Author Topic: The Mastodon Thread v. Emperor of Sand! (Read 268799 times)

wolfking · « **Reply #2275 on:** October 30, 2021, 05:57:36 AM »

Quote from: Podaar on October 30, 2021, 05:47:08 AM

Well, my friend, I don't know if you'll enjoy this album either. They do experiment quite a bit, especially on disc 2. Nary a power cord to be found. And as you say, the days of Mother Puncher, Blood and Thunder, and Cysquatch are far behind them.

I think you and I talked some years ago about how Brents leads are all the same, and while that could still be said, to an extent, he has branched out a bit more...and with startlingly good effect.

I've grown to like Brents lead playing quite a bit more than I used to. He's no Gary Moore but he's fitting in with their style more and more, if that makes sense.

I'm not sure what it was with EOS, I just didn't get the hype behind it. Might revisit it again, but I thought the same with CTS. So looks like I'm in for another challenge with this new one. We'll see.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #2276 on:** October 30, 2021, 06:28:09 AM »

Gobblers of Dregs sounds like Remission to me...

wolfking · « **Reply #2277 on:** October 30, 2021, 06:48:03 AM »

Quote from: Kotowboy on October 30, 2021, 06:28:09 AM

Gobblers of Dregs sounds like Remission to me...

You'll probably have to listen to it twice in a row back to back just to be sure.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #2278 on:** October 30, 2021, 06:48:58 AM »

me7 · « **Reply #2279 on:** October 30, 2021, 09:34:49 AM »

Will need some time to digest. I consider Mastodon a band that works best in 45min bursts. Reunion Iron Maiden is a great example how such a band can go wrong when they insist on writing too much filler. I'm curious how I will feel about this album in two weeks.

DoctorAction · « **Reply #2280 on:** October 30, 2021, 10:45:41 AM »

I'm on the last track of my first play through as I write this. Love the direction. It is long. Have thoroughly enjoyed it.

fadetoblackdude7 · « **Reply #2281 on:** October 30, 2021, 10:51:41 AM »

After only one listen, I really enjoyed it. It’s got their signature sound but they try some new things as well, particularly on Had it All - amazing track. You can really feel their emotions on this one that are coming out. Needs more listens.

However, I don’t think it’s their best work, and not my AotY so far. Nothing has topped Colors II for me yet.

Samsara · « **Reply #2282 on:** October 30, 2021, 11:46:15 AM »

Had it All is a great changeup from them. Totally dig it.

twosuitsluke · « **Reply #2283 on:** October 30, 2021, 12:14:12 PM »

I really love this band and it's been great to go back through their catalogue whilst digesting Hushed and Grim.

I've listened through 3 times now and Gigantium really hit me on the last listen, just great. Teardrinker was the only single I really loved and its remained my favourite song so far. It'll definitely be top 5 of the year for me and I could easily see it taking the top spot.

emtee · « **Reply #2284 on:** October 30, 2021, 01:04:25 PM »

Had my 2nd run-through today. So much experimentation and new ground. Also I feel a heaping dose of raw emotion running through this. The keys add a new level. Trying to fight hyperbole here but this feels like one of those once in a decade kind of albums that lands in an all time top...?

wolfking · « **Reply #2285 on:** October 31, 2021, 03:18:41 AM »

Wow, just having a squizz through the book and the solo on Had it All is by Kim Thayil!

And also the solo on the Beast is from someone named Marcus King.

wolfking · « **Reply #2286 on:** October 31, 2021, 03:20:44 AM »

The packaging is disappointing. Just a double digipak thing with the booklet in with cd1. Pretty ordinary considering I had to pay 38 bucks!

Kotowboy · « **Reply #2287 on:** October 31, 2021, 03:55:36 AM »

If they upload a 90 min making of to YouTube again i'll be ok with it. There was a 1 minute snippet on Instagram so i'm hoping they filmed more.

Why would they film the sessions and do interviews with everyone and only put out 1 min on Insta?

Crack The Skye had a 90 making of DVD. Sadly The Hunter's one was literally 5 minutes

and Emperor Of Sand had another nice LONG making of.

wolfking · « **Reply #2288 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:00:59 AM »

The second half More Than I Can Chew is fucking incredible. Brent smokes this one.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #2289 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:03:27 AM »

I can see why it's on 2 discs other than it being 86 minutes. Disc 1 is more classic Mastodon and Disc 2 is way more experimental.

How long before people start calling it Hushed and Re-Hushed ?

Chronologically it's their Reload. But it's still only slightly longer than the entirety of LOAD

So we're due Mastodon's first album with terrible production.

wolfking · « **Reply #2290 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:09:45 AM »

Quote from: Kotowboy on October 31, 2021, 04:03:27 AM

I can see why it's on 2 discs other than it being 86 minutes. Disc 1 is more classic Mastodon and Disc 2 is way more experimental.

How long before people start calling it Hushed and Re-Hushed ?

Chronologically it's their Reload. But it's still only slightly longer than the entirety of LOAD

So we're due Mastodon's first album with terrible production.

Wow, if Disc 2 is the experimental one then not sure what I'll think.

