No, it Won't Be the End of the World Because of These Obvious Reasons

2012 will be a glorious one because of so many reasons, and no none of them have anything to do with the end of days. Why don't we take a look?

Black Sabbath Reunion Tour + New Album

Their name is synonymous with the birth of heavy metal, and now godfathers Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi have announced that they will be reuniting for a new album and tour. The band, who has been credited with creating one of the most powerful and important genres of music, have witnessed more than a few line-up changes in their time. Going from vocalist to vocalist, drummer to drummer and so on, the band has not had it's original, "classic" line-up since 1978's Never Say Never. "It's just time," Osbourne said, courtesty of Reuters. "This time, for some magical reason, we have written about seven or eight songs." Metalheads old and new are sitting at the edge of their seats as they wait for the legendary band to make history yet again. They will be performing at the Download Festival 2012, with new material set to be released in the fall.

Rush New Album

Rush is not only the most amazing band to have ever graced the music scene, but they are touring monsters who have been on their Time Machine tour since June 29th, 2010. With the release of the single "Caravan" in June of 2010, Rush fans have been dying to hear more from the Canadian prog rockers. Their upcoming album Clockwork Angels is set to be released in the spring of 2012. The follow-up to the masterpiece Snakes and Arrows is sure to be a success, so don't forget to pick it up at your local record store when it is finally released!

Bloodstock Open Air2012

Get ready to bang your head ladies and gentlemen, because Bloodstock 2012 is fast approaching! The annual metal music festival has been held since 2005 over the course of two days in Catton Hall in Walton-upon-Trent, England. Many bands, both mainstream and underground,  have been featured, including notable metal acts such as Opeth, Children of Bodom, Arch Enemy and Nightwish. In 2012, bands such as Behemoth, Dimmu Borgir, Anvil, and Alice Cooper have been confirmed for this upcoming year's line-up. Whether you're willing to fly over to England to check the show out or will be watching videos online, it is a festival worth watching so don't miss it! 

Download Festival 2012

Hold on to something solid folks, because Download Festival 2012 is surely going to be rockin' this year. The three-day festival, held at Donnington Park in England, has seen many popular metal acts in its day. Bands such as Iron Maiden, Apocalyptica, and Dir en grey have graced their stages, and this upcoming year will host many talented and legendary bands. From the legendary Black Sabbath to Metallica, the line-up will definitely be one to remember.

defspiral New Album + Tour + Tribute Album

Unless you follow the Japanese rock scene or actually live in Japan, you probably have never heard of these guys. defspiral, formally known as the Underneath and Transtic Nerve, is a band with just the right amount of good ole' fashioned rock n' roll and classic, eighties Guns N' Roses-style metal thrown in with some perfectly clean vocals (courtesy of Taka, the band's frontman). Looking for great guitar solos? Guitarist Masato has that hot and ready for you. Solid drumming? Drummer Masaki knows it and plays it. Strong bass lines? Ryo has that down pat. And the vocals? Taka's strong and soaring vocal range will leave you aching for more. There are no set tour dates for them as of yet, but if you are anxious to hear more from the band, they are releasing a tribute album to the famed and fallen X Japan guitarist and solo artist hide, entitled Reply, on December 7th. Their debut album Progress, which was released October 26th, is currently available on CD Japan and is something that rock fans should definitely check out.

Lacuna Coil New Album

Want a good strong shot of some powerful gothic metal? Look no further than Lacuna Coil, the Italian metal giants who have been conquering the music scene since 1994, have released their new single "Trip the Darkness" on October 17th. With Cristina Scabbia's flawless vocals and Andrea Ferro's strong vocal accompaniment, their new album is sure to be yet another masterpiece. Dark Adrenaline is set to be released on January 24th, 2011, and unless you lack a sensible taste in music go check it out.

Megadeth Gigantour

With the recent release of their latest album TH1RTt3EN, Megadeth have officially blown everyone and everything away in modern hard rock and heavy metal music. These metal gods, who have been thrashing since the eighties, are showing no signs of slowing down and have announced that their traveling music festival Gigantour will be taking off on January 26th, 2012 in Camden, NJ. On the bill will be the aforementioned goth metal giants Lacuna Coil, the legendary Motörhead, and Danish rockers Volbeat. With such a solid line-up, who wouldn't want to go check them out?

