You] Would Say [They] Could Set this World Ablaze
Hit: 5 Stars
Psychedelic, elusive, bizarre--these are all words I would use to describe Mastodon's Crack the Skye, and I use these words only as a benefit to the band. Each song seems to grab a different part of my soul and extract it for paranormal pleasure. The songs are not heavy (as heavy is compared to other metal bands); they are powerful and lyrically provocative. Each song takes me to a place full of imagination as I try to see the story of what is being told through the eyes of the band--much like what a book does for the reader. This is an album that must be listened to over and over again.
My favorite tracks:
Oblivion - When the singing begins in this song, so does my journey into my amazement. "I flew beyond the sun before it was time." I don't think album beginnings get much more mysterious, intriguing, and alluring as this. The words resonate something deep down inside me--horror and excitement all at once. And then the chorus comes in, packing a Stone Temple Pilot, Alice in Chains grunge-like prowess. Awesome.
Ghost of Karelia - Haunting. I can't get enough.
The Last Baron - The words used for my review title are sung at the beginning of this track. This seventh and final song of the album sums up my experience. Within the complicated music structure of this entire album, melody vividly comes through on this track, unleashing a hope in something that the listener cannot even at first know or understand--creating a wonder of whether or not there should even be that hope instilled. That is the feeling of the mind crawling for answers, for images, for more.
Sharkchild
Author of The Dark Verse, Volume I: From the Passages of Revenants (Imitation Leather)
Free Music Review: It's like an art movie in your head!
Hit: 5 Stars
Mastodon is not a band for the casual listener. They're not something you can throw on while you do your homework. You need to listen, pay attention, explore the depths of the music with your mind. All of the tracks on Crack the Skye are amazing when they stand apart, but if listened to in order, at one time, they become something otherworldly. I didn't even know it was possible to create such an emotional atmosphere with music. They draw on the intelligence of classic rock from the 60's and 70's, while still keeping the music heavy and harsh enough to satisfy their heavy metal crowd. But expressing Crack the Skye as some kind of balancing act aimed at crowd pleasing would be a mistake. This album is and always will be the epitome of Mastodon flexing their personal creative muscle. The riffing is almost as if Pink Floyd or ELP were to mash with classic heavy metal like Black Sabbath or Dio. It's psychedelically trippy at one moment and then crunchy and harsh the next, and none of it seems phoned in. Brent Hinds and Troy Sanders use harmony and vocal switches to keep the singing fresh, and Hinds comes in with some screaming blue-inspired guitar solos at peaking moments in songs.
The songwriting itself is also Mastodon at their best. While the lyrics in Blood Mountain did a good enough job of conveying imagination and fantastical situations, their disjointed nature wasn't exactly the best for telling a story. That has all been fixed. The lyrics in Crack the Skye are fluid enough to convey the story while still ambiguous enough for your own interpretations to factor in. Everything just reeks of perfection.
So I say again: sit down (preferably with the lyrics handy), make sure the songs are in the right order, and let her rip. One sitting, whole album. You'll be glad you did.
Free Music Review: Pure genius
Hit: 5 Stars
It is hard to do this album justice in words - it has to be listened to to truly appreciate the masterpiece that it is. So why review it? I guess to help others decide if they want to buy it or check it out. I am a Mastodon freak and own everything they have recorded, so I knew when this came out that it would be different, having read many pre-release reviews. And I must admit that on first listen, I was surprised and disappointed. The sound was so different - the vocals especially - that I was almost reluctant to try to like it. But after a few more spins, I began to realize how amazing an album this is. The songwriting is very advanced, very mature and has the perfect balance of obtuseness and catchiness to make things more and more interesting on repeated listens. The musicianship is obviously top notch, and some of the grooves and solos are up there with the band's best material. It really is an ALBUM, in that the sum is greater than the parts - it is meant to be listened to in one sitting, in the sequence it was recorded. I have the deluxe edition with the DVD on the making of the album, and it is invaluable in understanding the background to the album, as far as Brent's recovery from brain damage and how it affected his writing, Brann's description of the "concept" of the album, and the whole production and recording process. Sure, Blood Mountain was a big step away from Leviathan, but Crack the Skye is a much bigger step away from Blood Mountain. If you really love the heavier thrash sound of the older stuff, you may have a difficult time with Crack the Skey. But if you enjoyed the more prog-rock style of Blood Mountain, and have the time to allow this album to really sink in, you will be greatly rewarded.Free Music Review: An album worthy of Mastodon!
Hit: 5 Stars
It's been nearly two and a half years since the last record from Mastodon. After Blood Mountain, what should fans expect?
Crack the Skye is a powerful album which knows how to balance heaviness and elegance. It's modeled after the Air element, as Leviathan was modeled after Water and Blood Mountain was modeled after Earth. It emulates a changing, zephyrous wind, and at times strikes out with lightning and fury.
Crack the Skye stands out against their other albums by its production alone. Thanks to the efforts of Brendan O'Brien the annoying fuzz which has clouded Mastodon's previous records is gone. This is how Mastodon should sound.
Most of Mastodon's signature sound is intact and in full effect. Heavy riffs abound, although not as hard hitting overall as Leviathan. Where Crack the Skye really shines is in its vocals. The vocals are split between Brent, Troy, and Brann, giving them plenty of variety. Brann's lyrics, although they only appear on the song "Oblivion", are incredibly suited to the music. It is one thing I hope to hear much more of from Mastodon in the future. The lyrics are very well written as well, making the story of the album very clear and atmospheric.
The guitars and drums are slower, more even and flowing than swelling and crashing. This is not to say that the unadulterated power of Mastodon is not present; the many solos of Crack the Skye are as imposing and beautiful as any.
In relation to their other albums, this one is one of the best. It doesn't dethrone Leviathan, but it surpasses Blood Mountain. It is focused, clear, and powerful, pushing Mastodon in a new direction exemplified by the Air element.
I can hardly wait to see what's in store with Fire.