Mastodon

It'll probably take Mastodon fans a while to warm up to Crack the Skye. The band's latest trades some of the brutal crunch associated with albums such as 2004's Leviathan in favor of an artsier, more intricate sound. Producer Brendan O'Brien, who worked most recently with Bruce Springsteen, pushes the...

By Michael Roberts

April 9, 2009

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It'll probably take Mastodon fans a while to warm up to Crack the Skye. The band's latest trades some of the brutal crunch associated with albums such as 2004's Leviathan in favor of an artsier, more intricate sound. Producer Brendan O'Brien, who worked most recently with Bruce Springsteen, pushes the vocals up front and accentuates melodic passages even on the aggressive title track, which begins with guttural growling before introducing a soaring chorus and studio tweakage that'll have aficionados screaming "Prog!" Still, multiple listens make it clear that the album isn't the sort of compromise performers talk themselves into when they're desperate for more airtime. Numbers like "Divinations" and "The Last Baron" are accessible yet challenging, with structural twists and turns every bit as intricate as they were in the past, if a bit more subtle. Unlike its prehistoric namesake, Mastodon, performing with Intronaut and Kylesa, is evolving in ways that should ensure its long-term survival.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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