2017 has certainly been less than stellar in terms of, well, really everything. But that everything includes heavy metal and these past four months have not been particularly inspiring for the genre. Yes, KXM’s sophomore effort is a near five star masterpiece. Deep Purple has a new album which is cool but I don’t really have the drive to get it. I was expressing how this year has been lackluster for music to a good friend. He asked me if I had heard the new Mastodon album. I said no and told him that I purchased ‘Blood Mountain’ recently and I was expecting a lot, because people rave about this band. Needless to say I felt pretty let down when I spun the disc. He said that ‘Blood Mountain’ wasn’t particularly strong and that I should check out ‘Leviathan’ and ‘Crack the Skye’. I was blown when I started digging. Particularly on their newest release ‘Emperor of Sand’. This is a band that has evolved in the truest sense and they just keep getting better. Some cry sell out. But those are just the folks who think that if there is any sort of melody what so ever in heavy metal than it’s automatically not heavy metal. Which is of course total crap. In many ways Mastodon are the definitive heavy metal band of the past 15 years. They flew the flag when many jumped the ship. And they’ve been successful in pushing the genre forward while still respecting and honoring it’s past. The pushing forward is done in the rhythmic arrangements and guitar tone. The honoring and respecting is done in the actual notation of the riffs and the vocal melodies. Honestly, how many bands have three singers? King’s X and, well, that’s all I can really think of off the top of my head. Oh, and KISS. All of the musical elements that Mastodon have adopted over the years are in full swing on the new album ‘Emperor of Sand’. The record is just pure ear candy. The sweetest, darkest, most delicious audible chocolate. ‘Sultan’s Curse’ opens with neo-classic metal glory. The album keeps up the momentum with the simple ‘Show Yourself’ before giving way to ‘Precious Stones’ featuring Brent Hinds’ haunting yarling melodies. The strongest track may be the groove masterpiece ‘Steambreather’. It just pockets and rides with catchy hooks, memorable beats and a classic metal instrumental bridge. ‘Roots Remain’ is pure prog Mastodon while ‘Andromeda’, ‘Clansdestiny’ and ‘Scorpion Breath’ will please long time fans of their heavier side. The album closer ‘Jaguar God’ however, is one of the peaks of Mastodons entire career. It runs the gauntlet from folk to blues to Mastodon style heavy metal. Just brilliant!! The album as a whole has completely morphed me into a Mastodon fan. I’ve been searching for a band to get into. It’s been a while since I’ve immersed myself in an unfamiliar band. It’s paying off big time. If you do not have the ‘Emperor of Sand’ album, get it! It’s been a slow year for heavy metal releases but Mastodon’s ‘Emperor of Sand’ is an absolute exception to what’s been released. Or not released for that matter.
The purest of heavy metal glory!
Groove, groove, groove. And melody. Smoothly and seamlessly put together.
How do you feel about the new Mastodon album? Feel free to comment and discuss.