Lamb of God New Album + Tour

Get ready to get your ass kicked on January 24th, because heavy metal monsters Lamb of God are going to be releasing their 6th studio album, entitled Resolution. Since 1994, the band has been stampeding and pillaging through festivals, tours, and the average metal fan's eardrums without a single ounce of mercy. The album's first single, "Ghost Walking," will be released on December 7th. This album will surely be grabbing listeners by the scruff of their necks and will be throwing them against concrete walls come January 24th. The band will also be touring starting January 22nd in their home state of Virginia, so be on the lookout for these metal gods!

Slayer New Album

Thrash metal legends Slayer have not only been reaping the spoils of their successes these past years, but guitarist Jeff Hanneman has been battling with a flesh-eating bacteria that had made its way into his arm, requiring it to be slit open from wrist to shoulder. A skin graph was done as well, and his fellow members promised that as soon as their guitarist gets better, they'll be working on new material and will start touring again. On November 11th, Guitar World had announced that drummer Dave Lombardo tweeted, "SLAYER is writing a new record and PHILM is about to start mixing their debut record. Looking forward to touring again with new music." Metalheads are currently crapping their pants over the news, and this hopefully means that Hanneman has fully recovered. Be sure to keep an eye on them next year!

Lamb of God Opens the New Year with a Punch

Southern metal monsters Lamb of God have done it again; they have produced yet another solid album that even rivals the quality of their previous landmark albums. A brilliant follow-up (and step-up) from Wrath, their sixth studio album Resolution is, so far, the best metal album of 2012, and it will be quite a challenge for other metal bands this year to show this baby up.

The album's opener, “Straight for the Sun,” is a complete throwback to the doom metal riffs of the early days of Black Sabbath, with vocalist Randy Blythe's inhuman screams immediately yanking listeners into the album by the scruff of their necks. Drummer Chris Adler's own fills help transition from that song to the next track, “Desolation.” This tune perfectly weaves guitarists Willie Adler and Mark Morton's signature chaotic lines and Blythe's maniac screams. The lyrics Blythe drills into listeners' eardrums would resonate with anyone. Lines such as “All that for nothing what a fucking waste of time" are laced with anger and discontent, and only serve to further the mood of the album overall.
"All that for nothing what a fucking waste of time," Afterward we transition into the single from the album, “Ghost Walking.” The song itself has a distinct country-flavored acoustic guitar intro that transitions into their signature heavy riffs.

The next few songs boast even more of Blythe's blissfully gritty vocals and more iron-clad metal riffs that would blow anyone's face off. “The Undertow” hooks you in straight away and “The Number Six” proves to be the catchiest number off the album, with a chorus that's sure to get a crowd riled and rioting.

The next song, an instrumental entitled “Barbarosa,” strongly resembles the intro to the popular Guns N' Roses song “Civil War.” Its haunting aura and chilling guitar lines reflect on the technical brilliance of Morton and Adler. It effortlessly leads into the following track “Invictus,” a brilliantly heavy tie-in to the instrumental.

“Cheated” is another pummeling track, which is then followed by “Insurrection,” a song that showcase's their more melodic side, a side that is quite marvelous in contrast to their usual grit and grime. Every song following it is just a barrage of quality metal madness. The final track, however, is one of the most, if not the most, outstanding tracks off the album. “King Me” is a departure from Lamb of God’s typical formula of screaming vocals and raw, aggressive guitar lines. Blythe had opted for clean vocals for a good portion of the song, with the style reflecting on the chilling, apocalyptic lyrics. It is certainly one of Lamb of God’s strongest tracks on the album, if not ever.

Although it is a bit early to be claiming this, Resolution is one of the strongest metal albums of the year. Lamb of God definitely set the standard this year for their fellow metal bands. Metal Hammer asserts that the Southern boys “play[ed] their iron-plated balls off,” and is for sure one of 2012’s “stone cold classics.”

Age Quod Agis December 2011: Your Argument is Invalid

Ever heard of Dir en grey? Well shame on you if you haven't (though I wouldn't be surprised). They happen to be the greatest metal band to have come out of Japan since Loudness and X Japan in the 80s, and they happen to be one of the most solid rock acts out there on the scene today. A band who broke out of the Land of the Rising Sun without the need to sing entirely in English, Dir en grey is definitely a quintessential metal band of these modern days, and kick so much ass people are walking around rubbing their rears. I can spend the next few days (and more than a few blog posts) to qualify this statement and convince you of just how amazing this band is, but that can be saved for another day.

I have gotten my tickets to see these Japanese gods live at The House of Blues in West Hollywood.

