When Brent Hinds sings “I’d guess they would say we could set this world ablaze” during the 13-minute epic “The Last Baron,” the lyric acts as a climax to Crack The Skye‘s purposely convoluted concept involving a paraplegic kid, wormholes, and Rasputin. But the lyric also mirrors Mastodon the band as today’s heavy metal stalwarts whom can be mentioned unabashedly in the same breathe as Metallica in terms of innovation and importance.

Crack The Skye, Mastodon’s fourth album, is their biggest and boldest to date with seven massive tracks filled with grind house distortion-fueled riffs, whirlwind time signatures, and mesmerizing harmonies. What sets this album apart from their previous efforts is while it stays heavy in attitude and sound, it focuses on writing distinct melodies and powerful arrangements, which draws numerous parallels to Metallica whom they are supporting in Europe this summer. If the critically acclaimed Leviathan was Mastodon’s Master of Puppets in putting them on the map as metal’s new force to be reckoned with, then Crack The Skye is Mastodon’s Black Album in proclaiming that their name be etched among the metal gods of past, present, and future.

As Metallica proved on their masterpiece, the Black Album, a metal album need not be only distorted guitars and nonsensical screaming. Metal is most successful when approached like a great novel. There needs to be a setting, characters, a storyline (either in each song or album as a whole), and a delicate balance between soft and kick-you-in-the-balls heavy. Mastodon does all these on Crack The Skye, and it is simply one of those albums that needs to be listened to in it’s entirety every time or else it feels incomplete.

The album’s first single, “Divinations,” begins with a lightening fast banjo riff – yes, banjo riff – that transitions into a verse section with boulder sized riffs until Bill Kelliher and Brent Hinds’ intertwining guitar-lick filled chorus. Title track “Crack The Skye” features one of the album’s heaviest moments with Neurosis’ Scott Kelly on vocals blaring out, “Blessed visionary/cut me with your sun/the rivers ran in blood/sparked fuel to fire,” in a throat-ripping guttural scream over drummer Brann Dailor’s steamroller-meets-jackhammer rhythm.

Of course, it’s the album’s two longest tracks, which are the most impressive of the bunch. “The Czar” starts with howling vocal melodies over squealing organ lines and slow-burning guitar until a frantic build-up explodes into a tank-attack guitar run with bassist Troy Sanders’ vocals carrying the melody. Album closer, “The Last Baron,” is an all-out abolisher of the senses that features a massive beer-chugging thunder riff until midway through when Mastodon goes all prog on the listener and unleashes their guitar virtuosity in a section that is reminiscent of Rush’s “YYZ.”

Crack The Skye is an exciting and intriguing listen because it’s obvious Mastodon took their time in crafting each song. Every moment of the album is filled with a powerful attention to detail, whether it is one simple drum roll or a high-pitched guitar squeak. The band looked to rock greats such as Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and King Crimson for inspiration and birthed an album that’s destined for classic status.

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MASTODON performs this Thursday April 30 at The Metro! The show is SOLD OUT, but The Metro is holding a “CONTESTODON” until 3pm Thursday for 2 tickets and a 26×40 poster. Just text METRO MASTODON to 46786 for chance to win. Otherwise you can always try Craigslist or eBay for tickets.
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