Not a single song I didn't like, awesomeness all over, some rather experimental songs, interesting lyrics, great production, fun, hook, heavy, soft, prog, vocal harmonies all over...
This album is great, now I have another candidate for best of the year.

Initial thoughts positive, needs some time before it goes down properly just like any Mastodon album. Actually got it on the 26th - bless NZ releases, not only are we 12 hours ahead but no-one bothers to hold releases over here. Good listen. Highlight is definitely Troy's vocals.

Bonus DVD is a waste of cash compared to the Blood Mountain and Crack the Skye docos. Total footage is only about 20mins (excluding music videos), with at least 15min of Bran Dailor exclusive. Nothing against the guy, but it would have been nice for the others to feature a wee bit more.

Written by Guest on 21.09.2011 at 20:47

I like it, another crazy album from these psycho dudes.

Why Brent Hinds's voice always reminds me of Ozzy's, I'm I the only one?

Same here! He does that kind of "Metallic" vocals.

The sparrow is a fucking amazing song!!

Oh, Mastodon, you magnificient bastards. Favourite song, without a doubt - THE CREATURE LIVES. And yes, it's favourited just because Brann compose and sang it.

Written by malaikat on 28.09.2011 at 10:34

Oh, Mastodon, you magnificient bastards. Favourite song, without a doubt - THE CREATURE LIVES. And yes, it's favourited just because Brann compose and sang it.

Hahaha I agree.. Brann is probably the best drummer of the past 10 years.

Everyone said how great Crack The Skye was, though I could never get into that album... this album however is Great!

Written by BradSabbath on 29.09.2011 at 06:16
Everyone said how great Crack The Skye was, though I could never get into that album... this album however is Great!

I'm with you on that. I'd probably give CtS a 4 or 5/10, but this album definitely grabbed my attention and held it all the way through. A nice rebound (although many will disagree that they didn't have anything to rebound from since they liked CtS so much), which will definitely keep me waiting for their next release with high hopes.

The band have finally found the way up again after having gone down with every album after remission. This one is so much better than Crack the Skye.
Only downpoint are the horrendous clean vocals especially when they sing together and try to harmonize.

I like the album but i prefer Crack The Skye and Leviathan.

It's about 7- maybe. It doesn't have the same effect on me as Crack the Skye, there's a couple of standout songs at least.

My mind is just blown, really... Is this album a bit underrated???

How the hell can an album that's been on the market for about a week now be underrated?

The more i listen to this, the more i love this, full entire album, runing again and again! Absolutely perfect, my favorite album of the year and from the band! Hail Mastodon! \m/

Written by John Shock on 05.10.2011 at 02:38

The more i listen to this, the more i love this, full entire album, runing again and again! Absolutely perfect, my favorite album of the year and from the band! Hail Mastodon! \m/

Shock, I love you man! I agree BTW, best album of the year. I love your taste in music.

Written by Death_95 on 05.10.2011 at 17:01

Written by John Shock on 05.10.2011 at 02:38

The more i listen to this, the more i love this, full entire album, runing again and again! Absolutely perfect, my favorite album of the year and from the band! Hail Mastodon! \m/

Shock, I love you man! I agree BTW, best album of the year. I love your taste in music.

Heard some songs of it today on my friend's car, that's hypnotic sound man! \m/

Written by John Shock on 05.10.2011 at 23:55

Written by Death_95 on 05.10.2011 at 17:01

Written by John Shock on 05.10.2011 at 02:38

The more i listen to this, the more i love this, full entire album, runing again and again! Absolutely perfect, my favorite album of the year and from the band! Hail Mastodon! \m/

Shock, I love you man! I agree BTW, best album of the year. I love your taste in music.

Heard some songs of it today on my friend's car, that's hypnotic sound man! \m/

Have you listened to their 2009 album "Crack The Skye" ?
IMO, the 2nd best album ever made... And this album doesn't disappoint at all.

Written by Death_95 on 06.10.2011 at 03:44

Written by John Shock on 05.10.2011 at 23:55

Written by Death_95 on 05.10.2011 at 17:01

Written by John Shock on 05.10.2011 at 02:38

The more i listen to this, the more i love this, full entire album, runing again and again! Absolutely perfect, my favorite album of the year and from the band! Hail Mastodon! \m/

Shock, I love you man! I agree BTW, best album of the year. I love your taste in music.