I did notice the production here is not that great. Brent's vocals are so loud on the Beast right now they are clipping.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #2291 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:12:16 AM »

Yeah Disc 2 is basically The Creature Lives x 8

Which is basically the best song the Flaming ~~Turds~~ Lips ever made.

wolfking · « **Reply #2292 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:13:31 AM »

Quote from: Kotowboy on October 31, 2021, 04:12:16 AM

Yeah Disc 2 is basically The Creature Lives x 8

I hated the Hunter too.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #2293 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:14:24 AM »

Then you hate their best album.

wolfking · « **Reply #2294 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:18:25 AM »

Quote from: Kotowboy on October 31, 2021, 04:14:24 AM

Then you hate their best album.

I've tried many many times with it, and I guess it falls into the EOS, CTS category for me. Don't really get it. Funny with later day Mastodon because I love OMATS, probably a top 3 album for me.

I know we've talked about this before. Didn't know Hunter was your fav though.

Holy shit, Teardrinker is amazing. What a chorus.

wolfking · « **Reply #2295 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:22:19 AM »

Interesting that besides the Beast, it's all Troy and Brann. Although I think Brent had the backing screams on The Crux I think it was.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #2296 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:25:12 AM »

Brent is lead vox on The Beast which sounds very similar to Pendulous Skin.

wolfking · « **Reply #2297 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:26:16 AM »

Quote from: Kotowboy on October 31, 2021, 04:25:12 AM

Brent is lead vox on The Beast which sounds very similar to Pendulous Skin.

Yeah, that's why I said besides the Beast, it's all Troy and Brann. Interesting Pendulous Skin comparison though, I can definitely hear that.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #2298 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:29:03 AM »

I was wondering why the guitar solo on Had It All was such a sloppy mess and it's Kim Thayill. Never ever rated him as a player.

Even Brent is tighter than him.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #2299 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:31:41 AM »

Also me saying Once More Round The Sun is my least favourite album is like saying "my least favourite child".

They're all good but that one was just missing...something for me. Might be Nicky Rascals' muddy production.

wolfking · « **Reply #2300 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:37:57 AM »

Listening to this, I'm quite enjoying it. I'm a little sad that the band that I loved that produced Remission, Leviathan and Blood Mountain is long gone but there is a lot of substance to everything going on here. Definite purpose with each track regardless of how out there it is.

wolfking · « **Reply #2301 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:38:53 AM »

Quote from: Samsara on October 30, 2021, 11:46:15 AM

Had it All is a great changeup from them. Totally dig it.

I'm up to it now, it's amazing. Troy sounds incredible here.

wolfking · « **Reply #2302 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:40:41 AM »

Quote from: Kotowboy on October 31, 2021, 04:29:03 AM

I was wondering why the guitar solo on Had It All was such a sloppy mess and it's Kim Thayill. Never ever rated him as a player.

Even Brent is tighter than him.

I think it's fucking incredible to be honest. Love the pure expression and feel that he has going on here. Love it.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #2303 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:43:11 AM »

You might like Gobblers of Dregs - it sounds like Remission's more doomy moments.

wolfking · « **Reply #2304 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:44:41 AM »

Quote from: Kotowboy on October 31, 2021, 04:43:11 AM

You might like Gobblers of Dregs - it sounds like Remission's more doomy moments.

Nice.

Love the more aggressive Savage Lands now, great change of pace.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #2305 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:47:48 AM »

It's only 15 songs which is not unusual for an ALBUM - but they're nearly all 6 minutes.

I'm glad it's not like 100 minutes and 20 songs. 15 songs is easier to get through.

CYR by Smashing Pumpkins is a huge steaming turd AND it's 20 songs. It's an utter chore to listen to. Skip.

wolfking · « **Reply #2306 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:48:46 AM »

Quote from: Podaar on October 29, 2021, 06:28:15 PM

My CD came a day early so I'm going through my initial spin. Kade, please tell me your listening to this! I'm floored by how many new voicings, phrasings, and licks Brent is showing.

Edit: And whoever is doing the keys needs to be made a full member of the band. What an addition to the sound.

Edit 2: Yup. The title doesn’t lie. It’s hushed and grim…and beautiful. There will be a lot of haters, I suppose, but not me. Spit take: Eyes of Serpents is my favorite. Troy sings the melody with such genuine emotion.

This. When some songs feel like I'm just unintentionally tuning out on this first listen (mainly due to the exhaustion of listening to the full thing at once) some keyboard line or sound comes in that lifts the song to another level. Adds so much depth and colour to some songs here, good stuff.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #2307 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:50:03 AM »

I don't think anyone should become a 5th member of Mastodon. Those 4 guys have been together for so long and have been through everything together.

A 5th guy wouldnt have their history or anything. It would be awkward.

A touring keyboardist is fine.

I also don't think they should replace anyone who leaves.

Kotowboy · « **Reply #2308 on:** October 31, 2021, 04:54:16 AM »

...Oh and "Pain With An Anchor" - the main verse riff sounds so much like Hans Zimmer's Interstellar Theme.

wolfking · « **Reply #2309 on:** October 31, 2021, 05:03:46 AM »

Jeez, how good is Eyes of Serpents.

News: The Gift of Music official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fae4FQ4McSY

Author Topic: The Mastodon Thread v. Emperor of Sand! (Read 268799 times)