That's right folks. Yours truly (along with a dear friend of mine) are going to see Guitarists Kaoru and Die, drummer Shinya, singer Kyo, and bassist Toshiya tear up the City of Angels on December 23rd. Expect a rambling blog post on just how divine they are as a live band soon after that date. Until then, I shall be running my Dir en grey discography, particularly their newest album Dum Spiro Spero into the ground.

Age Quod Agis here I come!

Still Thrashing and Never Dead

They have been a staple of the thrash metal scene for decades and a huge influence on modern metal bands everywhere. Their face-melting, bone-crushing, take no prisoners attitude and music had propelled them to their rightful status as heavy metal legends. Now, Megadeth has released their thirteenth studio album, a follow-up to the critically acclaimed Endgame. Th1rt3en, though the title’s stylization may be an eyesore for some, is nothing short of what we’d expect from the hailed Dave Mustaine and his men, and it is one of the best metal albums released this year.

The opening track, “Sudden Death,” is dripping with guitar shredding that had seemed to die out with the onslaught of new metal acts. This track is nothing short of perfect, and illustrates Mustaine’s “ability to pen smart, succinct and thrillingly powerful metal anthems,” as quoted by Dom Lawson of the UK’s The Guardian. It is a strong opening track, and is one of the strongest songs on the album. The next track, however, is a slight fall from the previous one. ”Public Enemy No. 1” has an opening riff that bears a striking resemblance to the classic Megadeth track “Tears in a Vial.” It may seem like Mustaine had decided to simply recycle an old riff into a new song, as some bands are more than guilty of doing, but at least the track is a good one. The soloing heard from Mustaine and his guitar counterpart Chris Broderick is pure quality from start to finish. This track has been released as a single and has a music video to boot, but it may not have been the best choice for the thrashers to pick as such. The next track, another released single, is definitely a step up from the previous track. “Whose Life (Is it Anyways?)” is not only a witty play on the hilarious ABC improv show, it is also an anthem for every metalhead, social reject, and street rat who feels judged and marginalized by their peers and surrounding company. Though cliché in the metal world, Mustaine’s gift for writing well thought-out lyrics holds this song above many of the youth anthems metal bands have penned down. Lyrics such as “You tell me how to live but who asked you anyway?” and “You’re just in time/to get inside my head” will ring true to many disenfranchised youth and will certainly find their way to Facebook statuses across the globe.

The next two tracks are a slightly slower change of pace from the previous tracks. “We the People” is yet another song dedicated to Mustaine’s political commentary that he’s most famous for. Never at a loss for words, the redheaded guitarist had a few choice words for our government. Lyrics such as “our founding fathers are rolling in their graves”  and “violate your rights, no more equality” illustrate his distaste for what this country’s going through, and are expected lines from our articulate thrasher. The next track, “Guns, Drugs, & Money,” is an intense song that seems to reference the infamous drug cartels in Mexico. The song is definitely not a shallow one, with lyrics such as “poverty will turn the life of any good man bad” that would surely provoke some thoughts and incite some conversations about what’s going on down south. The following track, “Never Dead,” opens up with a march-style rhythm on 

Shawn Drover’s snare, reminiscent of a military drum. Starting off relatively soft, and utilizing a crescendo as the guitars make their entrance, the track is an intense machine-gun firestorm that will surely be a staple for Megadeth’s live shows. “New World Order” has an anthem feel to it, with a memorable riff and licks very reminiscent of their eighties thrash metal days. Though not the strongest track on the album, it is a strong song overall and will become a classic among Megadeth fans.

For the next track, “Fast Lane,” the machine-gun double-bass drums drive the whole song and is pretty much the only memorable thing about the track. Though it isn’t horrible, and the soloing is yet again pure genius, the overall riffs and licks are blasé and wouldn’t exactly stick to you after listening to the whole album. “Black Swan” is an immediate favorite upon the first few seconds. With a mind-blowing opening riff and a hooky melody to boot, the track stands out on the record. Though it has appeared as a bonus track for their album United Abominations, the boys decided to stick it on this album. And, according to bassist Dave Ellefson, the track has nothing to do with the 2010 movie of the same name. The imagery is stupendous in the lyrics; “Just like a churchyard shadow, there’s nothing left to see” and “It’s only there to terrify my mind, a black swan keeps haunting me” paint a chilling picture for listeners and will hook you in from start to finish. “Wrecker” is another relatable track, with lyrics obscure enough to entice the listener to think of his/her own situations or past experiences upon hearing Mustaine’s words. A song about someone who has destroyed your life, the track will strike a cord with fans.

