Album Rating: 4.0

feeling cute, might respin this later, idk

Album Rating: 4.0

All except the final track are great

Album Rating: 3.5

Toe to Toes is such a tune.

Album Rating: 4.0

underrated little EP, yea

Album Rating: 4.0

fantastic stuff on here yeah, much higher average quality than on EoS. brent is the man.

Album Rating: 4.0

Wish we could get an album with Brent leading the direction.

Album Rating: 4.0

We got it, and it's called CtS I think... Oh, also this EP

Album Rating: 4.0

Some of the band’s best material. Brent Hinds is an invaluable asset to the Mastodon sound!

Album Rating: 4.0

true

Album Rating: 4.0

"North Side Star" slowly became one of my favorite Mastodon songs.

Album Rating: 4.0

Well I think that’s because it’s their best.

Album Rating: 4.0

North Side Star is a top 5 Mastodon song

Album Rating: 4.0

this EP proved that Brent is their best songwriter

Album Rating: 4.0

Such a cool EP

Blue Walsh was the driving tune for today

Album Rating: 3.5

I don't usually revisit my older reviews like this, but I couldn't help but provide a comment regarding the recent passing of Brent Hinds, ex-guitarist of Mastodon and the key creative force behind Cold Dark Place. Looking back on this EP, it was clear as day that Brent's signature was all over its songwriting, and I like to imagine the same feelings expressed in this EP are what Brent was carrying during his final years. Even if he shared very public hostility toward his former bandmates, something makes me think that Brent still wanted to be a part of Mastodon, that he actually did care about the band, their music, and the legacy that he formed during his time on this earth.



Unfortunately, he never got a chance to really vocalize that, nor did his bandmates get to reconcile with their ex-guitarist and help him move through his life, hand-in-hand with his brothers.



Brent's verses in "Toe to Toes" are so chilling through today's lens: how he "walk[s] alone into the darkness" and how he "played the part of [him] that no one wanted to see." Brent said himself that this EP was about "the concept of living and how much it hurts to...be alive." But through everyone's tributes and dedications, everyone wanted him to still be here, to heal with friends and family firmly standing at your side.



Whether this is all idealism or not, it's no question that Brent was a powerful voice in Mastodon and metal music. We all miss him and it's going to take some time to truly envision Mastodon without him. Thank you for the music, Brent.

Album Rating: 4.0

Such a unique place in their discography, fantastic EP. Thank you Brent.

Album Rating: 4.0

thank you for the well formed and thoughtful comment, PostMesmeric.

Album Rating: 4.0

Very nice post, post.