MASTODON: Crack The Skye (PROGRESSIVE METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Always as courageous in its creative approach, Mastodon takes here a direction which will not fail to surprise its public, accustomed for a decade to a technical, extreme, wild and uncompromising metal, although not without finesse. By choosing to reinforce the melodic aspect to the detriment of a certain violence, Mastodon seems to deny a certain 'sludge' heritage and to privilege a filiation with the great ones of the so-called "classic" rock and prog, and even reveals some surprising influences, notably Soundgarden or Opeth.

Musically, the shock is deep but this change does not deprive the band of its fundamental identity. The Mastodon 'sound' remains, immovable, powerful and recognizable between thousand, in spite of a perpetual artistic mutation (the group even changes logo with each album). It's still metal of course, but delivered with a maturity and audacity that leaves you breathless.

The mix of "Blood Mountain" gives way to a more dense and more atmospheric whole than usual, which can surprise (or even displease) by its homogeneity. Perfected by the all-rounder Brendan O'Brien (RATM, Incubus, Springsteen, AC/DC among others), the production privileges the collective to the individuality as well as the compositions which often forsake the technical and complex aspects for the benefit of aerial and even psychedelic atmospheres!

This effect is reinforced by an absolutely fantastic use of voices with the dry and hard vocals of the duo Hinds/Sanders which turns into breathtaking vocal harmonies, supported on occasion by the two other musicians (Dailor on "Oblivion") as well as by the inevitable Scott Kelly, who since "Leviathan" doesn't miss any of the band's albums. He brings here some darkness to the eponymous title.

Conceptual always, Mastodon illustrates itself here again, obviously, by mature and intelligent texts, in the stylistic continuity, if not thematic, of their previous achievements. It is about, quickly (not to deprive you of the pleasure of the interpretation), Stephen Hawking, astral travel and tsarist Russia.

More than ever free of any constraint, Mastodon continues its journey to the borders of the genre with this "Crack The Skye", which sounds like a future classic, epic and daring, and which affirms once and for all the deeply progressive character of the band and redefines with an incredible talent its orientation. - Official website

MASTODON

CRACK THE SKYE

WARNER

PROGRESSIVE METAL