The Mastodon Thread v. Emperor of Sand!

[PixelDream]

I did like The Hunter somewhat, but in my mind it has a few standouts with quite a lot of filler material. I've always thought Once More 'Round the Sun was an improved attempt at what they were trying to achieve on The Hunter, at least songwriting wise. I thought the production on OMRTS wasn't that great though.

[Mladen]

I became a fan around the time that The Hunter came out and remember thinking it was one of their better albums. However, it completely got overshadowed by the next few releases.

[Kotowboy]

I have been a fan since Leviathan and Hunter is my fave. Let's see how H&G holds up.

[Lonk]

To me, the last 4 albums have all been strong, but OMRTS is the one I revisit more often.

[Kotowboy]

Heres a Q...

If Hushed And Grim was just the first disc. 8 songs and 45 minutes would you like it as much ?

Crack The Skye was 7 songs and 50 mins so maybe.

[Lonk]

I would still like it for sure. I would be missing some good songs (savage Lands  ) but it would still be a good album.

[Mladen]

It would miss a couple of great tracks, but it would in fact be a better album, at least in terms of overall consistensy. Pushing the tide wouldn't make a good album closer, though, even though the song is terrific.

[Kotowboy]

It would miss a couple of great tracks, but it would in fact be a better album, at least in terms of overall consistensy. Pushing the tide wouldn't make a good album closer, though, even though the song is terrific.

Disc 1 Plus Had It All and Gigantium. 57.5 minutes.

[Lonk]

Thinking out loud, but maybe they should've divided the album and just released them seperately, similar to what Coheed and Cambria did in 2012/2013. Coheed recorded a double album, but released each disc 5 months apart (The Afterman: Ascension (Disc 1) and Afterman: Descension (Disc 2)).

[Kotowboy]

Maybe but it's actually not a slog listening to the whole thing. And it IS on 2 discs.

[goo-goo]

Maybe but it's actually not a slog listening to the whole thing. And it IS on 2 discs.

Yep. I didn't realize it was 90 mins long until someone mentioned the album length in this thread.

[Kotowboy]

It's probably as long as the full 13 tracks of Hardwired. Which I think is a hair under 90 mins too.

This doesnt feel as long as that album. Not that HTSD feels like a slog either.

Hardwired ( Including Lords of Summer ) = 85 mins

Hushed And Grim = 87 mins.

[emtee]

It's frickin' perfect just the way it is. The whole glorious double album.

[Kotowboy]

Yes.

I think this album may well end up as my favourite along with The Hunter. Crack The Skye, Emperor Of Sand, and Blood Mountain.

[cramx3]

Heres a Q...

If Hushed And Grim was just the first disc. 8 songs and 45 minutes would you like it as much ?

Crack The Skye was 7 songs and 50 mins so maybe.

Not sure I would if it was split in half like that, but if I could pick and choose the 8 songs I think yes, it would be a better album overall.

[Mladen]

It would miss a couple of great tracks, but it would in fact be a better album, at least in terms of overall consistensy. Pushing the tide wouldn't make a good album closer, though, even though the song is terrific.

Disc 1 Plus Had It All and Gigantium. 57.5 minutes.

You read my mind. That would be a top 3 Mastodon album.

[WebRaider]

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.

Tried to also quote Kotowboy as he mentioned it as well... I believe they are actually touring with a guy on keys this go round. Watched a few videos of their show last night and they have a keyboard player which definitely gives some added depth live.

[wolfking]

It's frickin' perfect just the way it is. The whole glorious double album.

This.

[Kotowboy]

« Last Edit: 32-13-2024, 26:47:07 by ItsDatBoi »

[cramx3]

Setlist spoilers...

Damn, they aren't playing Gobbler of Dregs, but I like the new songs they did choose to play

[Kotowboy]

Setlist spoilers...

Damn, they aren't playing Gobbler of Dregs, but I like the new songs they did choose to play

Hope we get a live DVD soon. Haven't had a proper one since Aragorn ? That was ages ago. I still need to get the Workhorse Chronicles DVD too.


+ Ever listen to The Hunter (song) and notice just how much Troy sounds like LOAD era Hetfield in the verses?

[cramx3]

Setlist spoilers...

Damn, they aren't playing Gobbler of Dregs, but I like the new songs they did choose to play

Hope we get a live DVD soon. Haven't had a proper one since Aragorn ? That was ages ago. I still need to get the Workhorse Chronicles DVD too.

I'm too new to know anything about live albums, but I got a front row balcony ticket for Saturday's show and plan on capturing some live footage. (obviously not as good as a professional DVD, but might be able to capture a song of interest)

[Kotowboy]

Phones are getting ridiculous. I remember someone had filmed Dream Theater once and it was better quality than Chaos in Motion. 

I remember the 16x16 flashing kkhkhkhkhkhkhkhkhkhkhkhkhkhk people used to get 

[cramx3]

I don't use a phone, my panasonic camera is much better as long as there is some decent lighting in the venue. 

[Kotowboy]

Just seen a comment saying Mastodon "sold out years ago and they're just a pop band now"

Haha.

*MAYBE* if they'd gone from Remission to The Hunter in 2 years - but with every album you can hear the previous album in there plus a progression as well.

[cramx3]

I checked out some of the songs they are performing this tour that aren't from the latest album.... wow quite different

[Lonk]

I checked out some of the songs they are performing this tour that aren't from the latest album.... wow quite different

I don't want to spoil the setlist since ill see them tomorrow night, but yes, specially pre-Crack the Skye is a completely different animal, but still great IMO. I was listening to Leviathan yesterday on my way home and I hope they play 1-2 songs from that album 

[Kotowboy]

Nowadays "pffft this band has sold out now" means " this album isn't as heavy as *I* want - IT BLOWS  "

[Grappler]

I took a break from my Mastodon binge for a week or so, but I'm back at it again.  Crack the Skye is dominating my player, along with Leviathan, The Hunter and Emperor of Sand.  I've listened to the new album in full a few times and it's growing on me, but I like the heavier songs from it.  The entire thing is just way too dense to take in and doesn't have the immediacy as some of their other albums.

Blood and Thunder from Leviathan is definitely my favorite song of theirs. 

[Kotowboy]

Fav song is hard but B&T is way up there. As is The Wolf Is Loose. Dry Bone Valley. Ghost of Karelia. Show Yourself...Jaguar God...

[cramx3]

They were really good last Saturday night, they had a pretty intense laser light show and visuals. 



and we got a one song change up in the set that worked out well in my favor of tastes from the new album

Here's my full video Mastadon & Opeth LIVE @ Hammerstein Ballroom New York City NY 11/20/2021

[wolfking]

Really liking the set list they are running out at the moment.

[Lonk]

Wait, did mastodon closed the show in NYC? Opeth was the closer in Albany.

which by the way, based on your video the sound was wait better than Albany, where whoever was running the mixer had the bass way too loud. Both vocals and guitars were being drowned out by the bass

[cramx3]

Yeah, Mastadon rotated to closer at the NYC show. Not sure how they are doing that rotation, but it worked better for my tastes. Not that I dislike Opeth but Mastadon are more energetic and work a bit better in my tastes as closer. Opeths set stayed the same.

Also was nice grabbing beers before the show with Axeman 

[emtee]

I've spun this countless times and I'm ready to call this a master work. There have been 4 albums in the last several years that have reached this level: Ghost Reveries, The Road Of Bones, Deadwing and Altered States.

Every song is a unique and distinctive journey with multiple layers.

What an album!