Opening with a gorgeous guitar solo, “Millennium of the Blind” has a feel to it that would be synonymous with many Slayer tracks, except with a beautiful guitar melody and an easy tempo. The guitar work is nothing short of genius, and it puts so many metal acts, old and new, to shame. “Deadly Nightshade” is another riff-laden track, though verging on being a filler track. It is still a strong track all around, and features Ellefson’s signature bass playing that fans love to hear. And finally, the ending track, aptly titled “13.” It’s acoustic guitar intro is pleasing to the ear, and the entrance of the electric guitar layered together creates a gorgeous storm of melodies that entice and draw the listener in. Mustaine’s gruff, growling vocals fit the song perfectly, and molds together when the tone shifts from the acoustic/electric layering to a full fledged guitar solo magnum opus. Ending with a lovely acoustic guitar melody, it is a brilliant way to end a brilliant album.

In short, Th1rt3en is an amazing album and is more than worthy of a trip to your local record store. Mustaine, as quoted by Metal Hammer, said “I think fans are going to be able to expect a very exciting record. With David Ellefson coming back, it brought back the classic sound, but also with the progress that we made with Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick.” The fiery guitarist was correct; the album was nothing short of exciting, and will draw in fans old and new when they tour this coming year.

Yngwie Malmsteen Rocks the House the Blues

Yngwie Malmsteen. Most people have sadly never heard of him. Some may think he's a manufacturer of dairy products, others may think it is simply a bunch of foreign words. He is none of the above; Yngwie Malmsteen is a guitar god, and that's putting it mildly. No words could properly describe how mind blowing he truly is as a musician, and after years of bowing down to his greatness I finally got to see him live in concert.

Malmsteen had decided to drop by at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney, located in the sunny city of Anaheim. I, along with my cousins and parents in tow, anxiously awaited the arrival of our beloved guitar hero outside of the venue. With the exception of my father, none of us really got patted down. Yet again I have been seen as harmless and as much of a threat as a three-week old kitten, but at least I wasn't the only one. We had to scale a flight of stairs in order to even get to the stage where Malmsteen would unleash his fury. Thankfully there was no opening act for the night (I say thankfully because I wasn't in the mood for some mediocre power metal group attempting to amuse us like a pack of clowns), so it wouldn't be too long before I could see his insane skills live for the first time in my young life.

We had actually arrived a bit late, but we had enough time to check out the merch table. I nearly slobbered all over the poor merch guy's station. Vinyl records, bandanas, concert tees, drum heads, and guitar picks all emblazed with Yngwie's logo decorated the place, and it took every inch of willpower I had to not go and buy every single thing there. Well, that and the fact that I didn't bring any money with me, but that was beside the point; Yngwie Malmsteen's team knew how to produce quality merchandise.

After my cousin purchased a t-shirt for my absent uncle, we headed into the staging area. I had no idea that the House of Blues had such an intimate setting; I mean, I could practically touch the stage if I pushed my way through the crowd and to the front, and I could probably touch Malmsteen if I felt daring and creepy enough to. This completely psyched me out, even though I wasn't going to harass the guitar god in any way, shape or form. It was still incredible to know that I would be that close to my childhood hero. The stage itself was lined with his famous stack of Marshall amps. And when I say lined, I mean I thought the wall was made up of Marshall amps. They were stacked almost across the entire stage, and were stacked almost to the ceiling. I knew he had a legendary stack of amps, but seeing it in person was absolutely breathtaking.

Although I adored the whole setup of the venue, there was one small snag. Due to our late arrival (courtesy of my father's lack of a concept for time) the areas designated for the audience were practically filled to the brim, and the area in front of the stage was already packed. With my short stature, and the short stature of my companions, it would be nigh well impossible for us to even get a glimpse of Malmsteen, which sort of ruins about half of the concert experiance. Thankfully the House of Blues staff was quite friendly and personable, and when the bartender saw our predicament, he offered to let us sit on top of the bar when the concert started, giving us a full view of Yngwie and his boys. Everyone working there, from the manager who greeted us to the friendly security were quite nice and only brightened up my already starry mood.

Once we situated ourselves near the bar area to the left of the stage, the concert began. The lights went out, and we could hear the distinct feedback of Malmsteen's guitar coming from backstage. Of course, I started to scream my lungs out, but then a thought hit me. I had no idea who was singing for him tonight. I had asked around my circle of Yngwie fans (which was embarrassingly small) and they had no clue who would it be. My mind ran through all the possibilities, but I was definitely not prepared for the surprise that marched across the stage and took the microphone. Tim "The Ripper" Owens was actually fronting Yngwie's band for the night. Yes you read that right folks; Tim Owens of Judas Priest and Iced Earth fame was singing tonight, and I almost lost my mind when he opened his mouth to sing. He is an amazing vocalist live, and he even sang some of the most popular Malmsteen songs better than the original frontmen had. I sincerely hope he stays with Malmsteen for any new projects the guitar god may have in the works.

