Mastodon – The Hunter

Mastodon hit us again with another release like a professional “Hunter”. The fifth highly anticipated studio album by the American metallers is called “The Hunter” and it’s the first non-concept album of the band, whose title is once again haunted by a tragedy, since Brent Hinds’ brother who was a hunter recently passed away.

Before getting into the album, I would like to mention that Mastodon became a personal favorite band and I expect nothing less than a good album every time they get into the studio. Since their awesome first full length “Remission”, Mastodon made a tremendous progression moving their music from album to album huge steps forward and generally putting the band in such a high level. “Leviathan” blew me away, “Blood Mountain” caused me an ear-orgasm and “Crack The Skye” became an all-time personal favorite album. This progress keeps me interested but nervous as well: interested cause I really don’t know how far away their music can travel me and nervous ’cause so far each new Mastodon album has to be compared with a superb predecessor. And I bet that this is a risk for the band as well…

This time we have “The Hunter” and God… it’s predecessor is “Crack The Skye” ! The album consists of 13 songs and the awesome “Black Tongue” is the opener featuring Sanders behind the lead vocals leaving the best possible impressions from the beginning. Next song is “Curl Of The Burl”, this time with Brent Hinds behind the vocals, catchy refrain, amazing double-guitar solos, wonderful riffs and this must be the hit of the album. As the record flows, there is no doubt that here we have another great release by Mastodon, who win another big bet! “Blasteroid” can blast your mind, the psychedelic “Creature Lives” can destroy your mental world and the closer “The Sparrow” is the perfect ending of a colorful fifty-three length sounding trip.

Maybe “The Hunter” is not the best Mastodon’s album but for the band it’s a nodal one keeping the high levels and proving that the fire still burns. “The Hunter” is at least a great album including all the elements we loved in Mastodon’s music: catchy riffs, progressive influences, rock mood, 70’s feeling, psychedelic elements, harsh screams, clean vocals but mostly this veil of mysticism that hypnotize and travel you to undefined directions.

Mastodon made the 5/5 good albums without copying themselves yet. It seems that they have much more to give. The question is: where is the top?