Mastodon
The Hunter
After 2009’s relatively disappointing Crack the Skye, The Hunter represents a return to form for one of the best bands in metal. Somewhat ironically, though, this renaissance is in many ways due to Mastodon significantly scaling back on the prog elements of their usual template. Where their early records were elevated to greatness by them taking a novel progressive approach to metal (so often such a formulaic genre), The Hunter largely excels because of the very fact that it is straight ahead, riff-driven metal. The song structures are much more similar to those employed by other metal bands, but the quality of the song-writing means that this is still well ahead of most of the pack. Shoe gazing is replaced with head smashing, and the previous technical virtuosity of the drumming (for example) is generally traded for simple, pounding beats. ‘Curl Of The Burl’ is the standout track, but everything here shines with class. The heaviest album on the list this year and, as such, a happy counterpoint to the huge disappointment caused by the utter mess that Protest The Hero made with Scurrilous.
The Hunter
After 2009’s relatively disappointing Crack the Skye, The Hunter represents a return to form for one of the best bands in metal. Somewhat ironically, though, this renaissance is in many ways due to Mastodon significantly scaling back on the prog elements of their usual template. Where their early records were elevated to greatness by them taking a novel progressive approach to metal (so often such a formulaic genre), The Hunter largely excels because of the very fact that it is straight ahead, riff-driven metal. The song structures are much more similar to those employed by other metal bands, but the quality of the song-writing means that this is still well ahead of most of the pack. Shoe gazing is replaced with head smashing, and the previous technical virtuosity of the drumming (for example) is generally traded for simple, pounding beats. ‘Curl Of The Burl’ is the standout track, but everything here shines with class. The heaviest album on the list this year and, as such, a happy counterpoint to the huge disappointment caused by the utter mess that Protest The Hero made with Scurrilous.
No comments:
Post a Comment