Heard some songs of it today on my friend's car, that's hypnotic sound man! \m/

Have you listened to their 2009 album "Crack The Skye" ?
IMO, the 2nd best album ever made... And this album doesn't disappoint at all.

Yeah!, i's good but this is better!

Another brilliant album from a brilliant band. It's great to see that they can still produce a masterful journey without the prog from Crack The Skye.

Kudos to Mastodon...

Fantastic album - I love it. Rock and roll as it should be.

Written by Unhealer on 27.09.2011 at 05:24

Not a single song I didn't like, awesomeness all over, some rather experimental songs, interesting lyrics, great production, fun, hook, heavy, soft, prog, vocal harmonies all over...
This album is great, now I have another candidate for best of the year.

Agree! ...Totally...this could be my favorite album of all time too! ...In my opinion, it's in my top 20 already! ...I think it is my favorite by these days! Mastodon, you're one of my favorite bands!

Written by Guest on 21.09.2011 at 20:47

I like it, another crazy album from these psycho dudes.

Why Brent Hinds's voice always reminds me of Ozzy's, I'm I the only one?

I agree, they are aware of it themself to, they talked about it in an interview after crack the sky. they said i is realy good to imitate famous vocalists. But i think the ozzyish vocal comes pretty natural to him.. sounds cool:)

Written by RockeRoy on 14.10.2011 at 16:20

Written by Guest on 21.09.2011 at 20:47

I like it, another crazy album from these psycho dudes.

Why Brent Hinds's voice always reminds me of Ozzy's, I'm I the only one?

I agree, they are aware of it themself to, they talked about it in an interview after crack the sky. they said i is realy good to imitate famous vocalists. But i think the ozzyish vocal comes pretty natural to him.. sounds cool:)

Oh really?, I honestly didn't know that, if you have a link for that interview it would be nice to post it here.

Written by Guest on 14.10.2011 at 16:23

Written by RockeRoy on 14.10.2011 at 16:20

Written by Guest on 21.09.2011 at 20:47

I like it, another crazy album from these psycho dudes.

Why Brent Hinds's voice always reminds me of Ozzy's, I'm I the only one?

I agree, they are aware of it themself to, they talked about it in an interview after crack the sky. they said i is realy good to imitate famous vocalists. But i think the ozzyish vocal comes pretty natural to him.. sounds cool:)

Oh really?, I honestly didn't know that, if you have a link for that interview it would be nice to post it here.

long time since i read it, but i can see if i find it

I don't think there's one song on here I didn't like.

This album reminds me of ozzy osbourne...

When i first heard the hunter, i was captivated by how much this album sounded almost like the vacation the band needed after the "virtuosity" of crack the skye (which i kind of saw echoed in the stage presence they had in the CtS songs during that tour/Live at the Aragon, a little too focused on their jangly guitar bits to have a real fucking rock out). I'm waiting to see them next February at Soundwave festival, and i can just imagine the field day the guys are gonna have just riffing along to Octopus or Bone Dry Valley.... Can't wait! It's something completely different, but to me it fits in their musical progression, and i still love listening to the catalogue front to back on long drives with The Hunter to cap it all off! So yeah, to me it just honestly feels like what the guys wanted to do after so meticulously shaping Crack the Skye. Curl of the Burl's lyrics, for example, aren't really veiled that much at all and brent really feels like he's connecting to the song (second verse especially). Damn, I'm going to go listen to The Hunter right now.

P.S. Spectrelight is an absolute steamroller, thrashy and destructive and sure to be a Mother Puncher-esque hellraiser live! MERSTODERN!

I love this album, and I'm glad they didn't try to out-prog Crack The Skye. The songs are infectiously catchy but still retain the impeccable musicianship and unique, progressive songwriting of their older material. I couldn't really call it a Black Album for this reason; the songs are catchy, but the album still takes risks and experiments with different sounds and styles. I fucking hate The Creature Lives though.

Oh my gosh this album gets better and better everytime I listen to it! I can't wait to see them on the 30th!

Most epic album ever ! 10/10