Albums•November 29, 2011•16,169 views

Mastodon Crack the Skye

1. Oblivion 2. Divinations 3. Quintessence 4. The Czar: I Usurper, II Escape, III Martyr, IV Spiral 5. Ghost Of Karelia 6. Crack The Skye 7. The Last Baron

2009 Warner Bros. Records

Our score 9

by Casey Boland

4/30/2009

Like everyone else with a copy of Remission and an Internet connection, I downloaded Crack The Skye as soon as it reared its ugly head on cyberspace- the version without the long last song. I actually listened to the entirety of the first two songs and then part of the long ass third, and gave up. I tried again. Nothing stuck. All I heard was four dudes doing their damnedest to play complicated music. Since this was Mastodon and I actually like Blood Mountain, I gave the album another shot. And another. Discouraged, I resigned myself to the fact that this record was a dud. Two weeks later I obtained the complete album. I listened again and somehow it clicked. Maybe it was hearing the majestic final song. Perhaps that was the key to unlock the greatness of this maligned, misunderstood record. Whatever the case, I am a convert. Blood Mountain critics will not rejoice over Crack The Skye. Mastodon continue to employ those questionable vocals some many derisively label neo-grunge or worse, nu-metal. The songs are longer, more complicated and stuffed with more musical gymnastics care of every member of the band. While the arrangements sometimes seem haphazard, the striking juxtapositions usually work wonders. The band can be criticized for devoting too much time to wanking and losing themselves in their constantly shifting grooves. Yet like the prog kings of yore (Yes in particular), Mastodon excel because they can show off to such an extreme degree and still write engaging songs. They begin confidently with "Oblivion," setting the tone for the complicated material to follow. A foreboding introduction jumps unexpectedly to a seesawing section coated in cleanly sung vocals. The chorus offers memorable riffs and more of that southern-rock crooning many fans find objectionable. "Divinations" follows, beginning with banjo and then kicking in like old Mastodon, with a crazed, swirling rhythm that segues into a galloping classic metal beat. Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher continue to out-guitar themselves with wild, innovative riffs, as with the winding, serpentine guitar lines in the song's chorus. They demonstrate constantly throughout the record why they are regarded as one of the most creative ax wielding tag teams this side of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith. "Quintessence," "The Czar" and "The Last Baron" are the album's longest and most challenging songs. Each features frenzied, schizophrenic arrangements and jaw-dropping musicianship. The only band coming close to this level of musical ADD is The Mars Volta; while that band gets lost in a '70s haze of salsa grooves and electronic-trickery, Mastodon opt for endless metal-oriented instrumental workouts. "The Czar" is divided into three distinct sections, from the heavy to the ethereal. It features prominent keyboard and piano amidst the rolling musical seas, all of it anchored by Troy Sanders simple though effective bass lines. "The Last Baron" is the better of the extended epics, a 13 minute plus summation of everything the band attempts here. If other passages of the album feel a little forced or superfluous, it all comes together on this song. Drummer Brann Dailor's performance is characteristically unhinged and technically peerless. They add a brief choir effect, a swinging Pantera groove section and conclude the song with the introductory segment. It's a good thing producer Brendan O'Brien did not slip Ritalin into the band's whiskey. While the harsh surge of the past is absent, Mastodon is growing into a wilder and more intriguing beast. They've gotten more comfortable with the vocals (allowing Scott Kelly to handle screaming duties on the title song) while becoming more confident and fearless as musicians. Crack The Skye is not an easy album to digest. But its worth is proven with repeated and devoted listening. Bottom Line: Latter day Mastodon evokes a love and hate response from fans of the band's earlier period. Crack The Skye continues the progression (emphasis on prog) away from their raucous, raging beginnings. This one needs a few plays to sink in.

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al_czervik_ 4/30/2009 9:07:02 PM

god dammit, i f*cking loved this album. go to hell.

Mastodon Crack the Skye

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