Progressive metal band Mastodon have released their latest album ‘Medium Rarities’ today! (11th September).
This album is a grand celebration of their 20th anniversary and includes a compilation of new songs as well as live and instrumental versions of previously heard tracks!
‘Fallen Torches’ sets the album off to an electrifying start! The raw vocals and intense playing make it an iconic metal track to kick off with and shows you exactly what Mastodon are all about!
Following this is ‘A Commotion’. This song seems to dip in energy a bit from its predecessor making it a bit of an anticlimactic listen, its not that this is a bad track by any means, it is just perhaps poorly placed within the album?
The live version of ‘Capillarian Crest’ has its foundations rooted in searing riffs and raspy vocals. The thrilling guitar solo in the middle really ties the whole track together, adding to the already epic live experience in a time where we have never craved it more! This hunger for live music is sparked again later on in the album with ‘Circle of Cysquatch’ and captivating concluding track ‘Iron Tusk’.
‘A Spoonful Weighs a Ton’ brings a complete change in tone to ‘Medium Rarities’. The gentle music is dripping with soft, melodic vocals and brings a much needed break from the power of the first few tracks, adding yet another layer to the album.
The rules of a cinema are never the most exciting things, however ‘Cut You Up With A Linoleum Knife’ disproves this statement completely. From the ‘Aqua Teen Hunger Force’ soundtrack, this song delivers cinema rules and regulations in a completely unforgettable way. This track is the embodiment of Mastodon’s light-hearted humour and great way to mix up the album even more than they already have!
As you could probably have guessed from the title, ‘White Walker’ was inspired by the band’s appearance on Game Of Thrones. Like with ‘A Spoonful Weighs A Ton’ this is a much mellower track but this was probably to fit with the theme and theatrics of the programme. Nevertheless, the dark tone and atmospheric sound make it an attention-grabbing track.
Overall, there is an insane mix of sounds on this album. From heavy metal to much more delicate tracks, Mastodon really excelled! The use of instrumental pieces really helped to accentuate their insane musical abilities and makes for an even more unique listen. It’s a great homage to their 20 year anniversary.