Album Review: Mastodon - The Hunter

Such is the quality of their recorded output, few band’s releases are awaited with quite the expectation afforded to Mastodon; it is fortunate, then, that the Atlanta, Georgia quartet are amongst the most dependable performers around. With each successive release the band have mined a slightly different creative vein, blending various elements of metal with psychedelica, jazz and a host of other influences to form a sound wholly their own.

‘The Hunter’ sees them take a step back from the more mind bending tones of previous release ‘Crack The Skye’ and, though the brutality of many of the riffs give a firm nod back to the earlier, earthier ‘Blood Mountain’, this latest opus has a keener ear for a hook that they have often displayed. The marvellously titled ‘Curl Of The Burl’ sees the band at their grooviest, a killer “Whoa” led pre-chorus dropping a hook big enough to catch the Leviathan itself as it leads into a chorus riff that slithers along with no little serpentine grace.

‘Blasteroid’ is more unforgiving in its momentum, bounding away with a verse that wouldn’t seem out of place on a Foo Fighters record before barreling in a far more brutal chorus without waiting to catch breath; ‘Octopus Has No Friends’ meanwhile shows off the band’s ample technical ability with intricate guitar work propelling the verses towards another marvelously expansive chorus.

It’s all rather exhilarating and, as a crafty celebration of the songwriters art, the variety and invention really is a joy, each successive song offering its own personality and killer moments. 'All The Heavy Lifting' carries another brute of a singalong chorus to supplement the riff-driven verse, while ‘Creature Lives’ opens with retro-sci-fi synthesizers and an unnervingly mad laughter sample before going on to explore more deeply the psychedelica that has often characterized the band’s music.

4.5/5

'The Hunter' is out now on Reprise Records.

Nick Worpole