Source: Album Artwork
By this point they should need no introduction but for those who don’t know, Mastodon are quite possibly Atlanta, Georgia’s finest contribution to the metal landscape. Since their inception in 2000, they’ve released 6 critically-acclaimed albums and earned a reputation as one of the greatest and most unique metal bands out there today. But does their 7th album, Emperor of Sand, live up to the hype? It’s time to find out.
Over the course of their career, Mastodon have become known for the conceptual nature of their albums, with each album being based around a distinct theme or story. Emperor of Sand keeps this tradition alive, telling the story of a person who is condemned to death and must wander through a desert wasteland, an idea which the band have revealed is a metaphor for dealing with cancer. This has resulted in some of the most personal lyrics Mastodon have ever written, drawing from the members’ own experiences of loved ones being diagnosed with the disease, with many of the songs reflecting on themes of death, survival and looking back on one’s life.
Opening track ‘Sultan’s Curse’ sings of “Memories of loved ones passing me by”, while ‘Precious Stones’ warns the listener “Don’t waste your time, if it’s the last thing that you do.” A particularly emotional moment comes during the somber bridge of ‘Roots Remain’ in which the doomed protagonist seems to implore his loved ones to picture him “sitting in the sun and dancing in the rain” after he is gone.
Musically this album is, for the most part, unmistakably Mastodon. After 17 years this band is still capable of churning out killer riff after killer riff, courtesy of guitarists Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher, meaning tracks like ‘Andromeda’ and ‘Scorpion Breath’ rock just as hard as anything Mastodon have done before. The latter track even features scorching guest vocals by Scott Kelly of Neurosis, who has now appeared on every Mastodon album so far except their debut! Other highlights include the groovy, sludgy ‘Steambreather’ and album closer ‘Jaguar God’ which revisits the band’s more progressive side, starting out as a Led Zeppelin-esque ballad before evolving through a metal middle section and ending in a climactic guitar solo.
Another defining element of Mastodon’s music has always been the sharing of vocal duties between the band members, and Emperor of Sand happily delivers in this regard. Hinds, bassist Troy Sanders and drummer Brann Dailor all perform lead vocals throughout the album, each using their own unique singing style to add variety and depth to the songs.
Something of note about this album is the abundance of clean vocals from Dailor, an aspect that has become more and more prominent on the more recent Mastodon albums. This provides a contrast with the harsher vocals of Hinds and Sanders, most notably on ‘Show Yourself’, one of the band’s most accessible and straightforward songs to date. This may divide fans’ opinions, but it’s clear this is a band who are not afraid to take a few risks and diversify their sound. Another good example of this is the song ‘Ancient Kingdom’ which features an epic, anthemic chorus complete with chiming bells, in addition to some classic Mastodon riffage.
In summary, Emperor of Sand may not be the most ground-breaking album Mastodon have put out, but it may well be their most sincere and heartfelt effort in years. While fans who solely prefer the band’s heavier output may find some songs to be somewhat lacking, the diverse nature of the album means there’s plenty for fans of all different aspects of Mastodon’s music to sink their teeth into. Emperor of Sand is a satisfyingly solid album that shows Mastodon are still worthy of the praise and accolades they have received. To still be going this strong after 7 albums is an achievement to be proud of.
