Now on their sixth album, Atlanta’s Mastodon have really come out as the Proboscidean beast they have always threatened to be. Albeit critically acclaimed, The Hunter fired wide of the target at some points, yet One More ‘Round The Sun is an hour-long masterclass in Progressive Metal, striking an unexplored balance of weird, wonderful, and easily consumable.
Opener ‘Tread Lightly’ starts off with the signature Mastodon clang before dropping it down a pitch. It’s sludgy and distorted, yet has an infectious drive that will no doubt appeal to a wider Rock audience. Troy Sanders’ vocals sound more professional, particularly on the killer chorus of ‘The Motherload’, and this will aid their inevitable integration into the public eye.
The single ‘Chimes At Midnight’ notches the pace up a gear, and the pre-release exposure signals their intent to still deliver aggressive Metal. Everything about it screams of their previous work, reminiscent immediately of the popular ‘Crystal Skull’, but the track’s slightly gentler touch means it sits well amongst their mature sound.
‘Ember City’ is almost a carbon copy of Muse in places, and the echoing vocals of ‘Halloween’ are an unnecessary experiment with production, but all is redeemed in the lengthy closer, ‘Diamond In The Witch Hunt’. A whirlwind of dynamics and tempos pass as it clocks out at 8 minutes, meaning it is as technically impressive as it is long.
Over the course of 11 equally impressive tracks, you are given a lesson in how to work all the characteristics of Modern Rock, aggressive- and Progressive Metal to unleash a soundtrack that is likely to bang the shopping tills as much as heads. In One More ‘Round The Sun, Mastodon have released a Rock album to educate.
