Mastodon

[Michael Baryshnikov]

Hello All!

Залит Mastodon/(2021)_Hushed_And_Grim

Новый диск Мастодонта.
В 2018-м году они потеряли своего друга и товарища и решили посвятить ему новые
концептуальный альбом.
Диск получился, в целом, совсем не металлический, а, скорее, тяжёло-проговый и,
на мой взгляд, немного затянутый и печальный. Концепция альбома - реинкарнация
и тяжесть потерь, и это чувствуется.
В общем, любителям сладжа понравится однозначно.
РЕКОМЕНДУЮ!

===
Hushed and Grim
Mastodon
Tech/Extreme Prog Metal, 2021
(c) Review by prog_traveller!!, PA

The Metal universe is made up of a multitude of cultures and musical genres
ranging from different periods and experiences. The magic of this universe is
given by the sense of belonging that it transmits, together with the feeling of
musical satisfaction that it sometimes gives us. Being able to unite and make
us appreciate its different musical styles, without delimiting their borders,
however, only succeeds in those great groups that have risen above others,
making themselves loved and considered in their uniqueness. To do this, knowing
how to play or innovate is not enough, you need to convey something, stealing
the attention of those who listen and knowing how to gradually make it evolve
over time. The Mastodon are now, with good reason, one of these groups. Their
music can be defined as progressive-sludge metal with the innate ability to
combine granite riffs with ad hoc virtuosity and enthralling melodies.

Hushed & Grim is their latest work and Mastodon now have a huge responsibility,
not to disappoint their fans, needless to say, therefore, that the expectations
associated with this release were enormous. Even before the album's arrival,
three singles were released - Teardrinker, Sikcle and Peace and Pushing the
Tides - manifesto of their evolution which today includes clean vocals and
melodic parts, albeit within elaborate energetic moments, also present in the
last works, like the wonderful EP Cold Dark Peace, and a renewed progressive
streak. Furthermore, Hushed And Grim is pervaded by a mutation with dark tones
that began years ago. Each song is imbued with grief and respect for the
mysteries of death and life, as well as a heartfelt reverence and affection for
Nick John the manager and friend of the band who lost his battle with cancer in
2018. All the pieces reflect and show a growth and a change of perspective
listening after listening; the dominant riffs, the various vocals, the
well-chosen tempo changes are elements that together manifest an abundance
similar to that offered in Crack The Skye, while also adding sounds less
furious than those of the early days.

The thing that surprises further is the fact that comparisons with past works
are not necessary because this record is different from anything else, Hushed &
Grim has in fact a very high level of quality that even surpasses the previous
works, it is the classic record which leads to the definitive maturation.
Perhaps for some this platter may not seem like magic, perceiving the wrong
feeling that the band has lost its way; for those of us who have seen them
rebuild themselves, even through the works following Crack The Skye, Hushed &
Grim is the great confirmation of this second phase of this band's career.

"Pain With An Anchor" opens the dances with class by changing several times and
it does so by intertwining odd tempos with clean melodies and vocals while
remaining bombastic in its inexorable gait full of sounds. "The Crux" is its
natural evolution, also without respite except for a reflexive pause in the
central part to then resume the march. "Sikcle and Peace" exudes magnificence
and pain while advancing intoning "Death comes and brings with it the scythe
and peace", further enriching the melodic parts with lively and intense solos
in a suite that lives on multiple influences merged in its development, for
then get to "More Than I Could Chew" the apotheosis of the first part of the
disc. The piece gathers every sound to describe even better and with mastery
the path taken by the band, made of evolution, change and compositional art.

We are just a third of the way through with the arrival of "The Beast and
Skeleton of Splendor" which gives us moments of majestic and gloomy reflective
stillness by singing "Leaving you behind?". The keyboards arrive, the melody
reigns in these situations while remaining articulate and pungent without ever
being taken for granted. With "Teardrinker" we start marching again with a
majestic gait full of pathos, followed by "Pushing the Tides" and "Peace and
Tranquility"; there is never a decrease in attention or boredom, times
intertwine with each other with sudden changes of direction, our attention
cannot diminish. Continuing we collect other pearls such as the majestic
"Gobblers of Dregs" with its almost nine minutes of absolute epicness, class
and psychedelia, to conclude with "Eyes of Serpents" and "Gigantium", the
latter even more damn beautiful and epic!

There are doom digressions, there are countless prog weaves, and much more. We
have some pure ballads, infused with melancholy and threatened by the abyss of
pain. A summa and a step forward, it is no longer "only" sludge metal, it is
not "only" prog. There is a bit of everything, and everything done properly. In
some passages they recall Pink Floyd. Existence must be celebrated in its
fullness, also embracing its end, and exploring its infinite possibilities,
including artistic ones.
===

Enjoy!
WBR, Michael Baryshnikov.