Mastodon's latest effort, Crack The Skye may leave many metal fans scratching their heads instead of banging them. What the band is describing as their defining album is quite a departure from earlier albums like Remission and Leviathan, which packed more of a heavy metal punch. While still offering fans some hearty headbanging fare, Crack The Skye is an egress for the more melodic and progressive for the Atlanta-based quartet. It revels in the mysterious and indulges in virtuosic musicianship, taking the listener on an intoxicating journey from beginning to end.
The first track "Oblivion" sets the tone for the album with its hooky guitar melodies and high-as-a-kite chorus, beautiful and dark. "Oblivion" also features prominently the vocal talents of drummer Brann Dailor, who has to date kept to his impeccable drum work. Next is the album's first single, "Divinations," which offers a frantic fast-paced verse and one ripping guitar solo from Brent Hinds. "Divinations" demonstrates how the band have found the perfect balance between the bellowing roar of bassist Troy Sanders and the shrieking sonics of axe-man Brent Hinds. The two compliment each other nicely and create some solid dynamics throughout Skye. "Quintessence" showcases the drum wizardry of Dailor and the ghostly vocal work of Hinds, and manages to be both airy and heavy in all the right places.
The four-part epic "The Czar" opens with a droning chant and some nice up-front bass before turning heads when the tune crescendos into a riff that is, dare I say it, poppy? You may just find yourself at the mercy of Mastodon when you catch yourself wanting to bust a move. From here the 'Don deliver a fair amount of heavy guitar riffery perfect balanced with celestial bliss. "Ghost of Karelia" is an otherworldly masterpiece that perfectly blends the eerie and straight-ahead heavy, and is certainly an album highlight. Neurosis' own Scott Kelly makes his third vocal cameo with Mastodon on the album's title track, which is arguably the best song on the album. It packs plenty of punch with its chug-laden verses and features some of Sanders' best vocal performance to date.
Unlike its predecessors, Crack The Skye lacks mention of the infamous Elephant Man, but it does close with the 13 minute opus, "The Last Baron." It starts off at a slow pace with haunting guitars before cascading into an awesome jam for virtually the rest of the tune. Here the Masto-gang throw modesty to the wind opting for pomp, pushing themselves to the brink of their abilities with blistering drum work and fiery soloing. The only other song in the bands repertoire to hit the 13 minute mark is "Hearts Alive," off Leviathan. By comparison, "Baron" showcases a Mastodon at their peak, pushing the envelope with their musical abilities and experimentation. This is Mastodon in all their musical splendor, a wise choice for the final track of Skye.
When one thinks of drug-fueled prog-rock the slang term "trippy" might come to mind, and while certainly applicable to this album, it doesn't do it the justice it deserves. Given the concept of the album, out of body travel through and space (see Hind's coma-inducing scruff with System of a Down bassist Shavo), grandiose seems more fitting, as the band push themselves to the brink with their musical experimentation and development on Skye, bringing an otherworldly mood to each song in a unique way. Press play on your iPod and its easy to be whisked away through time and space. If you're looking for a balls-to-the-wall metal album you may left a little unfulfilled, but if you're looking for something to lose yourself in over and over again, this is the album for you. With each successive release, these Atlanta rockers have managed to defy categorization, carving out their own niche in the heavy metal landscape, and it is precisely their uniqueness that sets them apart from countless other rock and metal bands out there today.
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