Word on the street is that metalheads are going to hate the shit out of this album (“… too much of that guitar-dude’s gay-ass singing“). So, I’m going to put my cred on the line here… Crack the Skye is a damn fine record.

Long before the album’s release, the members of Mastodon made it quite clear to the press that they were attempting to write a “classic rock record.” While those words may not be exactly true to form, Remission-era Mastodon is scarce to be found here. Gone are the brooding riffs of March of the Fire Ants or Megalodon, instead replaced by long-winded passages of prog-wankery. But you know what? It’s still Mastodon, and it’s still awesome (If you don’t find yourself singing along to Oblivion by the second chorus, I’ll eat my hat).

Speaking in terms of classic rock, I don’t think it’s out of line to compare Crack the Skye to Pink Floyd’s “Animals“. If you’re going to seek out some Pink Floyd to listen to, chances are you’ll probably give Dark Side of the Moon or The Wall a spin. But sometimes, Animals is just what the doctor ordered… a great album to just sit back, relax, and jam out (get high if that’s your thing) to. Which brings me to another point I’d like to make… Crack the Skye is a completely solid album. Despite it’s lack of short, memorable rockers, it’s a much more cohesive record than Blood Mountain, and a nice return to structure (which is something I very much appreciate).

If I do have one glaring complaint about the CtS, it’s that (while Brendan Obrien’s production is top-notch) Brann Dailor’s drums are buried too deep in the mix. His trademark rolls get lost in a sea of guitars, vocals & effects, and while it’s true that the drums themselves are less chaotic than before, I think that the majority of the problem lies in the mix itself. To counter this point, I am very much in love with said sea of guitars, vocals & effects (as well as the addition of keys and percussion throughout the album).

While CtS is sure to bring the message board flamewars, true Mastodon fans will find it a nice one to add to their collections… certainly one that well grow on you over time.

Justin’s Rating:

King says: “Another heady concept album? These guys must’ve learned from the King!”

Mark’s Review:

I’ve been very wary of Mastodon’s new album Crack the Skye when I heard that it was being produced by Brendan O’Brien and was to have a more “classic rock” feel. I had never really gotten into Blood Mountain and found most of it to be aimless and uninspired, so I figured this was it for Mastodon. I had predicted that they would become another metal band that had their fire extinguished by more fame and a big record label. I was pessimistic, but I so wanted to be wrong. When I first listened to the album, the first track Oblivion sounded different, but I liked it. It has a great vibe and all the great vocal hooks of a top-notch hard rock song. The second track, Divinations, begins with that trademark Mastodon sound, bringing forth memories of Seabeast or Megalodon. It too is a great song, so I was feeling pretty positive at this point. Two tracks in and this record was sounding pretty good! Maybe I was wrong? Maybe I was being too negative? Unfortunately, I kept listening… and Crack the Skye turned from something promising into something ordinary.

The rest of the album is so tame. The aggression and fury that highlighted the first Mastodon releases are gone, as are Brann Dailor’s manic fills and Troy Sanders’ searing vocals. These are the elements that drew me to this band. At a time when metal was getting very stale, Remission was like a kick to the nuts… and I think that soon we will recognize Leviathan as one of the best metal albums of the past 15 years. Brent Hinds handles most of the vocal duty on this one, and while I don’t hate his voice, the early tracks with Sanders just have so much power and ferocity, it’s hard to get into the new, slick version of Mastodon. Much like Blood Mountain, the album becomes a sea of music, with nothing of note standing out. The Czar is the album killer. It is a long and boring song that has many parts, but seems to drag on endlessly. Ghost of Karelia is the closest you’re going to get to an old-school Mastodon song on this album, but after sitting through a 9-minute clunker, I’ve lost interest. I’ve given this album several listens to try and convince myself that I should like it… maybe one day it will grow on me, but as of now, it hasn’t.

And you know why? It isn’t Mastodon! Maybe this is what the band wanted all along, and I know Justin contradicts me, but seriously this does NOT sound like the same band. It’s the Mastodon that wrote songs like Blood and Thunder and Workhorse that made it so popular with fans. They have every right to change their sound or explore new directions, but we’ve seen where this road leads, and while I applaud their vision, I am not happy with the results. So, Crack the Skye? Solid album, good music, but if you’ve heard Mastodon before… kinda a letdown.

Mark’s Rating:

King says: “Such pain… to hear a loved one slowly dying!”

Mastodon – “Divinations”