Mastodon - Crack The Skye
Tracklist
Disc I [CD]01. Oblivion
02. Divinations
03. Quintessence
04. The Czar
1 - Usurper
2 - Escape
3 - Martyr
4 - Spiral
05. Ghost Of Karelia
06. Crack The Skye
07. The Last Baron
Disc II [Limited Edition DVD]
+ Making Of "Crack The Skye"
+ Track-By-Track Band Commentary
+ Photo Gallery
Line-up
Brent Hinds - guitars, vocals
Bill Kelliher - guitars, backing vocals
Brann Dailor - drums, vocals
Troy Sanders - bass, vocals
Guest musicians
Scott Kelly - vocals
Rich Morris - keyboards, organ
Brent Hinds - guitars, vocals
Bill Kelliher - guitars, backing vocals
Brann Dailor - drums, vocals
Troy Sanders - bass, vocals
Guest musicians
Scott Kelly - vocals
Rich Morris - keyboards, organ
Rating:
9.0
9.0
|
Rating:
9.0 |
Crack the Skye, the new opus from the Atlanta, Georgia quartet is an absolutely stunning release. The band continued the sort of 'elemental' theme that has been present in their last couple releases, Remission (Fire), Leviathan (Water, duh), and Blood Mountain (Earth). Now, with Crack the Skye, the supposed fourth element, Air is represented. Read more ›› |
Staff pick by
RaduP
Found in 133 lists
RaduP
Progressive Psych / Sludge Metal
Aug 22, 2025
"Leaving you behind with my lonesome song"
Crack The Skye is one of the first albums I bought with my own money, and it's probably the one metal album that I got the most actual physical spins out of. It was my first choice of a CD to lend when doing exchanges with the few people who listened to physical media back in high school.
"Spiraling up through the crack in the sky
Leaving material world behind"
Despite Mastodon being one of my favorite bands, I only got to see them live this year, after Brent was no longer part of the band, and awesome as it was, no song from this album was played. It makes sense because so much of Brent's irreplicable touch and soul is in this album, and it's clear that the course of metal would not be the same without this man.
"Please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around"
Crack The Skye is one of the first albums I bought with my own money, and it's probably the one metal album that I got the most actual physical spins out of. It was my first choice of a CD to lend when doing exchanges with the few people who listened to physical media back in high school.
"Spiraling up through the crack in the sky
Leaving material world behind"
Despite Mastodon being one of my favorite bands, I only got to see them live this year, after Brent was no longer part of the band, and awesome as it was, no song from this album was played. It makes sense because so much of Brent's irreplicable touch and soul is in this album, and it's clear that the course of metal would not be the same without this man.
"Please take my soul to rest
So we can always be around"
Staff pick by:
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, corrupt, nikarg, ScreamingSteelUS, Daniell, BloodTears, BitterCOld
Endorsed by: X-Ray Rod, corrupt, nikarg, ScreamingSteelUS, Daniell, BloodTears, BitterCOld
Top lists
Comments page 2 / 2
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Comments:
60
Visited by
1949 users
 Posts: 21306 |
Posts: 21306 Written by _deepblack on 30.09.2014 at 00:48 Pretty much what Marcel said. Not only do plenty of musicians in the stoner scene look like the Mastodon boys, but their fans also dress the part. As for the album, I love it. Used to think not so highly of it, but then I stopped being a bitch.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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Posts: 211  |
Posts: 211 Written by Troy Killjoy on 30.12.2014 at 01:15 thats what i thought about the album when i listened to it first 2 times but after some time i started loving it
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Posts: 435  |
Posts: 435
This is a special album for me. It was my first real concept album and opened the door for me to progressive music in general. I have heard it performed live twice, each time a mesmerizing experience. Spectacular album all around.
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 Posts: 8651 |
Posts: 8651
God fucking damn the title track is incredible I do really like the albums that came after this album, but none of them can really compare to the inspiration so fully on display in this album; 00s Mastodon was something else
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| Posts: 8651 |
Posts: 8651
They've recently uploaded part 1 of what will presumably be a series of retroactive videos they made whilst producing the album: It's cool hearing them talk so positively about the album, knowing that it's actually go on to be held in the kind of esteem they were hoping for. Also nice hearing Brent talking quite a bit; he was barely in the Emperor of Sand making of documentary.
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 Posts: 1272 |
Posts: 1272
Kinda disappointed by this one, I expected something great after reading all these comments but apart from the last track I'm not the biggest fan of it, especially the vocals, really don't like the voice for some reason
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Posts: 653  |
Posts: 653 Written by Roman Doez on 18.12.2020 at 13:54 
---- Ride a horse that's cleaving through the air and space of dreams.
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 Posts: 6647 |
Posts: 6647
There's no doubt this is a very good album but it doesn't exite me nearly as much as Leviathan. The title song and The Czar which are amongst the band's best work but everything else hovers around the decent/good stuff. As per usual Dailor's drumming skills are the highlight for me.
