Mastodon
Emperor Of Sand
(Reprise)
A concept album of sorts, Mastodon’s 8th LP follows a storyline about a man sentenced to death in a desert, which, unfortunately, isn’t too far off from the experiences of loved ones of Mastodon recently. While the themes revolve around exploring mortality, the music is highly charged riffs, percussive acrobatics and pounding rhythms that encapsulate a lot more than metal, most notably showcasing their ability to pen anthemic rock. Vocally, Scott Kelly (Neurosis) and Kevin Sharp (Brutal Truth) make appearances, and the rest of the band contribute different, flourishing variations of rock that complement that varied ideas that are closer to groove filled, prog-influenced and post-hardcore than the sludge metal of their early days. Imagine the best parts of Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age and Jimmy Eat World on steroids.
Purchase the album here: Physical | iTunes | Amazon | Google Play
