Crack the Skye

Matodon's Crack the Skye has been voted by MetalHammer as the number 1 album of 2009.

What do you think?

Sorry, Mastodon (damn keyboard)

They have to satisfy their Hot Topic crowd, that's what I think.

On a side note, I like Mastodon, specially the first 2 albums, but have sort of forgotten about them the last few years.

Good band, album of the year for 2009, I am not sure but the album got lots of critical acclaim by non metal publications from such hipsters such as Rolling Stone and Spin, so I am not surprised

I don't think there is anything "Hot Topic" about their sound at all...heavy, progressive, complex...I think it's a matter of luck & timing that they have gotten as much mainstream acceptance as they have...that and they don't sound like all the other Lamb Of God/Killswitch Engage bands that are so popular amongst the Hot Topic crowd...they kinda stand out.

Mastodon is definitely a "hipster approved" band but I think it's a case where they also happen to be a genuinely good metal band. I'd have to think about how I'd rank Crack the Skye but it was certainly high among my favorites last year.

Shawn, around 2004 Mastodon, God Forbid, Lamb Of God, Killswitch Engage, etc., started getting big on HBB2 and they certainly had the HT following, but yes, out of all those bands, I like them the most. I remember having the Remission album in 2002 and thinking that they were going to get bigger and progress. The follow-up album did not disappoint. Crack the Skye is the only album I haven't picked up yet.

Crack The Skye is in my top 5 of 2009. I agree with sheets, they are the real deal despite the hype.

detuned wrote:

Crack The Skye is in my top 5 of 2009. I agree with sheets, they are the real deal despite the hype.

Agree - the album is awesome!!!!!!!

one of the most boring bands there is, IMO..and this one is the most tolerable one.

S wrote:

I don't think there is anything "Hot Topic" about their sound at all...heavy, progressive, complex...I think it's a matter of luck & timing that they have gotten as much mainstream acceptance as they have...that and they don't sound like all the other Lamb Of God/Killswitch Engage bands that are so popular amongst the Hot Topic crowd...they kinda stand out.

Actually, the metalcore style of Lamb of God and Killswitch is sort of not the Hot Topic crowd pleaser these days; it's bands like Mastodon and Baroness, those doomy sludgy screamo kind of bands.

Eyesore wrote:

Actually, the metalcore style of Lamb of God and Killswitch is sort of not the Hot Topic crowd pleaser these days; it's bands like Mastodon and Baroness, those doomy sludgy screamo kind of bands.

wow, "screamo" is a term, interesting. Mastodon really doesn't sound anything like Baroness...

detuned wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

Actually, the metalcore style of Lamb of God and Killswitch is sort of not the Hot Topic crowd pleaser these days; it's bands like Mastodon and Baroness, those doomy sludgy screamo kind of bands.

wow, "screamo" is a term, interesting. Mastodon really doesn't sound anything like Baroness...

Actually, "screamo" has been a term for a long time now. And does Mastodon not mix doom and sludge and screaming vocals?

Dude, you are a Categorian, you love that stuff. I don't feel the need to classify music into thousands of little pockets and sub-genres. Mastodon is more progressive rock than anything else at this point, nary a screaming vocal in sight.

detuned wrote:

Dude, you are a Categorian, you love that stuff. I don't feel the need to classify music into thousands of little pockets and sub-genres. Mastodon is more progressive rock than anything else at this point, nary a screaming vocal in sight.

I actually don't. But if someone else is going to come up with a label and stuff a band in there, I'm just going to use it for clarity's sake. And Mastodon doesn't scream? Really? I'm not insulting the damn band.

I have not heard Crack the Skye. I really need to look in to getting some Mastodon. Out of the hand full of songs that I've heard, the one that I really loved is Sleeping Giant. Great song!

Metal H. Love it, Porcupine Tree and King's X!

Eyesore wrote:

And Mastodon doesn't scream? Really?

Not anymore. These days their vocal approach is mostly clean, and what screaming is left sounds more like Brian Johnson than anything else.

Eyesore wrote:

detuned wrote:

Dude, you are a Categorian, you love that stuff. I don't feel the need to classify music into thousands of little pockets and sub-genres. Mastodon is more progressive rock than anything else at this point, nary a screaming vocal in sight.

I actually don't. But if someone else is going to come up with a label and stuff a band in there, I'm just going to use it for clarity's sake. And Mastodon doesn't scream? Really? I'm not insulting the damn band.

The little bit I've heard from them, the vocals were all screamy, growly stuff. I didn't care for it. However, if that's changed to a cleaner delivery, I'd be willing to give them a fair shake.

detuned wrote:

Metal H. Love it, Porcupine Tree and King's X!

Thanks dude!

Two of my top 5 favorite bands!

It was my favorite album of 2009.