Mastodon
Hushed And Grim
Reprise Records
Released: October 29, 2021
One of the biggest names in modern metal, Mastodon, gear up to drop their new record, Hushed And Grim.
With each new collection of material that Mastodon unearth, they seem to venture deeper and deeper out to sea. Sailing into calmer yet still hostile waters. The underlying threat that the Kraken could still pull them under remains within these solemn tracks, but the storm has long since been weathered. To some, these shanty’s will fall on deaf ears and turned shoulders – but to others, they will be in the light in the darkness, guiding them onward. Music is funny in that way.
Any time an artist greatly changes their sound, they are most certainly going to face the firing squad from fans of the original material. That most certainly has been the case for Atlanta’s Mastodon, who have been under fire for a considerable time now. Adrift since Crack The Skye, Mastodon continue to drift further and further from their roots – and although that has cost them the ears of the fans more inclined to follow the heavier days of yore, they are also finding a new audience as they continue to adventure into the seas of progressive rock.
See Also: Full Of Hell “Garden Of Burning Apparitions” Review
On one hand, an artist needs to continue to explore in order to find true North, but to do so at the peril of ostracizing those that helped you reach the levels you have is not recommended. Still, with Hushed And Grim, Mastodon have now spent as much of their recorded career away from extreme music as they had with. Despite all the change, the band still continue to create interesting and deep music – especially when it comes to the woeful lyrics that are perhaps the one consistent factor throughout their discography.
As a fan of the bands early music, I find conflict within myself – because I also greatly appreciate their later music as well. At the end of the day, it’s all about the art of the medium. While Hushed And Grim isn’t without flaw, there is also a great deal that the band does well, and I believe past fans who can venture into Hushed And Grim with an open-mind will find the same solstice. Mastodon are fantastic musicians who continue to write fantastic song structures.
While I understand the remonstrance; I also can not deny how great their new direction has been either. Balance. Those old records will always be there. While Mastodon are continuing to explore new nooks and cranny’s as their venture on, and I appreciate that too. It isn’t as if they are trying to become to next radio-friendly rock troupe and usurp a few bucks out of the pockets of Nickleback.
There are some genius guitar licks on this album. Segments that are impossible not to nod ferociously to. The opening riffs to Teardrinker for instance, is so sublimely brilliant, with its hooks and chorus – incredible. The opening notes to Pain With An Anchor. On More Than I Could Chew, the lyrics cut deep and hard, as Troy Sanders gets personal, as he often does.
Amusingly enough, one of the more heavy tracks on the record, Pushing The Tides, is also my least favorite – despite my background with their original albums. I just can’t get beyond that opening guitar interlude. It does better and better as it unwinds, before that riff returns and kills it for me. It is what it is. However. On Gigantium, Mastodon do slightly reach back to days of yore, and plod out a pretty hefty final track to what, in my opinion, is a solid album.
Fans that haven’t gelled with the last few Mastodon recordings probably won’t be swayed by Hushed And Grim either, but those that have enjoyed what the band has done since Crack The Skye surely will – and Mastodon will no doubt pick up fans of progressive metal and rock with this album. Although there are still moments that reflect the Sludge of the early output, it is becoming less and less prominent with each new piece the band delivers. If you can live with that, then check out Hushed And Grim.
Pre-orders of Hushed And Grim are available now by following this link.
For Fans Of: Gojira, Tool, Baroness
Track Listing:
01. Pain With An Anchor
02. The Crux
03. Sickle And Peace
04. More Than I Could Chew
05. The Beast
06. Skeletons Of Splendor
07. Teardrinker
08. Pushing The Tides
09. Peace And Tranquility
10. Dagger
11. Had It All
12. Savage lands
13. Gobblers Of Dregs
14. Eyes Of Serpents
15. Gigantium
