Crack the Skye by Mastodon

Crack the Skye

Mastodon

2009
3.05
Rating
19
Votes
1
11%
2
21%
3
42%
4
5%
5
21%
Distribution
User Submitted Album

Album Summary

Crack the Skye is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Mastodon, released on March 24, 2009, through Reprise, Sire and Relapse Records. The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200, selling 41,000 copies in its first week. In Australia, the album debuted at number 19. It had sold 200,000 copies in the US as of September 2010, making it one of their highest-selling albums to date. According to an interview on the DVD The Making of Crack the Skye, the album represents the element of aether, which is represented by the souls and spirits of all things, a theme closely related to the context of the album. Because the elements of fire, water and earth have already been represented by the band's first three albums Remission, Leviathan, Blood Mountain and the band's seventh album Emperor of Sand, respectively, the element of air is the only classical element which has yet to be represented by a Mastodon album, as their follow-up studio albums The Hunter and Once More 'Round the Sun do not represent an element, nor are they concept albums. Crack the Skye is the first studio album to feature drummer Brann Dailor as the band's third lead vocalist.

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Reviews

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Dec 08 2025 Author
5
The masters of unconventional rhytms and melody changes
Dec 11 2025 Author
5
This is much rockier and less metal than I expected, but in the best way. Dreamy but loud and intense. Mastodon pushed technical boundaries on earlier albums; here they're all about mystery, depth, emotion, and atmosphere. "Quintessence" opens epically and shifts into progressive grooves with vocals that elevate everything. "The Czar" reminds me of Opeth. "The Last Baron" goes off at 13 minutes and earns every second. "Oblivion" and "The Ghost of Karelia" also stand out. The production is thick and full. Every layer is audible, which makes for an incredible listening experience, but also a tiring one. It demands your full attention in a way that's both a strength and a limitation. I might not always reach for this even though I have starting to really love this album, simply because it's so dense and exhausting. The vocals took some getting used to as well. Multiple singers, none technically great, plus guest vocals. But it all works perfectly for the vibe. Way better than I expected. A killer album that rewards the effort it demands. 4,5*
Dec 08 2025 Author
3
Not totally my kind of music, but considering I do not follow the progressive metal scene and even I know who Mastodon is tells me all I really need to know. That, or I've played too many fan charts for Guitar Hero.
Dec 09 2025 Author
3
Solid metal LP, vocals felt a bit unsuited for the instrumentals at times but I enjoyed a heavier addition to the list.
Dec 12 2025 Author
3
Apple Music said it was metal but okay idk
Dec 09 2025 Author
2
I’m not into this kind of heavy rock so this album is not for me.