ELITE:REVIEW
Mastodon - Emperor Of Sand
Reprise Records | Release Date: 31st March 2017 Pallbearer - Heartless
Nuclear Blast | Release Date: 24th March 2017
Ever since they burst through into the publics
consciousness in the early 2000s, Mastodon always
showed not only immense potential to become one of
the biggest and most important metal bands in recent
times (something they definitely succeeded at) but
also an ability to create albums that that were not only
heavy but progressive as well as catchy and memorable
too. With their latest album Emperor Of Sand, they
continue this talent admirably with even more focus
on this catchy nature. Whereas on previous albums, the
Mastodon sound primarily honed in on sprawling epic
songs, recently the band have adopted a concentrated
outlook on shorter tracks to work alongside the
vast and monumental songs. On Emperor Of Sand,
tracks such as Show Yourself and Scorpion Breath are
amongst the shortest and catchiest that the band have
ever done and suit the band down to the ground with
them sounding very much re-energised on this album,
and this is typified by these songs. Progressive doom metallers Pallbearer have been causing
quite a stir in the industry on the lead up to the release of
this album as many whispers utter the statement “album
of the year”. That’s quite something, and we’re only three
months into 2017. So now is time for us to check out this
record with a lot of intrigue and fresh ears.
The vast songs are still there though of course, they
are part of Mastodons musical DNA after all and on
songs like Roots Remain, Stormbreather and the
monumental album closer Jaguar God, the bands
massive sound is unleashed with no mercy. It is that
combination that makes Mastodon in 2017 sound
just as fresh and vital as they did when they first
exploded onto the metal scene and with Emperor Of
Sand, it shows that they are constantly striving for and
succeeding in making their sound as memorable as it
can be and long may it continue.
Words by Gavin Brown
188
To start off we must say, the guitar tones on Heartless are
staggeringly beautiful, the album as a whole is incredibly
well produced, hearing the nuances in the guitar playing
and crystal clear clarity of every other aspect makes this a
gorgeous record. ‘I Saw The End’ really sets the tone and
flow early on, even with the shortest song on Heartless
being the following track ‘Thorns’ it never outstays its
welcome as the crisp and intricate musicianship create
an expansive soundscape that captivates and pulls you in.
Pallbearer are labelled as a ‘doom’ band but in all honesty
this record doesn’t sit comfortably in that realm, its much
more than that. Its heavy in tone and slow building passages
but theres almost a shoegaze element that sits front and
centre, doomgaze anyone?
The title track opens with a brooding acoustic guitar
section that once again develops into a low end heavy riff,
almost Black Sabbath at their most haunting. There’s a lot
of classic metal influence in the music as well that will
interest the older generation of metal that might be on the
lookout for something new. Our only negative is that a lot
of the verse sections sound a bit similar in progression and
tempo, but thats about it. Album of the year? Not quite, but
it will certainly be up for consideration.
Words by Joshua Clarke
www.eliteonlinemag.com