Album Rating: 4.5

guess it's unavoidable to discuss about brent as much as we are discussing the new music, but like, this is fresh, invigorated and inspired. so kudos to brent but he was checked out since 09 basically. best record they put out since i started listening to em so as much as i love brent i am all in for this new era of mastodon. never expected it to sound remotely as good honestly. the riffs and the intensity are next level

Album Rating: 3.5

Yeah there was definitely a knee-jerk backlash from me back in the day when they went from Skye to that but it has riffs compared to everything after (besides this) lol

Album Rating: 4.0

@StormChaser



I'm with you on that. I'm excited as well. In some of the more recent interviews that have been popping up on YouTube, the band keeps talking about how invigorated and refreshed they feel with the two new members. They've also said they already have a lot of material in store for the next album, so chances are they'll start working on it soon.



It might just be me, but some of their answers seem to strongly suggest that the next album will lean heavily into prog rock.



All we can do is wait and keep our fingers crossed.

Album Rating: 5.0

My comment about wishing for another review was not because of the score. I'm quite often at odds with the scores here and that's fine, I'm too old to care about consensus.



It was more about the fact that the review mentions Brent Hinds 15 times. It's the author's editorial choice and I respect it, but for me it gives the feeling that the review was permanently using a sort of "what would Brent Hinds do?" benchmark. Obviously, he is a towering presence in the history of the band, perhaps it can even be argued that they would not be where they are in terms of recognition, if not for him.



But for example if you check Bill's interview on the HardLore podcast last week, it's understood that since Crack The Skye, it was Bill and Brann carrying most of the writing, so I think the band has earned the right to have this record looked at from a different baseline.



So, it's no about wanting a "better score", it's about being interested in other perspectives that in my view would be fairer.

also worth pointing out Brann's mum also died last year, so the themes of loss and grief on this are driven by that at least as much as Brent's passing

Album Rating: 5.0

Top 3-4 mastodon everyone agreed. Correct

I’ve read through several comments saying that the front half is alright, and the latter half is where it picks up.

I’m halfway through the album now and I’m blown away. This fucking slaps. I really loved all the post-CTS albums, but this is easily the most inspired and thoughtful album they’ve put together since then.

The new members definitely added a vigor and sense of experimentation that brings the sound back to their earlier days, even if the production sounds newer and cleaner.

As a Mastodon fan, I’m very happy with this album. Can’t wait to see them on tour this fall.

“we can't really say for certain what Brent actually wrote for Mastodon since we weren't in the studio with them or there when those ideas first started taking shape”

@metaljunkie - I have no idea why you’re posting this misinformation, because what I said is on record and been confirmed in multiple interviews, to the point where Brent confirmed exactly which tracks he’d fully written and the times when Bill wasn’t even there when he recorded them. Crack the Skye’s main thing at the time was that Brent wrote huge chunks of it whilst recovering from brain damage, after that assault incident where members of SOAD were there. That was the type of album he always wanted the band to be; not metal but prog.

Album Rating: 4.0

Top 3-4 mastodon everyone agreed. Correct'



5th

Album Rating: 3.5

This is a good album but I mean... I don't see this "easily" clearing much of their discog. It's very mastodon to me, nothing bad, some highlights, solid album. Nothing mind blowing here for me really.



Also I'd take Hushed and Grim over this. Something about that album is quirky and dynamic that gives it a lot of character and yet it also ebbs and flows really well. I don't know this is pretty standard stuff for me outside about 4 or so tracks

Album Rating: 4.5

Crack the Skye > Leviathan > Blood Mountain > Marrow Deep > Remission > Hushed and Grim > Emperor of Sand > The Hunter > Once More

Album Rating: 3.5

I won't even try lol but I will firmly say first 4 > everything else

Album Rating: 3.0

Debut is probably their best tbh

Album Rating: 3.5

Based and frankly I kinda agree

Good album but holy fuck do I hate an organ in a metal band.

Album Rating: 4.5

“Crack the Skye > Leviathan > Blood Mountain > Marrow Deep > Remission > Hushed and Grim > Emperor of Sand > The Hunter > Once More”



I’d probably go CTS > Leviathan > Blood Mountain > The Hunter > Marrow (could move up) > Once More > EoS > Remission > Hushed

Blood Mountain >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Remission > Leviathan > Crack the Skye > The Hunter

Album Rating: 4.5

Blood Mountain is such a wicked album

Album Rating: 4.0

first 4 are first 4 and everything else can get ta fk anyway but this is probably the most ive like one back to front, theyve dropped a few bangers on the way but too much plop

Album Rating: 4.5

I like Remission but I’ve never really seen it as anywhere near the quality of Leviathan, BM or CTS.