It came through the mail a day after Scamp did
and took a dump all over its happy little ipod parade it was enjoying.
Basically, due to a mixture of university work avoidance and boredom i will fully review the album
It will be long and complete. But the album is worth it.
Firstly. Blood mountain, Mastodons 'master work'... anybody who feels that acolade is undeserved, stick with me, so to do i offer that invite to actual mastodon fans. Its a sweeping majestic invite for people worldwide to partake in the very real possibility that this album is the second coming of Christ
Well..maybe not that, but its pretty damn good.
Firstly (and i will divide this into three parts)
It is long, but not overblown. The pitfall mastodon fell into with blood mountain. Its very subtle 7 and a half minute opener of a track sees the band tight, focused and clever enough to not rush a good thing.
Second. It is diverse, but not bitty or fragmented.
A strong album that relies on a balanced use of guitars minimalistic yet wholly appreciated and suited lyrics and vocals. Excellent drums and bass that is both elegant and powerful. Each song takes its time to do what the band set out to do. Which is fine by me.
And finally
The artwork
I make an effort to purchase albums shallowly on the review and/or the art. Yes this leads to buying a lot of crap. But the artworks really draw me in. It got me into Toxic holocaust, municipal waste. Cannibal corpse, even pig destroyer and mastodon. Good artwork backs everything up and completes the CD for me. Its why i do not download. It feels less somehow. Maybe through an overdose of nostalgia. However Baroness' own Lead singer/guitarist provides the art. And for Darkest Hour, Pig destroyer, Shitstorm, Murdergrind, Kylesa and so on. He is someone i envy and respect in equal measure. But he is ugly as sin. So at least i will not, and neither should you, lose sleep in jealously.
Seriously. The album is colossal in scope and magnificent to relax to
Early Tool Opeth and Mastodon
Wholly excellent, and well worthy of kicking Scamp in the teeth like the little bitch it really is.
10 out of 10
