EMPEROR OF SAND

'Emperor of Sand' is Mastodon's 2017 release, an exemplary prog metal album for its respective decade, a brilliantly crafted work that impresses with its warm production and conceptual edge, an album that is nevertheless doomy, drab and at times even melancholic, as the band capture themes related to death, survival and overcoming adversity, making this seventh studio album a very expansive, necessary and heartfelt work. On top of that, many seem to have noticed the so-called "maturity" of the band's sound, since 'Emperor of Sand' marks another interesting stylistic shift, perhaps a reactionary one compared to the last two albums and their straightforward edge and an even greater abstinence from the destructive mathcore of their earliest phase. This particular album ebbs and flows nicely through a great variety of songs, many of which should be a delightful treat to both hardcore Mastodon fans, and more casual listeners exploring the progressive side of heavy metal music.

Drummer Brann Dailor takes upon a greater deal of vocal duties on 'Emperor of Sand', and his voice offers a really interesting counterpart to the growling raspiness of Troy Sanders' voice and Brent Hinds' stoner-doom snarl, with the band achieving a unique balance between the three completely different singing voices. This album also produced one of the most recognizable songs from Mastodon, their "radio hit" 'Show Yourself', the catchiest number on here. Of course, the record's depth and nuance get revealed as the music progresses and the listener hears staples like 'Precious Stones', 'Steambreather', and 'Roots Remain'. We also have an interesting run of groovy, fast-paced and really well-performed songs like 'Word to the Wise' and 'Andromeda', while the more cathartic edge of the album is to be experienced with 'Ancient Kingdom' and 'Jaguar God'. All throughout, the masterful riffs and the fabulous melodies guide the listener on an all-encompassing journey through the "deserts" of Mastodon's creativity (in line with the album's theme), since 'Emperor of Sand' is nothing short of a brilliant offering from a band that every now and then dares to try out something new.

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