Mastodon have steadily become one of the biggest and most revered bands in modern metal through their ever-eclectic catalogue and insane instrumental ability demonstrated to devastating effect in the live environment. 2009’s ‘Crack The Skye’ opus was not only a full-on venture into the proggy side of their existence but was also viewed by most as one of their best efforts and a huge musical achievement in its sonic depth and expansive heights. To follow that then the Atlanta mob have done the best thing possible and turned in an album that encompasses a killer set of songs that almost embody a form of Mastodon greatest hits, touching on everything they’ve done in the past, rolling them into one entity, and making it brilliant while doing so.

‘The Hunter’ retains some of its predecessor’s exploration, closing track ‘The Sparrow’ massively echoing the likes of Rush, while to everyone’s delight also bringing back the gargantuan heaviness of old powered by Brann Dailor’s rhino-charged and unbelievably-precise drum-work, opener ‘Black Tongue’ kicking things off with a giant bang before the boulder-heavy ‘Blasteroid’ (no pun intended) and head-crunching ‘Dry Bone Valley’ hammer the point home like a sky-dropped piano. Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher’s guitar-work is equally and as usual nothing short of phenomenal with them providing some of the best riffs of 2011 on the swaggering ‘Curl of the Burl’ and simultaneously crushing and soothing ‘Octopus Has No Friends’. Bassist Troy Sanders, Dailor and Hinds’ triple-vocal work could also be the best they’ve recorded so far here with the other-worldly melodies that fuel their songs taking them that bit higher in quality, particularly the brilliantly named ‘Stargasm’ which, in its euphoric and quite bedazzling nature, is easily one of the best songs of the year.

There’s basically something for everyone who’s ever been a fan of Mastodon on this album done to the highest standard, whether it be fuelling your way to work or part of a late-night headphone session, the album slays.

Album Highlight: Stargasm