Mastodon's eighth studio album Hushed and Grim is an epic exploration of loss. It has been four years since 2017's Emperor of Sand. After the last couple of years of death, and grief the band has released on this double album is a testament to their emotional maturity to use music as a vehicle to explore personal loss, and the complex process of mourning and grief. This album explores the impact of their loss of late manager, Nick John, who passed away in 2018. It is a vulnerability most bands do not wield in their arsenal, but Mastodon have a history of processing personal experiences to inspire the content of their work. The album was produced and mixed by David Botrill, known for producing Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, Tool, and many more.
I will admit, I have not been into Mastodon since Blood Mountain and Leviathan, I found their albums since then just not vibing with me, they also did not grab my attention as Hushed and Grim has. It is a long album, and I have been listening to shorter albums running from 30-45 minutes. This double album's pain runs deep into 86 minutes, and is one I have had to take the time, sit down and listen to several times to grasp, and understand. Mastodon is known for their heavy progressive riffs, properly placed drum beats and intelligent, intelligible and intentional lyrics. This latest offering is a hearty 15 track feast of riffs, emotions, reflections and one of their best efforts if not the best.
"Pain with an Anchor" is a great introductory song into what the album will present us with. The sequencing of songs is something that appeals to me as a listener, as the first song should inform the listener of the mood, theme, and/or content of an album. The song's chorus leaves tells us what we should be prepared for.
"I've turned the grief to medicine
Into my mouth will enter
The hardest pill I've ever had to swallow down
As karma whispers"
It is immediately followed by a banger ,"The Crux", which starts off slow but once it gets going, it has a good harmony and simple chorus, the song churns along and but when it hits the breakdown midsong leads you into a very solemn guitar solo and soul crushing confessions sang with audible pain. "Sickle and Peace" starts off with a female auto tune voice, and starts off with a progressive guitar riff, and is one of the most memorable songs on the album, I have had the riff and the chorus in my head all weekend, and the guitar solo is epic and has a tinge of blues to it. "More than I Could Chew" features a string intro, that moves into a very chunky bass and drum heavy intro, but I love how the verses are long and dense--those syllables are packed tight but do not miss a beat or meaning in the execution. The clean intro on "The Beast" is beautiful and it opens up a sweet riff and reminiscent of Pink Floyd's "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" which is a tribute to the band's loss of Syd Barrett. The song changing mid-way through a change in time signature is highlighted through a continuing light riff and ends with some angelic whoos.
"Skeleton of Splendor" is one of my least favorite songs on this album--the repetitive "to my detriment" chorus. I am really not into it, not a fan of a single phrase being over 50% of a song, especially from a band set the bar high. It's ok because it is followed up by "Teardrinker" which is probably the best song on the album and I am a huge fan of drummer Brann Dailor when he sings, and his cadence gives this song the magic sauce. It also appears to be the apex of the thematic grieving process, the bridge with Troy Sanders and Dailor, is followed by a flat wah pedal effect which leads the song into a facemelting guitar solo. I also love a metal song that I can groove to, I know I would start dancing at the concert (which I am now going to have to go to because I want to see this song live).
"Pushing the Tides" is the shortest and mightiest jam on the album, has the expletive warning and everything. It is the turning point of the album, the tone of the song is one of overcoming grief and keeping your head above water, and trying to move on. The long intro riff into "Peace and Tranquility" is a dead give away that this is going to be a more progressive song, as they to have a tendency to do this. It is a lighter feel on this side of the album. The content, music, and chorus of the song are more upbeat, and at times uplifting-like a light at the end of the tunnel it offers hope. "Dagger" is a eulogy whose lyrics are just heartwrenching, if you have every gone to a funeral and buried someone, these are those feeling encapsulated, but the esoteric middle with the addition of a sarangi sound and tribal drums, and moog sounds at the end make this a unique song in Mastodon's catalogue, a respectful and beautiful tribute.
"Had it All" uses repetition to transition the album thematically, it's message of acceptance and realization earn it's place in the album and an effective interlude into "Savage Lands". By this time you are wondering what part of the grief process does this fit into? The chaos and painful part of grief, where you drink, cry, and want to self-destruct: the blast beats and heavier riffs, faster and more varied chords inform the songs tone of havok and ends with a guitar solo. "Gobbler of Dregs" starts off with droning and ambient sounds and moves into a sludge metal groove, which reiterate their feelings of loss and continuing pain until halfway where the song builds up and returns to the groove, and finishes off with a guitar solo. "Eyes of Serpents" being slow and quiet and moves into a space of realization of loss, and resolution to fact they must honor their dearly departed "to treat you as a part of me, it hollows you. The story has to be fold"
"Gigantium" is a tearjerker of a closer that highlights why they made this album to honor their friend and the memories they have but also a warning to not wait to say what you need to someone before it is too late. It also makes space for them as individuals fearing that moment where you forget the person as time moves on, so you make it a point to remember them even though the memories are painful. It is intense what they have processed and made from such a personal loss. It is a deeply personal album and the place they write from is one that few bands take the time to do, it makes for better music and in the end what a more beautiful way to honor someone than through song.
Comments
Post a Comment