Mastodon

Emperor Of Sand (Reprise Records 2017)

Album review

Home | Interviews | Live Pictures | Reviews | News | Message Board | Links | Search | I've been hooked on Mastodon since 2003 when I saw them live and was practically blown into the wall by 'March Of The Fire Ants'. Obviously their sound has evolved *alot* since then, and each new album is a surprise in sound and direction. To me they've never disappointed, but the latest is hard to compare with past releases. It's less cohesive, and astoundingly poppy in places, (the super QOTSA-ish 'Show Yourself' anyone?). The vocals have reached a new plateau, but as a guitarist I'm starved on the killer riffage I expect on a Mastodon album, riffs that make me want to pick up a guitar and figure them out because they're so fucking badass. The song structure is different, not as 'power-of-the-riff' orientated. Don't get me wrong, there are amazing moments on this LP, 'Roots Remain' starts off going for your throat, then chokes you up emotionally with a lyrical gut punch in the middle, followed by a bridge that reminds one of an 80's horror movie soundtrack. Speaking of lyrical gut-punches, they're all over the album as Mastodon continue to take on themes of personal tragedy, this time tackling a whopper that will affect all of us in some way increasingly, as our only environment continues to be poisoned and this once rare disease of the elderly becomes a bigger epidemic. Fuck cancer. 'Ancient Kingdom' is a favorite, breaking down into some psychedelic old Pink Floyd-ness in the middle. 'Andromeda'has an off-key chord that drives me nuts, (like musical nails on a chalk board) but I figure it represents something 'off' or 'not right' tying into the album theme. The intro to 'Jaguar God' really hits home, epic. Album Rating: Reviewed by: Wolfie ©2017 ForestOfHeavy.com