Author Topic: The Mastodon Thread v. Emperor of Sand! (Read 266561 times)

Kotowboy · « **Reply #1715 on:** March 31, 2017, 03:02:31 AM »

My double vinyl arrived. For some reason " Roots Remain " is called EONS.

Maybe they changed their minds after the vinyls went to pressing ?

aurorablind · « **Reply #1716 on:** March 31, 2017, 03:39:34 AM »

I've listened to this album three times. Early ranking so far:

Clandestiny
Jaguar God
Steambreather
Words to the Wise
Sultan's Curse
Precious Stones
Show Yourself
Andromeda
Roots Remain
Ancient Kingdom
Scorpion Breath

Every song have got some truly great moments! I wish they would have dropped Scott Kelly for this one though. It feels like he's kind of shoehorned in just because they felt like he have to be on every album.
Great, great album! Best since Crack the Skye.

IDontNotDoThings · « **Reply #1717 on:** March 31, 2017, 04:07:43 AM »

Amazing
#1. Ancient Kingdom
#2. Clandestiny
#3. Steambreather
#4. Word To The Wise

Great
#5. Roots Remain
#6. Jaguar God

Good
#7. Andromeda
#8. Precious Stones
#9. Show Yourself

Ehh
10. Sultan's Curse
11. Scorpion Breath

mikeyd23 · « **Reply #1718 on:** March 31, 2017, 07:33:21 AM »

Starting my first listen now....

Kotowboy · « **Reply #1719 on:** March 31, 2017, 08:43:04 AM »

Can someone PLEASE change the thread title ??

Tomislav95 · « **Reply #1720 on:** March 31, 2017, 09:14:45 AM »

When I heard Andromeda, I said it could be my favorite song since Crack the Skye. And you guys rank it pretty low

Can't wait to hear all the other songs.

mikeyd23 · « **Reply #1721 on:** March 31, 2017, 10:06:26 AM »

Listened to the album front to back twice, I'm really liking it so far!

PixelDream · « **Reply #1722 on:** March 31, 2017, 10:54:03 AM »

The guitar solos on this album are all pure gold! Best thing about the album for me.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #1723 on:** March 31, 2017, 10:55:47 AM »

Much punchier and better produced than Once More Round The Sun.

Like Crack The Skye mixed with Blood Mountain.

Also it's a modern metal album but has a lot of headroom. At least it does on my vinyl. I don't know how the CD sounds. The Deezer Premium sounded good.

Podaar · « **Reply #1724 on:** March 31, 2017, 10:56:34 AM »

Quote from: PixelDream on March 31, 2017, 10:54:03 AM

The guitar solos on this album are all pure gold! Best thing about the album for me.

A third testicle will do that for ya!

Kotowboy · « **Reply #1725 on:** March 31, 2017, 10:57:45 AM »

Quote from: Podaar on March 31, 2017, 10:56:34 AM

Quote from: PixelDream on March 31, 2017, 10:54:03 AM
The guitar solos on this album are all pure gold! Best thing about the album for me.

A third testicle will do that for ya!

And recording inside the moon. Basically this album sounds like a massive chunk of rock in space.

mikeyd23 · « **Reply #1726 on:** March 31, 2017, 11:39:32 AM »

I agree about the solos and the production, both are very good.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #1727 on:** March 31, 2017, 11:46:38 AM »

That's the difference between Brendan O Brien and Nick Rascal-Innicks

Art · « **Reply #1728 on:** March 31, 2017, 12:01:37 PM »

Listening to it now for the first time. Sounds good so far.

TioJorge · « **Reply #1729 on:** March 31, 2017, 12:31:25 PM »

Lots to soak in, lots to process. But first listen impression is that this is pretty friggin amazing. Really great stuff. Awesome atmosphere, great catches, fantastic solos, cool story and lyrics. All good things.

Zydar · « **Reply #1730 on:** March 31, 2017, 01:01:52 PM »

Great album! Clandestiny and Show Yourself could be my favourites so far.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #1731 on:** March 31, 2017, 01:23:15 PM »

Quote from: TioJorge on March 31, 2017, 12:31:25 PM

Lots to soak in, lots to process. But first listen impression is that this is pretty friggin amazing. Really great stuff. Awesome atmosphere, great catches, fantastic solos, cool story and lyrics. All good things.

Haven't sat down with the lyric sheet and read along yet. Will have to at some point.

Might have to listen digitally so I can lie on my sofa in the dark and not have to get up every 15 mins to change sides

Polarbear · « **Reply #1732 on:** March 31, 2017, 01:35:06 PM »

I could not be happier with Emperor of Sand after my first listen! Gonna spin it again tomorrow.

mikeyd23 · « **Reply #1733 on:** March 31, 2017, 02:09:09 PM »

Lots of good hooks on this record!

mike099 · « **Reply #1734 on:** March 31, 2017, 10:15:17 PM »

Really loving Clandestiny and Word to the Wise. Great sound and solos on the entire album.

