Rating: 3.5/5
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It feels incongruous to write in flowery terms about what is allegedly their “fun” album, the one with the least pretense. So let me say this once again, as simply as possible: Mastodon is, more or less, a 21st-century American Voivod.

Rating: 1.5/5
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Mind Over Metal Limerick 6

Mastodon – “Crack The Skye” released March 24, 2009 by Reprise Yes…yes, they have. 2009: A Mastodon Odyssey! A brief run through: 1) Mastodon pop! (still badass); 2) perfect lead single, leanest track, with a wicked hark back to Dick Dale on the solo; 3) aptly named, and may be quintessential, with everything you’d want, plus unexpected surprises (like channelling Lemmy in the chorus); 4) holy fuck, THAT is prog metal (~11 min of it!); 5) judging by the riff, Karelia may be the ghost of the ‘Sleeping Giant’; 6) first foray into even light/dark vocals on the album, with [...read more]