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Mastodon - The Hunter
- Thread starter Ayliffe
- Start date
I personally hate it and find it very obvious that the producer on this album is a pop and rap producer. To me this is Mastodon's Black Album. If this is the direction the band wants to go in then more power to them, but I can barely tolerate listening to this.
I'm curious on how it is obvious to you? I think it's only obvious if you look up his bio. I don't hear the influence. Do you think the album would be tolerable if it had been produced by Matt Bayles or someone with "metal/hardrock credits"?
I totally understand the Black album comparison. Bob Rock not only changed the sound of Metallica, but changed the way they approached songwriting. For the most part, I didn't like the songs on that album, but I can't say it didn't sound much improved over And Justice For All (a well written record with almost universally scorned sound). Ride the Lightning is one of my Top 10 deserted island records, but as much as I love it, I think it could have been a little better on the production side... Still, ridonkulously good.
I think this is my favorite Mastodon album yet. There just seems to be more feeling in the music compared to earlier albums. I love it!
Lazarus.Bird said:
Are these guys now persona-non-grata over in the Stoner/Doom thread?
I think The Hunter is a great heavy metal album. I take it for what it is and I don't overanalyse. It's only a record.
Not in the least. I think only a few people there agree with my opinion in some sort of degree while the majority like it. That's the glorious thing about art and opinions. I'm not saying anyone has to agree with me
I think the overall mix sounds very different. I find the riffs somewhat stale and repeating and very non-memorable. The songs have a disjointed feel and I think there is a lack of steady groove. I also really, really do not like a lot of the vocal harmonies.
They put out an album that I really dislike. Not the end of the world. They're still a great band, but I won't be paying the $40+ or whatever it is when they come through to listen to them play it. At least Red Fang will get some huge exposure from the tour
And yes, I do think this album would have turned out much different with Bayles at the helm. I was disappointed they didn't use him with CTS, but it turned out to be a good album. This one, in my opinion, not so much.
I think the overall mix sounds very different. I find the riffs somewhat stale and repeating and very non-memorable. The songs have a disjointed feel and I think there is a lack of steady groove. I also really, really do not like a lot of the vocal harmonies.
They put out an album that I really dislike. Not the end of the world. They're still a great band, but I won't be paying the $40+ or whatever it is when they come through to listen to them play it. At least Red Fang will get some huge exposure from the tour
And yes, I do think this album would have turned out much different with Bayles at the helm. I was disappointed they didn't use him with CTS, but it turned out to be a good album. This one, in my opinion, not so much.
Lazarus.Bird said:Not in the least. I think only a few people there agree with my opinion in some sort of degree while the majority like it. That's the glorious thing about art and opinions. I'm not saying anyone has to agree with me
I think the overall mix sounds very different. I find the riffs somewhat stale and repeating and very non-memorable. The songs have a disjointed feel and I think there is a lack of steady groove. I also really, really do not like a lot of the vocal harmonies.
They put out an album that I really dislike. Not the end of the world. They're still a great band, but I won't be paying the $40+ or whatever it is when they come through to listen to them play it. At least Red Fang will get some huge exposure from the tour
And yes, I do think this album would have turned out much different with Bayles at the helm. I was disappointed they didn't use him with CTS, but it turned out to be a good album. This one, in my opinion, not so much.
Yeah just kidding. I keep meaning to join in over there, but the conversation reminds me how unfamiliar I am with the genre as a whole. Early Clutch, Kylesa, Baroness, Bison BC, Black Tusk...that's about the extent of my repertoire! It's a great thread though. Discovered some fantastic stuff from some of the links.
