The Mastodon Thread v. Emperor of Sand!

[Kotowboy]

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 

I like this section a lot but also the verses of Steambreather with that big fat undulating synth sound. 

[Kotowboy]

Also I don't think i'll be able to rank this album.

All the songs are at least as good as each other and there's no 'weakest' song in my mind...And definitely no 'crap' song.

With regards to the other albums - i've only listened to Emperor of Sand a handful of times but I definitely prefer it to

Once More Round The Sun and possibly on par with The Hunter - *maybe* a bit less.

Time will tell where it ends up. But probably near the top of my overall album rankings with The Hunter, Crack The Skye & Blood Mountain.

Better than Remission, Call of The Mastodon, Once More Round The Sun and Leviathan.

[home]

It's way to early yet to really rank it but I think it might turn out to my my third favourite, after Crack The Skye and Once More Round The Sun. Could very well be just the hype talking tho 

By the way Kotowboy, did you it is possible to edit your posts, so you don't have to make two succesive posts in 5 minutes? And that it is possible to not use a white line after each sentence?

[Kotowboy]

Edit yes.. But I really hate that

Edited by Kotowboy at the bottom . So annoying.

As for my formatting. I find it much easier to read when people write like this and not all crammed together in a wall of text.

I'm using a dark theme.

[home]

 

[Mladen]

Picking Precious stones as my favorite song on the album. 

[IDontNotDoThings]

Precious Stones has definitely been a grower on me lately.

Also, I picked up a physical copy of the album today, so that's cool. I'll post a picture when I'm not feeling as lazy.

As for ranking, currently it's looking like it's gonna be 2nd behind Crack The Skye, but part of that is probably just new-album hype.

[Samsara]

Anyone else not liking the mix of the record? I have a pretty high end system in my car, and I had the record on over the weekend. The bass sounded a bit high in the mix. My EQ wasn't set to flat, but the custom mix I have just brings up the mids and highs a little more, with a slight bump to the bass. I literally had to turn down the volume (which put the bass at a level acceptable, but made the vocals and high end really low). I put the EQ on flat, and yep, same issue.

Really strange. There was one particular track that stood out above the rest too. I can't remember it off hand, but it was especially high in the bass rumbles department.

[Podaar]

It depends.

It sounds fantastic on my office computer, home head phones, and house stereo. It has way too much bass in my car unless I change the eq to "classical". It has way too much bass the Bose sound system for my home computer but agian is pretty good if I adjust the eq.  It sounds way too thin on my 5.1 home theater, which is probably the fault of my Denon not doing well with the digital files from my NAS.  I don't typically listen to music on my home theater so it's not a big deal and I'm sure if I messed with the settings I could get some thing acceptable.

I think the vocal mix is deliberate. No matter what system I listen on, the vocals are at about the same level as guitars. I don't have to strain to hear them, but they do blend with the larger mix more than most albums.

I think the drums are done quite nicely (maybe turn down the kick a bit) and for once Brent's solos are clear in the mix. Some Mastodon records and live recordings are frustrating because the lead guitar is buried too much.

[Kotowboy]

Wonder if the thread title will be updated by the time their next album is out......

[Kotowboy]

 - From elsewhere on the net -

" Mastodon have gotten worse and worse with each album because they scream and growl less and less..."



Hey guy if that's literally all you want form your br00tal Methulz - why not just listen to any of your 1,500 albums that all sound identical

[wolfking]

- From elsewhere on the net -

" Mastodon have gotten worse and worse with each album because they scream and growl less and less..."



Hey guy if that's literally all you want form your br00tal Methulz - why not just listen to any of your 1,500 albums that all sound identical

Haven't heard the album yet, but IMO while that comment is worded and put across like a 5 year old, I think they definitely have lost a slight edge and raw energy from the Remission/Leviathan days, but that's just because of the style of music.  I loved Once More a lot and haven't had a chance to pick this new one up but will do on the weekend, but it's a different band now and even though I love the old stuff, the constant progression is amazing to see.  I wouldn't want them to go back to their older style just for the sake of it, seeing the band evolve is great.

[Kotowboy]

I think there are echoes of Blood Mountain and Leviathan on Emperor Of Sand.

Scorpion Breath is pretty fuckin heavy...


But yeah I love that every album sounds a bit different and you can hear the pretty logical progression in their sound.

[wolfking]

I think there are echoes of Blood Mountain and Leviathan on Emperor Of Sand.

Brilliant.

[Kotowboy]

[wolfking]

Uh...I'm just happy to hear that you can hear shades of those older albums in the new one.

[Kotowboy]

ok cool.

When most people quote a post and write "brilliant" it's usually because they think the quote is stupid in some way.

Probably just a British thing.

