First Impressions
We're three for three now. They can't keep getting away with this.
I think I've listened to enough from Mastodon to know what my pattern with the band is. I spin a new album and it does NOT click with me for the first listen, maybe even the first couple listens. But I need to let it sit and rest for just a little, maybe go back to enjoying the previous album on the list for a little. And THEN it clicks.
I think this is the one that took the most time to really settle with me. I have a really big problem with songs not being memorable to me. I don't remember their melodies or riffs if i just glance past them. But once I start to get familiar with them, like uncovering a map, it is OVER. And god this album grew on me in such a massive way.
There were songs I did enjoy from the beginning. Show Yourself, while being even poppier than the songs in Once More ´Round The Sun, is just undeniably great. The melodies are too catchy, too sweet to ignore even if you want to.
Honestly, the same extends to Steambreather, which has a little more groove, but is still very poppy. Both songs almost have an alternative feel that may feel a little jarring at first, even after knowing they have decided to go in a more mainstream direction. But like I said, it's simply undeniable how great they are.
Then we have songs like Ancient Kingdom and Word To The Wise, which did grab me from the start. Ancient Kingdom scratched the epic itch that Crack The Skye gave me. It is so huge, with big riffs and a constant driving energy. But it takes some more interesting direction, having the chorus and the solo in major modes, which just gives it such a unique and fresh sound that was a little off-putting at first, but by the end of the song I was completely on board and realized how amazing the song it. It really reminded me of Oblivion in a strange way.
Word To The Wise is a perfect continuation of Once More 'Round The Sun's amazing Brann choruses. But it has just a little more bite, heavier riffs. It's like they combined the poppiness of Once More 'Round The Sun and the complex and epic writing of Crack The Skye. And this really applies to the whole album. They really found a good middle point and they ride it throughout the entire runtime.
The last song that really grabbed me at first was the album closer: Jaguar God. THIS is how you end an album. With The Last Baron standing by it's side, I hope they keep making amazing and epic final tracks, because this has everything. Soft acoustic sections, a trippy middle section, and a BANGER of an ending. The riffs and mini solos that hit on the second turnaround of this song are just incredible and superfast, it basically turns into thrash metal. It's amazing.
But as I said, with a few more listens, it dawned on me that this might me be the most consistent album I've heard yet. Every song is honestly really really good.
Sultan's Curse has some more subdued melodies that are honestly way too good for me to have ignored it. Roots Remain has an AMAZING solo by the end, probably the best in this album. Clandestiny has perhaps the best chorus in the album, which is funny because Troy gets to sing it. But it's so triumphant and melancholic at the same time and super singable. I love it. Andromeda has a nasty riff in the bridge and Precious Stones has an amazing bridge overall, with beautiful harmonies and Brann absolutely showing off on drums.
Honestly the only song that didn't fully grab me here was Scorpion Breath, which yes is heavy, possibly the heaviest track on the record, but I don't know. It seemed so much less memorable than everything else here.
Everyone's performance was super tight here, but I must say the highlight was by far Brent's guitar playing. I thought Once More 'Round The Sun had good solos. Those were NOTHING compared to what he does in this album. Roots Remain, Ancient Kingdom, Jaguar God. The guitar work here is just so good.
Another thing I liked more here is that the band seemed like a bigger unit than I've heard before. Troy, Brann and Brent share the mic pretty equally here, and it feels like everyone brings something special to the songs in a way the other albums didn't have. Crack The Skye seemed very Brent led, and Once More was Brann. This was everyone.
Wow this was my longest Mastodon review so far. There was just at least one highlight in every song that I needed to talk about. Maybe this album doesn't reach the absolute highs of the other two, but the overall package is the most consistent, and I enjoyed it a lot.
Ranking
Jaguar God
Ancient Kingdom
Show Yourself
Steambreather
Clandestiny
Word To The Wise
Roots Remain
Sultan's Curse
Andromeda
Precious Stones
Scorpion Breath
Rating
8/10