would i dig this if i didn't care much for their last 2?

no

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

it made me feel a little better, but you probably won't be overjoyed.

Album Rating: 4.0

"would i dig this if i didn't care much for their last 2?"



If you cared for CTS.... yes.

Yeah I love Crack the skye

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

this definitely doesn't have the musical or emotional heft of Crack the Skye, but it's heartening that they at least tried to make something with a lasting impact again. it's probably the best-case-scenario for '10s Mastodon.

Album Rating: 3.5

"this definitely doesn't have the musical or emotional heft of Crack the Skye"

Don't know if I can agree with any of that.



Junkie hit the nail on the head with the word "colourful", lotsa cool stuff to unearth. It has a few sloppy catchy choruses but the variety, tightness of the stronger tracks and performances make it a great record for me. I feel it's also carried by emotions too. It was crafted after going through heavy stuff (cancer iirc) and to me it shows.



Sultan's Curse, Roots Remain, Ancient Kingdom and Jaguar God are excellent. As I said I don't consider the rest to be flawless but it's easily saved by details like the psych feel of Steambreather, the trippy middle part of Clandestiny, the uplifting (for me at least) 2:00 minute mark in Precious Stones or the sheer energy of Show Yourself. Also there are some pretty cool lyrics (and vocal delivery) here and there.



Had it been trimmed I'd see it as a more than legit option for someone's favorite Mastodon, though it's not mine and likely never will. For the record my fave is Blood Mountain

Album Rating: 3.0

"If you cared for CTS.... yes"



This is nothing like CTS, i dont get that comparison.

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

@Sab I find it weird that I'm bashing this and you're defending it but I have it rated half a point higher

this site is weird

Album Rating: 3.5

Indeed.

Album Rating: 3.5

Ahah I'm used to the situation. People never give enough attention to the middle ratings. A 3.5 for me is an album with little or easy to overlook flaws. It's great, that's no light word imo. Same story for the 3.0 don't be afraid to use it with stuff you like, it says gooood

Album Rating: 4.0

^agreed hard Sab

Album Rating: 3.0

3 is generally something i liked but was probably too flawed for there to be a ton of replay value.

Album Rating: 4.0

"You sound like Fergie mixed with Jesus."



Brent Hinds on Brann Dailor's vocals





"I like 'em puttin' dem fills down there with dat extra buttahhh on dem rolls......"



Brann on his drumming style



I really love these guys

Album Rating: 4.5

"This is nothing like CTS, i dont get that comparison."



Production, mainly, given it's from the same guy who produced CTS. It's more like a really digestible, less focused, version of CTS.

Album Rating: 3.0

i suppose.

dont hear it either.
i get that this is closer to CTS than Hunter and Sun were, but its more similar to them than that.

does that make sense?

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

It's a step in the right direction, yeah.

Album Rating: 3.5

Better than The Hunter and Once more, but still not at the same level of Crack the Skye. Jaguar God and Andromeda are truly great though.

Album Rating: 3.5

Also the first half is way weaker than the second. Took a while for me to engage.