Those of you expecting Mastodon’s newest album to provide the brutal heavy metal attack of their previous releases will be pleasantly surprised by the new direction this album takes you. Off-kilter guitar riffs and haunting, spacey vocals are abundant in this progressive and revolutionary new release, Crack the Skye.

In this, their fourth full-length studio album, Mastodon has turned away from its heavy metal roots and gone for a more progressive and art-rock type of sound. This surprisingly good album takes a while to grow on you, but once it does, the genius behind it becomes immediate. The lyrics and even the titles of the songs themselves are just about an out-of-body experience and/or spiritual journey. The sound of the album as a whole is musical in nature. However, that isn’t to say the album is perfect — the

way the different instruments are interlaced could use some work.

This new progressive sound Mastodon takes is a breath of fresh air in the music industry, and it provides a very classic rock type of sound that has been missing in many new album releases these days. While most records produced include singles and filler songs, Crack the Skye is better interpreted as a whole rather than by picking apart the various songs and critiquing them individually. As the album is like a magic carpet ride that begins when the first song starts and ends after the last song fades out, it would be a shame to quit the journey in the middle. This type of musicality might not be for everyone, but those listeners who want to find a deeper meaning behind their albums should definitely check out Crack the Skye.

The album has various versions available for purchase, including a DVD/CD combo that includes Mastodon’s take on what their album meant to them while producing it and the theme and story behind the album itself. The DVD combo also contains some great studio footage. Most of these behind-the-scenes type DVDs are only for the most die-hard fans, but Mastodon’s DVD combo really enhances your view of the album and creates a back story that adds to the appreciation the listener has for the album.

While the production of the album is great, there are a few downfalls. The guitar riffs, vocals and beats on Crack the Skye are quite different than most listeners are used to and may not be easily accepted as quickly as most pop music. So the bottom line is this: If all you want are radio singles, don’t buy this album. For those of you who are interested, be sure to listen with an open mind and appreciate the album as a work of art.

3 1/2 / 4 stars