Mastodon

Album Title: The Hunter
Record Label: Reprise
Review by Sal Serio
(2334) Page Views

Mastodon - The Hunter

This review may be a tad late, although perhaps not since we enter a new year, and upon reflection, 2011 was a milestone year for Mastodon. Not only did they utterly destroy the “follow-up to major success” curse with The Hunter release and it’s shorter power-punch songs garnished with lush space-rock numbness, but the Live At The Aragon album from earlier in 2011 is also truly essential. Especially if you saw the mind blowing Crack The Skye tour. Pick up the vinyl version that includes the DVD and it’s just like you rode the Tardis back to the concert!

Debut Hunter single “Curl of The Burl” makes for such a cool tune to hear on the radio. It’s catchy yet pretty challenging in it’s heavy-prog-meets-pop kind of way. It may be the most accessible thing Mastodon has done since their cover of ZZ Top’s “Just Got Paid”. In fact, I hope big bands of the nu-emo-metal ilk take note, and add some out of bounds ideas to the formula. The Hunter, in it’s entirety, spins out of the box and is emphatically in your face.

Mastodon exists beyond all genre distinctions, off in their own ever evolving kick-ass time-tripping universe. I shudder with delightful anticipation of their next project(s)!

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