Back on topic, it's a good point about this being their 'Black Album'. There will be new fans who think this is their debut, old fans like you who see it as a creative cul-de-sac tainted with the whiff of corporate pandering to the masses and folk like me who just pretty much love anything they do
i can understand people not liking it, but calling it out for being "mainstream" is beyond me. this is such a relentlessly weird record, i can't really see it having much "mainstream" appeal. vocal effects? theremin(or a theremin like synth/guitar tone)? the compositions are still extremely challenging even though they aren't 13 minute long multiple personality epics, and while some of the crushing heaviness has been dialed back a bit, the intensity and complexity have not.
i guess my point is that they didn't completely strip their music of the intensity, complexity, and weirdness in the same way Metallica did on the Black Album, which is why that comparison is a bit confusing to me.
and in case it isn't/wasn't obvious, this is all my personal opinion.
i guess my point is that they didn't completely strip their music of the intensity, complexity, and weirdness in the same way Metallica did on the Black Album, which is why that comparison is a bit confusing to me.
and in case it isn't/wasn't obvious, this is all my personal opinion.
I'm absolutely loving this album. There's an utter lack of pretension in this album that's a great complement to the moody epicness of Crack the Skye. Favorite tracks at the moment - Black Tongue, Blasteroids, All The Heavy Lifting, Dry Bone Valley, and The Sparrow.
the groove part of your comment really surprises me, the major reason why I love the album is because I find they've found some serious grooves.
(another reason why I prefer this one [and CtS] over the older albums is that I think they've struck gold with the vocal melodies, so I guess we're after different flavors of heavy music
)
It's ok. I've only listened to it a few times so far. The vocals in Stargasm are excellent. I loved Crack the Skye. To me that is their best album. I liked their early stuff.
Mainstream for a metal album usually means - Ultra polished sound, Less super heavy riffs, Less screaming, More singing. And especially for a band like Mastodon, less prog more pop.
So most metal elitists will say this album is trash
Mainstream for a metal album usually means - Ultra polished sound, Less super heavy riffs, Less screaming, More singing. And especially for a band like Mastodon, less prog more pop.
So most metal elitists will say this album is trash
This is a recording myth. I have recorded many an album digitally that were then released on vinyl and often times the vinyl did sound better, not always but sometimes. Putting something on vinyl is just another artistic choice. Sometimes it adds something sometimes it does not.
rockstarbassist
Inactive
It rules so far. I just got it Saturday. I give it a solid A- to B+. Some sleepers here or there, but overall has great songs, which up until CtS they were sorely lacking.
Had I known Elizondo was producing, I would've had even higher hopes that still would've been fulfilled.
CtS is/will always be their best but that was a moment in time record that came about b/c of lots of personal events/issues within the band, and I'm glad they didn't try and do CtS Pt. II or anything.
Easily their best non CtS record. The production sounds simply amazing, as well. I don't even think there'd be need for an instrumental version it's mixed so freaking well.
Had I known Elizondo was producing, I would've had even higher hopes that still would've been fulfilled.
CtS is/will always be their best but that was a moment in time record that came about b/c of lots of personal events/issues within the band, and I'm glad they didn't try and do CtS Pt. II or anything.
Easily their best non CtS record. The production sounds simply amazing, as well. I don't even think there'd be need for an instrumental version it's mixed so freaking well.
I just got it. The song "Curl of the Burl" sounds like it was made for radio play, thus the reason it was released as a single before the album came out. IMO, the real Mastodon fans will hate that song. It sounds like someone mentioned earlier, like Nickelback downtuned. The rest of the album, however, sounds like they're heading in the right direction. Very heavy, progressive, yet still straight forward. The drums are as busy as ever. This album seems to be a bit heavier than Crack The Skye. I like it so far. I'd have to say my favorite song on this CD is "Octopus Has No Friends." It has everything I like about Mastodon in that song.
I need more time listening to it but my first impression is that it's a combination of Blood Mountain and Crack the Skye. Personally...Blood Mountain was their creative peak and CtS was a step down (still a great recording though). Seems like they're trying to get back the heaviness that was missing on CtS but still wanting to appeal to a wider range of listeners.
These "Sounds like Nickelback down-tuned" comments have got to stop. Obviously you do not know the horror that is Nickelback. Curl of the Burl isn't THAT bad, though it doesn't sound much like the Mastodon of old.
I have to admit it does get stuck in my head.
I have to admit it does get stuck in my head.
