Album Review: Mastodon's "Once More 'Round The Sun"

MASTODON

*Once More ‘Round The Sun*

(Warner Bros.)

The most remarkable thing about Mastodon is the band’s guitar interplay. Serpentine--constantly writhing and evolving in shape and sound--is the most apt description for it, and the band’s sixth album continues to amaze in this way.

“Chimes At Midnight” is a showcase, among 10 other strong tracks, with its chiming guitar intro that morphs into a heavy rocker by way of Mastodon’s unique brand of progressive metal. A Southern rock-tinged version of Iron Maiden is the closest comparison. Bassist Troy Sanders’ vocals on the verses mesh perfectly with guitarist Brent Hinds’ Ozzy Obsourne-like wails on the chorus.

Few other metal bands can match Mastodon’s wide open instrumental arrangements, displayed on the aforementioned song and frequently throughout the five previous albums, but at the same time, the band has taken a slightly more conventional approach to its songwriting on this one. “High Road,” the first single from the album, is a catchy, grungy tune that, besides its extended guitar solo interplay, is fairly straightforward. The lyrics on “Ember City,” sung by Sanders, are relationship-centered, a departure for a band that has fashioned fantasy concept albums about mythical creatures (*Blood Mountain* and *Leviathan*) or time travel (*Crack The Skype*). Perhaps refreshingly, Sanders implores: “And if I want you to stay/What do I say to you?”

An uncharacteristic inclusion of a closing chorus of female vocalists chanting “Hey, ho, let’s fucking go / Hey, ho, let’s get up and rock and roll” occurs on “Aunt Lisa.” It doesn’t ruin the high-paced song, but is evidence the band is striving for more mainstream inclusion of melody and harmony compared to early albums. “Asleep In The Deep” is another surprising head-scratcher that although evolves into a harder sound, starts off almost ballad-like. Even with these moments, every track delivers the energy and unpredictable metal arrangements that are a hallmark.

Listen for the last two minutes of “Halloween” for pedal-to-the-floor guitar riffing between Hinds and Bill Kelliher: scary good.

Bottom line: This is the best full album yet by the smartest and most creative metal band around.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Link to "Chimes At Midnight" audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6zU87xJoBk
Link to music video of "High Road": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Aw1WnNVcYw

Link to Mastodon concert review: http://jasonscales.blogspot.com/2014/05/concert-review-mastodon-gojira-kvelertak.html