Of course, how could I forget the entrance of the man of the hour? He jumped onto the stage with an inhuman amount of energy. And when I say inhuman, I mean inhuman; he tired me out just by looking at him. He was a true performer and an even more amazing guitarist than I could even imagine, and I already had him up on a pretty high pedestal.

The songs came one after the other in a barrage of raw rock'n'roll energy, and I was screaming and headbanging my brains out. One of the many highlights of the concert was his mash-up of three of his most famous instrumentals; he combined the intro to "Icarus Dream Suite Op. 4," the melody of "Far Beyond the Sun," and the main riff to "Trilogy Suite Op. 5" and created a heavy metal chimera that blew everyone away. During his guitar solo, he had taken a pause for dramatic effect. A concert goer had seized the opportunity to voice what was on every single one of our minds: "You are the greatest fucking guitarist ever." Malmsteen simply smiled and continued on, but that man couldn't have said it any better than that.

The setlist itself contained a fair combination of Malmsteen classics and new releases such as "Rising Force," "Dreaming (Tell Me)," and "Heaven Tonight." He even briefly played "The Star Spangled Banner" and saluted his audience, which deeply amused me. How did he make our country's national anthem sound so metal?! I have to say, however, I was deeply pleased and ecstatic to hear his cover of Rainbow's "Gates of Babylon" being played, for I did not even expect him to play any songs from his tribute album. That particular song had always been one of my personal favorites, and I had been dying to hear it live since elementary school. My wish had been granted that night, and it couldn't have gotten any better than that.

The concert ended way too early; the setlist was only an hour and a half long including the encore, which is only a little bit short for a performance. However, this was Yngwie Malmsteen we're talking about. I'd watch him for twenty four hours straight if I could! He did end the night with a bang, playing the classic "I'll See the Light Tonight" and throwing as many picks into the audience as possible (he was showering us with his picks the whole peformance, but I didn't catch one sadly). With Malmsteen throwing his guitar back to his roadie (literally), he and his fellow bandmates took a bow and exited the stage. The audience including I stayed there for a good few minutes before filing out, hoping that he would grace us with his presence once again, but sadly that would have to come at another concert.

While I nurse my harsh bout of post concert depression, I'll just run every single Yngwie Malmsteen record I have into the ground. This may seem like just a fangirl's rave review of her favorite guitarist's show, but everything I described here wasn't even doing the man justice; he truly is a guitar god, and anyone who is a music fan has to seriously see him live. You would not be disappointed, not in the least bit.

Mastodon's New Album: Still Kicking Ass

Let me to introduce myself: I'm a social disease. Well, not really, but I felt like a Megadeth reference was fitting here. The name is Sam Islam, and I am the new metal blogger for The Cypress Chronicle. I am more than joyful that I get to share the glorious world of heavy metal to the Cypress student body, whether you all like it or not. The world needs way more steel thunder in its atmosphere; a fistful of metal, if you will. It's only fitting that my inaugural post is an album review about one of the best metal acts on the scene today. So, let's get started, shall we?

When you hear the name Mastodon, you may have one of two reactions: one, you may be wondering why in the world a metalhead is blabbering on about some prehistoric elephant; or two, you can go with the second reaction of “OH MY GOD MASTODON!! GREATEST FREAKING METAL BAND OF THE 21ST CENTURY!” If you chose the second reaction, then you have won yourself a pat on the back; I am indeed penning down a review of the famous quartet's new album The Hunter. For some fans, albums like Blood Mountain and Leviathan were the albums that were held closer to the heart. Especially after the landmark release of Crack the Skye, fans of both the band and of heavy metal music were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their follow-up album to the aforementioned masterpiece. And as I sit here typing this up, I can tell you all this: it is a strong metal album, and it further supports my claim that Mastodon is the best modern metal band on the scene today.

