There’s something wrong with Mastodon. Front cover of every magazine in the known universe, video’s all over the channels that still dare to play “heavy metal”, tours with some of the biggest and coolest bands of the last 20 years not to mention an aggressive and generous marketing campaign surrounding them for the last two releases, the type of corporate attention and push that’s usually reserved solely for the Linkin Parks and Bullet For My Valentines of this world. They’re not pretty boys, they’re not a costumed theme band Yet they are without doubt one of the most important acts in modern “metal” today and “Crack The Skye” only serves to advance their ascent to the throne that one step closer.

Following on from the brilliant “Blood Mountain” was never going to be an easy task but this release does more than follow on, it takes the foundations laid back in 2006 and spirals upward out of control like an ancient Yggdrasil. Much more melody, more sung vocals, much, much more progressive and with screaming guitar solo’s that will get men and boys alike reaching for their tennis rackets the world over. It captures the imagination from track one to the very epic ending of the thirteen minute closer “The Last Baron”.

A brave band of misfits that continue to swim against the current and defy the all consuming mediocrity that is prevalent in metal of late. Proof that beards ARE cool.
Genre defying and deeply inspiring music.
Go get it now!

 

Reviewed by Pete Theobalds

Crack The Skye is out now on Reprise Records

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