Podaar · « **Reply #1735 on:** April 01, 2017, 06:24:43 AM »

It's hard for me to identify favorite moments. The album seems to have plenty of cool riffs, nice melodies, great hooks, and terrific guitar solos. One thing that really stands out during my third listen, Steambreather is fucking groovy!

[edit]

The album as a whole is a winner. The middle of the road, to me, is Word To The Wise and Ancient Kingdom which are literally in the middle! That makes for an album that starts and finishes strong. I like that!

My ranking would be

Steambreather
Andromeda
Clandestiny
Jaguar God
Show Yourself
Sultan's Curse
Roots Remain
Ancient Kingdom
Word To The Wise
Precious Stones
Scorpion Breath

None of these are bad, I wouldn't skip anything, but I think there's a pretty big gap between the best and the worst.

[/edit]

Kotowboy · « **Reply #1736 on:** April 01, 2017, 10:33:05 AM »

Everyone is dissing Scorpion Breath.

I fuckin love it.

:

home · « **Reply #1737 on:** April 01, 2017, 12:21:01 PM »

Woha, this is pretty amazing, definitely lives up to it's hype! I like how it's at times both heavier and more psychedelic than Once More, but perhaps even feels a little poppier overall. At first few listens the whole album is just really solid, with Show Yourself being the only track I don't dig that much. Clandestine, Roots Remain and Jaguar God are just amazing

Kotowboy · « **Reply #1738 on:** April 01, 2017, 04:10:44 PM »

I love Show Yourself.

I don't rate albums on how heavy they are but Scorpion Breath kicks major arse. When it goes full on sludgy heavy It's a proper head bobber.

By the by - dunno If I posted this already - but on a recent Wikipedia Fact Or Faction - Bill said that contrary to popular belief - he has never sung in the studio.

No lead vocals on Deathbound and no back ups either. Just live.

PixelDream · « **Reply #1739 on:** April 01, 2017, 05:30:30 PM »

Impossible to get bored of this album, and Sultan's Curse still kicks major ass. The opening riff is just CLASSIC and just the whole structure of the track, which vocalist is featured in each following part is just magic. They complement each other so well. The guitar harmonies under Dailor's bridge and then that send-off guitar solo with those beautiful chordy riffs underneath.. the song is just a complete home run.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #1740 on:** April 01, 2017, 05:31:21 PM »

SteamBreather verses

And dat riff.

PixelDream · « **Reply #1741 on:** April 01, 2017, 05:35:57 PM »

Yeah. I always love how the shaker egg (?) enters the arrangement when the drums announce the verse in the beginning of the track. So damn groovy.

pogoowner · « **Reply #1742 on:** April 01, 2017, 05:38:44 PM »

I like this album a lot more than the last one already.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #1743 on:** April 01, 2017, 05:40:21 PM »

Quote from: pogoowner on April 01, 2017, 05:38:44 PM

I like this album a lot more than the last one already.

Yeah it's definitely better than Once More Round The Sun. Probably on the same level as The Hunter for me.

That's good btw. Hunter is my favourite along with Crack The Skye and Blood Mountain.

PixelDream · « **Reply #1744 on:** April 01, 2017, 05:43:01 PM »

Anyone else really feeling those blue notes Brent hits in his solo in Steambreather at approx. 04:00? That's one of the most badass treatments of 'that' note that I've heard on a long time.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #1745 on:** April 01, 2017, 05:44:59 PM »

Some diminished fifths ?

I'll have a listen

PixelDream · « **Reply #1746 on:** April 01, 2017, 05:45:41 PM »

Quote from: Kotowboy on April 01, 2017, 05:44:59 PM

Some diminished fifths ?

Exactly. So much attitude in that moment there.

fadetoblackdude7 · « **Reply #1747 on:** April 01, 2017, 08:03:19 PM »

Listened to it 3 times now, and it's a fine effort from them. Standout tracks for me are Steambreather, Roots Remain and Jaguar God.

Zydar · « **Reply #1748 on:** April 02, 2017, 02:00:40 AM »

One of the highlights on the album for me is the instrumental section in Clandestiny, starting around 1:45. Trippy and psychedelic tastiness.

home · « **Reply #1749 on:** April 02, 2017, 04:15:02 AM »

Quote from: Zydar on April 02, 2017, 02:00:40 AM

One of the highlights on the album for me is the instrumental section in Clandestiny, starting around 1:45. Trippy and psychedelic tastiness.

Seconding this

News: Video of online chat between fans and members of Dream Theater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx8cLlXnHpA&feature=youtu.be (*no chickens were harmed during the filming of this chat)

Author Topic: The Mastodon Thread v. Emperor of Sand! (Read 266561 times)