So let's start off with the opening track and the first single from the album, “Black Tongue.” I have to say, it's not exactly my favorite off of the album. Sure the riffs are excellent (Bill Kelliher and Brent Hinds never seem to disappoint), but the bassist Troy Sanders's vocals sound strained, and the vocal melody as a whole isn't the best I have heard from the boys. Overall, it's an okay opening track. Now for the one-two punch: “Curl of the Burl.” Although it is the most mainstream track on the album, it is also one of the strongest songs I have heard from Mastodon. With riffs reminiscent of Queens of the Stone Age, an infectious groove, mean guitar lines, and a catchy vocal melody, the song just gets better and better with each listen. You will definitely find yourself singing along when the song plays on your music player or stereo. It's a more radio-friendly song, but it's a song that still has substance, and will  bring in new Mastodon fans by the masses. It is certainly one of my personal favorites, and I'm not one for catchy songs. The next song, “Blasteroid,” is a bit of a head scratcher. Though it is a good number, filled with Brann Dailor's godly drumming, awesome screeches, and strong guitar riffs, it is an overall chaotic song and verges on being a filler. I suspect that they will play it live though, just based on its insane energy. They have to get that crowd pumped!

“Stargasm” was a song I was looking forward to listening to since the track list was released months ago. I mean, who wouldn't want to listen to a song about having sex in space? The Mastodon boys did not disappoint. The song is laced with heavenly drum riffs and gorgeous guitar melodies. Such a powerful number, it blew me away from start to finish. Oh and did I mention Dailor's mind-blowing drumming? I can never get enough of this guy. This song makes you want to gaze through a telescope and gaze at the stars. . .and possibly have some fun while you're at it if you know what I mean. “Stargasm” is a song that if it isn't played live, I will personally be deeply insulted. It is one of the strongest tracks on the album. The next song, “Octopus Has No Friends,” caught me off guard with its odd, polka-like riffs. Its vocals are very industrial; they remind me a bit of some Japanese industrial bands that I have come across. The title is beyond random, but it fits the intricate guitar lines. “All the Heavy Lifting” is another strong track on the album, and it just made me fall in love with Dailor's drumming even more. The title track is a disappointment however; the guitar line sounds similar to Crack the Skye's title track (coincidence?), and the vocal line is very similar to the Mastodon classic “The Last Baron.” All that's missing is Scott Kelly's vocals, but he appears later on in the album. “Dry Bone Valley” is a welcome save from the previous track, with a sound that makes you feel like you are a part of a caravan trekking through the desert. The solos are fantastic and are the best part of the whole song.

The following track, “Thickening,” is a filler, sadly. Though I do enjoy the western rock feel of the whole song, it is not memorable at all. Why must I hear mediocrity from such an amazing metal band?! Thankfully, “Creature Lives” saved me from that irritation. The cackle and trippy synth intro draws you in immediately, and the ethereal tone of the whole song makes it one of the strongest tracks on the album. This song is something that is completely unusual for the Mastodon boys to record. However, the Genesis-like, proggy feel to the whole song is entirely welcome.

And, at last, the final three tracks. “Spectrelight” is a totally abrupt change from the previous track. It has a raw, aggressive feel to it, with endless amounts of energy. Hell, the middle guitar part is even reminiscent of Iron Maiden's style. The next track, the randomly-titled “Bedazzled Fingernails,” is a strange, country-esque song. The vocals are quite strong; in fact, the vocals are some of the strongest I have heard on the album. The guitar work is excellent, but it still verges on being a filler. And finally, we come to the ending track of The Hunter, “The Sparrow.” All in all, it was a really strange way to end such an overall heavy album. Sure, the guitars themselves still retain some dirt, but the vocals are oddly choral-like and floaty. It is a blatantly proggy track, and yet again seems to draw influences from Genesis and Pink Floyd. Oh yes, definitely Pink Floyd. I think this track is one that I'll have to listen to a few more times before I truly like it, or even have a clear opinion on it. It was just bizarre, for me at least.

So after my rambling analyses of these thirteen tracks, what conclusions could I draw from them? Well,  if you were paying attention, you would notice a pattern in my commentary. Generally, all the songs had good, strong, heavy guitar work, fantastic drumming, and vocals that were either great or blasé. Overall, this album is really strong. It is not nearly as amazing as Crack the Skye, but it is a strong album nonetheless. I highly recommend it to not only seasoned Mastodon fans, but to new, perhaps completely clueless Mastodon fans that are looking to sink their teeth into their discography. I am tired of hearing the elitists complain about how they went from being a good ole' fashioned sludge metal band to being a progressive metal machine. Guess what? STOP WHINING. This is a great album, and it is worth your money. It may not be their strongest work, but it is sure as hell ain't no St. Anger. Now shut up while I go listen to this piece of gold again.