Album of the Week (10/04/2011)

Mastodon
The Hunter
Genre: Sludge Metal

A delicate, finger-picked intro gives way to massive sound that brings Mastodon's mastery of dynamics to the forefront before an awesome finale via a pair of colossal solos that are among the most intense Hinds has ever performed. The Hunter is the album that shows that, as long as this band stays true to itself, it has the creative wherewithal to not only endure the endless stream of pop-rock, but keep itself in the spotlight for years to come. This album isn't exactly a logical follow-up to Crack The Skye, but The Hunter triumphs in a less profound, more instantaneous way: it's the first truly fun Mastodon album.

See also: Tool Aenima, Baroness Blue Record, Converge Axe to Fall