Mastodon - Crack the Skye

[About2Crash]

Mastodon - Crack the Skye - 2009

Crack the Skye is the 4th album from American prog metal giants Mastodon. Continuing in their habit of giving their albums elemental themes, we finally arrive after the fire of Remission, the vast seas of Leviathan, and the earth of Blood Mountain, we are treated with air: Crack the Skye. The album is filled with Mastodon's most majestic sounds yet and it is their most musically mature work to date.

The album starts off with the two singles, "Oblivion" and "Divinations". Upon first listen, it starts right where Blood Mountain left off, an trancendental aura with the crunchiness to still be labeled correctly as "heavy metal".

"The Czar" is the first of two epic 10 minute plus tracks on the album. "The Czar" is a really nice song that shows off what Mastodon can do given freedom to make a song as long as the song requires.

There are other songs throughout the album and they all are good songs in their own right.

"The Last Baron" is the second of the two epics and it is equally as good as "The Czar" while being completely different.


And that's all of the songs

...

...

...

Now that I got all of the songs out of the way, I can tell you about the ALBUM.

On their own, these songs are all good. "The Czar" and "The Last Baron" are both exceptionally written and will be great live, but songs are not what this album. Want to know how to listen to the album?

Listen to it the same way that you should with all Mastodon albums: Screw songs, listen to it from START to FINISH.

It is completely different, and it is quite magical. The album goes through various themes pertaining to air, the sky, outer space, and trancendentalism in general. The entire album feels like an out of body experience. In fact, this is what "The Czar" is primarily about, a Stephen Hawking like man who is wheelchair bound finds the only way to move is through meditation. He finally escapes his own reality and his spirit flows into space before getting caught into a wormhole and trading places with none other than Rasputin.

That's right. Mother buttfucking Rasputin.

I've always said that if you want to know what a Mastodon album sounded like, just look at the cover. Their covers completely describe the attitude and nature of the album and this is no different, not quite as good as the cover to Leviathan or Blood Mountain, but still amazing.

Also, for anyone who never liked the band because of "shouty" vocals, they are almost 100% gone. It doesn't fit the music this time around I guess, although the melodies are amazing and fit in well with the guitar which by the way, is the most intricate and tight stuff they've ever played.

I just realized that I didn't really explain jack shit about the album. I really don't know what to say. I listened to it on their myspace the past few days through my computer speakers and thought it was good, not a masterpiece, but still good. Then I listened to it in the car for the first time and heard it with headphones. This is going to be one of my favorite albums of all time. I can tell.

I have been saying that I want Mastodon to go heavier and that is true. I guessed that they would take this route and it would be no surprise. However, they did surprise me. I didn't expect that this route would end up being in my favor.

[Marsallah]

It is true that it's almost impossible to describe their music, Crash. I was also surprised that they got a bit softer compared to Blood Mountain, but hey - they got better, as well.

I've loved Blood Mountain but I usually start playback from 2nd track, I don't like the opener which is in a different vibe than the rest of the album. But there are other songs (Clolny Of Birchmen, Capillarian Crest) that stand out while Crack The Skye seems (at least after first 10 listens) to be a more concise, solid album.

The new Mastodon album offers a vast variety of emotions that will take a couple of months to digest. While I totally love this album already, I can't really rate it yet - it is too overwhelming. I noticed you didn't rate it, either.
But I already know that Crack The Skye hasn't dissapointed (which I was afraid of, to be honest).

[Marsallah]

OMFG the title song!!!!!!! Those chorus-like lines SLAY! Creeps all over...

[About2Crash]

This album is magnificient. I have decided that picking a favorite Mastodon album is pointless. They are all 5 star quality albums and picking out a favorite simply demeans the others.

[Marsallah]

Yeah, Mastodon are like Motorhead.
In this respect of course

[stach]

Originally Posted by Marsallah

Yeah, Mastodon are like Motorhead.
In this respect of course

Except that Mastodon would need to put out a shit load more good albums.

[Marsallah]

Hellyeah! And I'm lookind forward to it

[Dago]

Crack the Skye will be on the best albums of the year for me I reckon. It's awsome. Can't say I have that much of a softspot for the "Czar" though.

[About2Crash]

Are you kidding!? lol.

That is by far my favorite song on the album.

[Dago]

My favorites are either the titletrack, or Ghost of Karelia. I like the vibe in the beginning of Oblivion, but then it just looses something. Quintessence is awsome as well.

[Marsallah]

Originally Posted by Dago

My favorites are either the titletrack, or Ghost of Karelia. I like the vibe in the beginning of Oblivion, but then it just looses something. Quintessence is awsome as well.

I hear ya.

I've been really DEEP into Czar and The Last Baron whilst listening to streamed songs on the band's myspace. When I laid my hands on the CD and encompassing all of the record both structurally and lyrically, I discovered the horror: some songs have huge fragments repeated over and over again Nad the crowning achievement in this field is definitely Czar. It isn't a bad song, but...

But The Last Baron...man, I am all in. Deep, deep, deep down you go... (I dunno why, but this Danzig passage somehow fits here). The title track, Ghost of Karelia, Oblivion - yeah! I love'em all!

BTW, three outta four band members are credited for vocals in the booklet - does anyone know which member is responsible for which type of singing? I am especially curious who sings the part in Oblivion which goes "Falling from grace, cause I've been away too long. Leaving you behind with my lonesome song -now I'm lost in oblivion." (the chorus that is).

I kinda feel I would be disappointed at hearing Mastodon live. The surely can't fucking deliver THIS high level of musical expression live.

[Zee]

Originally Posted by Marsallah

I kinda feel I would be disappointed at hearing Mastodon live. The surely can't fucking deliver THIS high level of musical expression live.

they honestly don't, but its not that important. When I saw them at a small club after the release of Blood Mountain, Brent was pretty drunk off his ass and very sloppy, but ya know, it didn't seem to matter.

As for this album, I havent gave it a spin yet. I need to get into a Mastodon mood to listen to Mastodon, which basically means I need my fucking car back to fully enjoy metal.

[About2Crash]

i've seen mastodon 3 times and they kicked ass 3 times.

brann does the lead vocals on oblivion, the singer of neurosis sings the verses in the title song, then troy and brent trade off otherwise.

[Marsallah]

It makes me wonder why Mastodon keep playing tours as a support band. Having attained this high a status oughtta have made them able to turn their own headlining tours into a profit. And they go opening for Metallica instead...I mean, I wouldn't like to see my favorite band do a 45-minute warm up for the main attraction of the evening, having to hear drunken Metallica fans dis them and shout "Me-ta-lli-ca" during breaks between songs.

[About2Crash]

2 out of the 3 times I've seen them they have headlined. Both times were on the Leviathan tour. Then I saw them at Ozzfest almost 3 years ago and haven't seen them since. I cannot wait to see them again.

The only problem is that while they play great live, their clean singing is not good live.... and since the last 2 albums were primarily clean, it doesn't look like it will bode well in the vocal department.

[Limberger]

So I just got my ticket for Mastadon on May 5th. I'm also going to an Opeth concert on May 4th. First time I'm seeing two concerts back to back, I'm pretty stoked.

[Marsallah]

I can't get enough of Crack The Skye. I keep listening to this album over and over again, throwing in some My Dying Bride and Cradle Of Filth out of hygiene. Man, this shit's addictive!

[Ryukin]

must... buy.... album.... buut have not money!!! ARG!!! brain need....MASTODON!!

[stach]

I have one Mastodon don't even remember the title because it wasn't that memorable. I appreciate all of the excitement for those who like this band.
I just don't hear much to get excited about.

[herrieman]

I agree with Stach