Mastodon - Hushed and Grim (2021) [Official Digital Download]

You know a band mean business in this day and age of singles and throwaway fads when they come out the other side of a global pandemic that has ravaged the live music industry and decide to create a double album. MASTODON don’t do things by halves, and Hushed And Grim is presented as a massive feast for fans new and old.

Indisputably, there’s been a shift in mentality for MASTODON through the hardships life has thrown their way in recent years. However, there’s still no doubting their immeasurable skill, and rather than crumbling into despair, they’ve rallied to channel themselves into their music. Hushed And Grim is weird, experimental, and as the title states, a little grim. A shadow of loss hangs over it, and there’s a sense of bereavement in every song in some part or other. What it isn’t, however, is hushed.

From the incredibly bold and exciting intro on Pain With An Anchor and the blazing, raging passion of Savage Lands, to the softer, heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics of Had It All and the multi-vocal splendour of The Crux and Pushing The Tides, this is MASTODON doing what they do best. They’ve pushed themselves to create a complete behemoth of a record, one of towering, thick riffs; crazy, creepy wails; chugging, intricate drum work; and moveable, tranquil vocal melodies.

It would be criminal to not mention just how poetic and pensive the lyrics they are this time around. Every song is laced with a sense of sorrow and a respect for the mysteries of death and the future. Ultimately this record holds a massive amount of reverence and love for Nick John, the band’s long-time manager and friend who very sadly lost his battle with cancer in 2018, and his presence can be felt as a constant on this record. There’s regret and bitterness in there too, along with anger and frustration. For those who’ve ever found themselves in a similar mindset, this is a melancholy embrace that reminds you to never take anyone for granted.

TRACKLIST

1. Mastodon - Pain with an Anchor
2. Mastodon - The Crux
3. Mastodon - Sickle and Peace
4. Mastodon - More Than I Could Chew
5. Mastodon - The Beast
6. Mastodon - Skeleton of Splendor
7. Mastodon - Teardrinker
8. Mastodon - Pushing the Tides
9. Mastodon - Peace and Tranquility
10. Mastodon - Dagger
11. Mastodon - Had It All
12. Mastodon - Savage Lands
13. Mastodon - Gobblers of Dregs
14. Mastodon - Eyes of Serpents
15. Mastodon - Gigantium



Thanks to the Original customer.