Apologies

[Kotowboy]

We can almost make a Mastodon / Scott Kelly album !

1. Aqua Dementia : 4:10
2. Crystal Skull : 3:27
3. Crack The Skye : 5:54
4. Spectrelight : 3:09
5. Diamond In The Witch House : 7:50
6. Scorpion Breath : 3:19


Almost 27:50. Not a bad playlist ! In an album or two's time : they'll have enough tracks for a compilation.

[countoftuscany42]

Loving the album, saw them perform at Jimmy Kimmel today, and will see them perform at Amoeba Hollywood tomorrow 
Had the guys sign my poster for tomorrow's Amoeba show today, always nice dudes 

[Kotowboy]

Love how Bill has almost become the spokesman for the band as he's doing way more interviews and he can talk for Atlanta

But in the beginning he almost never spoke. So it's cool.

I don't think you could replace any one person in the band.

You couldn't get another drummer that plays like Brann. Bill comes up with a lot of their Mastodon-ish riffs. Troy has the voice and Brent has his unique way of playing guitar.

[Tomislav95]

Definitely, they're all irreplaceable. I know I became Mastodon fanboy, I love them all so much because beside being killer players, they seem like really cool and funny guys.

BTW finally bought Emperor of Sand, will do my first spin first thing tomorrow when I come home

[Kotowboy]

If you love Blood Mountain and Crack The Skye - you'll be in MastoHog Heaven.

It's like another CTS just with a more stripped back production closer to BM.


I'd love to know what a Matt Bayles produced Mastodon album would sound like nowadays that they can afford the big studios & production.

His Blood Mountain production is awesome.

[wolfking]

ok cool.

When most people quote a post and write "brilliant" it's usually because they think the quote is stupid in some way.

Probably just a British thing.

Apologies

I can see how it could read as sarcasm now that you mention it, pretty common here in Ozzie land too.  But yeah, that actually sounds fantastic.

[Kotowboy]

I read my post over & over like What Did I Say Wrong ? 

Just imagine Ricky Gervais saying it in response to something.

That's how it sounded to me initially




In other news - if any member was to leave the band i think it would be Brent first. He's really unhinged and isn't always 100% there when playing live.

I wish he would go to rehab or something. I'm pretty certain that if Mastodon were to end if would be due to Brent being Brent.

But they've managed for 17 years now I guess.

Bill managed to quit the booze and Brent mentioned at the time of CTS that his head injury made him cut back on a lot of stuff.

[Train of Naught]

I think your description of Emperor of Sand as Crack The Skye meets Blood Mountain is spot on, Kotowboy. Probably the reason I love it so much, those are my 2 favourite Mastodon albums (or at least they were, I can definitely see Emperor of Sand becoming top 2 or #1 even, but that might be the new album feel).

From what I know about you and your Mastodon / other musical preferences, wolfking - which probably isn't much - you're in for a treat.

I'm on my 3rd or 4th spin right now, and man, Steambreather continues to be the standout for me on the first half. I remember the last few songs were all stellar though, and with last 'few' songs I mean Ancient Kingdom all the way up until Jaguar God

[IDontNotDoThings]

Jaguar God has grown on me a lot, especially the acoustic opening. It almost reminds me of Joseph Merrick in a way...

[Kotowboy]

Jaguar God is awesome especially the Dream Theater ish riff in the middle.

Reminds me of the country lick going into the Sanitarium part in Megalodon.

[IDontNotDoThings]

Reminds me of the country lick going into the Sanitarium part in Megalodon.

Yeah, I remember being reminded of that part somewhere in the new album but I couldn't remember what song it was in.

[axeman90210]

Still haven't gotten the email with the free download link I'm supposed to get with my concert ticket 

[aurorablind]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XypPoLznlE

"Show Yourself" live at Jimmy Kimmel. Pretty solid! 

[Kotowboy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XypPoLznlE

"Show Yourself" live at Jimmy Kimmel. Pretty solid! 

Brann and Troy both sound great. Brann isn't straining and Troy's " Save YourSEELLLFFF " sound awesome and powerful .

[mikeyd23]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XypPoLznlE

"Show Yourself" live at Jimmy Kimmel. Pretty solid! 

Brann and Troy both sound great. Brann isn't straining and Troy's " Save YourSEELLLFFF " sound awesome and powerful .

Yeah that was a good performance!

[Zydar]

Ancient Kingdom has quickly become one of my new favourites.

[Kotowboy]

Ancient Kingdom has quickly become one of my new favourites.

It's nearly the Creature Lives of the album. I do like it. Does anyone else think Ancient Kingdom is slightly louder than the other songs ?

[Kotowboy]

I could download Emperor of Sand from Amazon today.

Now I have a digital and analogue copy