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Posts: 3645  |
Posts: 3645
This album doesn't show up when you filter for progressive metal in the top album thingy. Is it because the genre is listed as "Progressive stoner metal" instead of "progressive metal" and "stoner metal"? If so, that's a shame, as I feel like it really deserves to be in that list.
---- I hate bonus tracks
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 Posts: 3582 |
Posts: 3582 Written by Zap on 10.09.2021 at 16:40 Yes, unfortunately it is exactly like that. The prefixed part of the style is ignored in filter functions and also in the "top styles" overview of your collection. Somehow this even makes sense, because many additional descriptions like "blackened" or "depressive" are not really a genre when considered separately.
---- signatures = SPAM
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Posts: 3645 |
Posts: 3645 Written by Starvynth on 10.09.2021 at 17:20 Makes sense to me. In this case though, I think it's more a progressive metal album than a stoner one. But then I don't know much about stoner metal in general, so I'm not going to complain any further 
---- I hate bonus tracks
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Posts: 1089  |
Posts: 1089
This is an album where I just know it's better than it sounds to me. Aside from "Oblivion" and "Crack the Skye" I find it to be kinda whatever, but I know there must be great stuff in the other songs if I just had the patience for it.
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Posts: 1380  |
Posts: 1380
I didn't take much notice of this album when it first came out but it has grown on me with repeat listens! Their best album IMO. 8.9/10 for me - 'Oblivion' is the standout song. 'Divinations' and 'Crack The Skye' are both also great.
---- Top 500 Albums (ordered & rated) Top 200 Overlooked Albums (with genres) So I Heard You Like Wintersun... (Time II find new bands)
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Posts: 251  |
Posts: 251
The Last Baron, to this day, is their absolute best imo.
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| Posts: 21306 |
Posts: 21306 Written by (o> . <o> ) on 13.12.2022 at 14:30 It's an absolute masterclass in songwriting. My personal favorites are The Czar and Divinations but from a conceptual standpoint, The Last Baron is beautifully written.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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Posts: 251 |
Posts: 251 Written by Troy Killjoy on 13.12.2022 at 23:26 I respect this opinion, and to be honest me saying "absolute" is deceptive as the others are still close contenders, the whole album is consistently good after all, in one way or the other.
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| Posts: 8651 |
Posts: 8651
This conversation reminds me that I need to listen to this album again - if we're talking favourite tracks, the title track is phenomenal. I remember the first and most recent times I saw Mastodon, they had Crack The Skye and Ghost Of Karelia in the setlists, and both sounded amazing. In terms of 'best' song, the long ones are fantastic, The Czar in particular, but they absolutely knocked it out the park on this one
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Posts: 1819  |
Posts: 1819
I think it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say every song on this album is the best song.
---- Need a break from headbanging? Restore your street cred by visiting my hip-hop list! Tha Swagnum Opus: A Selection Of Hip-Hop For The Curious Metalhead
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Posts: 34  |
Posts: 34
Not a fan of stoner or sludge, but this album is a fucking masterpiece! 
---- bruh
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Posts: 167  |
Posts: 167
I was conciously avoiding to listen to this album because I knew how prog it is (I'm not a big fan of prog). I mean I listened to a few songs here and there, but not the album as a whole. I found it at my local record store a week ago on offer, 3 CDs for £5, so I was like 'I might as well listen to it now, it's been long overdue'. The CD hasn't left my car since, and I've been listening to it all the time. I've been beating myself for not giving it more of a chance all those years ago when I discovered Mastodon. There's nothing I dislike in this album, it's just so good.
---- This is my worship, this is my path...
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Posts: 1695  |
Posts: 1695 Written by AtrumHiberna on 08.01.2024 at 21:34 Better late than never. Glad you finally got to enjoy one of the best albums ever made 
---- Liebe ist für alle da.
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Posts: 84  |
Posts: 84
I loved this album pretty much since 2010 and its still going as one of my absolute favorites (some songs like Ghost of Karelia, Oblivion and The Last Baron never left my cellphone playlist). I gave this whole album another spin today and it is just as good as the first time!
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 Posts: 337 |
Posts: 337
I don't know what's so good about this album, but I just want to listen to it from time to time, haha. 
---- I regret nothing.
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 Posts: 8249 |
Posts: 8249
This is the album I listened to after hearing of Hinds' death. Just stating the obvious, but what an incredible album. So much talent here; Remission is pure heaviness and my favourite, but Crack The Skye is pure songwriting excellence.
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 Posts: 756 |
Posts: 756
This album now got a double meaning; both Skye's and Brent's death. Listened to this yesterday, and hearing Brent singing the chorus.. It hits hard 
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Posts: 20  |
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 Posts: 9574 |
Posts: 9574
Ouuu this will be a great album to toss on during my run today. Haven't listened to it in ages.
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Posts: 1270  |
Posts: 1270
My personal Top 3 songs from the album: The Last Baron Crack The Sky The Czar
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