The wait is over. The new album by metalcore progster gods Mastodon has arrived! Don't ask me who they are…even the rocks have heard this name once! One of the most original and finally best bands of our times strikes again three years after their previous masterpiece, "Blood Mountain". Many words had reached my ears about Mastodon evolving their sound in this new one and I was anxious about the final result. You know, the word "evolution" can have many meanings today and not always what someone expects or wants.
The changes are obvious from the start. From the first seconds of the opening track "Oblivion" you'll understand that. Where their two previous works were starting with thrashy dynamites grabbing you by the throat this one starts slowly with a doomy psychedelic riff and a slow-tempo atmospheric song. Mastodon have nothing to prove. They're trying to sink you deep into the album's dark and majestic world right from the beginning. The biggest difference is concerning the vocals' direction. Mastodon decided to "clear" their vocals in this one without leaving their brutalish approach (take a look in the homonymous track for example), of course. I know that many will put a long face when they realize this but in my opinion it's a move that works positively. I don't know…I liked their previous vocals, I love the new also. The whole album follows on this road. The tempo is slower than before and the compositions more melodic than ever, but the band hasn't lost any of its power or dynamics. Technique stays at the highest level, something that Mastodon made us take it for granted years before. Just like before, you'll have to be patient to unravel the album's greatest secrets. The production is stunning for one more time. "Crack the Skye" is an almost flawless album! Even if it was only composed of the two lengthy songs, the epic-groovy "The Czar" or the crazy prog orgy that is "The Last Baron", it would be enough for me to consider this one of the best albums of the last years!
Mastodon made a big "jump" with this one. "Blood Mountain" was an amazing album but someone could claim it was a safe step and I wouldn't disagree since it sounds like the physical successor of "Leviathan". "Crack the Skye" is something different. Mastodon took their risks and for my part I have to say they won the bet by far. I'm pleased to see bands like this having success in a wider audience cause that gives me much hope for the future of our beloved music.
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