Mastodon - Crack the Skye

Review for Nexus Magazine (www.nexusmag.co.nz)

First off, I’d like to state that I am not a huge metal fan. There will often be some element on a metal album that I find detracts from the overall listening experience, whether it is cringe-worthy lyrical blunders or clichéd riffs (for both examples, see Disturbed). I had never listened to Mastodon before I listened to this album, but the positive press it was getting enticed me into purchasing a copy of the album. Any regrets? None whatsoever.

Brendan O’Brien, the producer of Crack the Skye, has a sporadic list of albums on his CV. He helped revitalise the career of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band, but he was also the man behind the mixing desk for many of this decades most painfully boring rock albums. Thankfully my fears of butchered production quickly vanished after the first couple of minutes listening to the album.

The album really hits its stride with the single Divinations, an impressive showcase of the bands musicianship and great compositional skills, and the track Quintessence which manages to correspond perfectly to the barmy prog-rock storyline of the album, involving astral travelling, wormholes and Rasputin.

No matter how bizarre the arrangements are on this album, it never seems out of the ordinary, which is a huge credit to the band and the producer. Whether it is a balalaika solo or a banjo riff, it fits perfectly within the song and does not scream out for attention. It is no often the word ‘subtle’ is associated with metal, but this album gives an impression of meticulous care to create a cohesive sound that really separates Mastodon from the majority of the metal/prog-metal pack.

One of the most engaging albums of the year so far, recommended to anyone with a hard rock or metal inclination.

Rating: 4/5