Crack The Skye (CD & DVD)

I didn't like Blood Mountain very much and in fact it kind of sullied my opinion of Mastodon after becoming a big fan of them upon hearing the "LIfe Is Blood" EP and buying everything since but I have to say this album is their best album ever and I have been listening to it over and over, not getting fed up of it and I can't remember a time when I have done that.

I would heartily recommend it as musically the sound washes over and at the same time draws from within you. It's a fantastic sound for Mastodon with the vocals being slightly stylised but infinitely listen-able.

Buy this! I still haven't gotten around to watching the DVD.....

Im not into giving 10/10 reviews (or 5/5 in this case)-nothings perfect...but this album has something about it, its so truly epic I think it could go down as a classic. I dont think much of Mastodons other albums to be honest, too much mindless screaming, however this doesnt have a single scream on there and is beautifulltysung. It sounds like Black Sabbath/Pink Ffloyd with obvious 'heavier' bits - its so well crafted. The bonus DVD with this one is well worth a watch too - about 2 hours of watchable footage (not just shakey cameras with the band messing about - its actually quite informative about the recording process). I hope to catch these guys touring in the UK to see how they pull this masterpiece of live!

well. i never have been a big mastodon fan but i heard they had a new album so decided to give it a listen and i am competely blown away. For a while i have been waiting for an album as good as machine head's blackning. and this album got 10/10 in metalhammer so i hear i am. its suh an epic album

Though 'Leviathan' is one of my favourite albums, for some reason I have never really rated 'Blood Mountain' and so was unsure of how 'Crack The Skye' would turn out. My doubts have been well and truly swept away: 'Crack The Skye' is a stunning rock album filled with the same distinct qualities that keep Mastodon sounding like no-one else around for example the country influences and eastern sounding harmonies but they have also made a lot more use of their fantastic sense of melody with massive choruses, instantly memorable riffs and some genuinely beautiful and epic passages (check some of the clean/acoustic work on The Czar and Crack The Skye as well as the great vocal lines in the very same songs).

Once again this album has many layers and you are likely to notice some new subtle nuance every time you listen to any one of it's seven tracks but it is less 'dense' than previous Mastodon material and so will undoubtedly be a lot easier for new listeners to get into.

2009 could (and should) be the year that Mastodon really make it into the big leagues and get the kind of rewards that such a stunning album deserves.

10/10

Mastodon have been my favourite band for a long long time now and they could probably could put out any kind of music and i would buy it love it, this album is no exception. Its very atmospheric and chilled in places and very original. The melodic sinigng theyve gone for more is spot on, harmonys sounding mind blowing. Really does make you feel like your floating around in space. If you like metal, rock or perhaps even ambient music, you can get down to this. :D.