Ignore any inner hipsterism and just enjoy this album even if you think it sounds too radio-friendly for your pretentious ears. The Hunter is an excellent album that really deserves more credit than it's gotten so far, which is saying a lot considering it's received largely positive reviews. I love this LP's meshing of elements found in all types of rock music. It's truly a wonderfully experimental yet cohesive effort and I applaud it. One of my favorite releases from this year, without a doubt.… Expand

Awesome, awesome album. Mastodon shows more progression, and really shows their talent on this album. It's rare to find a band that sounds so different from album to album, but here one is. **** Nirvana and their crappy Nevermind, this album should have a score of 100.

Flawless. Mastodon's new side is mysteriously welcoming. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An incredibly enjoyable, expansive and impressive record. All the songs are crafted perfectly with complex riffs and soaring choruses, an absolute joy from start to finish. Compared to previous Mastodon records the songs are structured more simply with a intro-verse-chorus-solo-end pattern, this does not detract from the fact that all the songs are absolutely fantastic, the concepts and execution of each track are portrayed perfectly and this album really does deserve a perfect score. Old fans as well as new should be delighted because Mastodon have once again released an utterly incredible album.… Collapse

This album divides the death metal lovers from the music lovers. Many people fall into loving bands like Mastodon because they are simply hard and loud, with no real appreciation for the effort behind them. This album is a fantastically varied one, it seems as though Mastodon simply tried playing other genres through their own lens. Creature Lives is a sublime example of the diversity they can afford. This album is incredible.… Expand

It's hard to say that Mastodon changed their "sound" on their 2011 release 'The Hunter', because Mastodon has never really had one sound that they have stuck to. This album is great, from the first song until the last; this album will keep you enthralled. It's different from 2009's 'Crack the Skye' and it draws similarities to 2004's 'Leviathan'. 'The Hunter' is technical, relentless, and the songs never feel like they drag into each other. Each song feels like a breath of fresh of air, and the hits keep coming from the beginning track "Black Tongue" until the finale "The Sparrow". For me, it's easy to call 'The Hunter' Mastodon's magnum opus; their best album to date. Hardcore Mastodon fans like myself will definitely enjoy this album, and it has enough to encourage heavy metal fans alike to give Mastodon a listen. The best album released in 2011, and one of the best albums I've ever heard.… Expand

A nice combination of the clean vocals and riff work of the superb Crack The Skye and Blood Mountain with the sludgy goodness of Leviathan and Remission. While there's no big epic track on here like there were on the other albums, the catchiness combined with the heavy makes for a great listening experience. Just more proof that these guys deserve to be on list of the greatest metal groups of all time.… Expand

Warning: This is a completely different Mastodon than what you've listened to before. The hunter definitely is isn't as heavy as mastodon's previous albums but the switch is something refreshing in their sound. The have a more "pop" or "mainstream" sound that really suits thus albums sound. It has catchy riffs & lyrics that you just can't help but sing along

Where does one start a review for their most anticipated album of the year? To say one is looking forward to the latest magnum opus from serial sludgers-turned-proggers Mastodon is an understatement of the first degree. The fact the band had been teasing us fans for weeks with snippets from album opener Black Tongue and featuring a short video showing the making of the model featured on the albums cover, hardly helped to ease the anticipation that was reaching a fever pitch one had not felt since the release of their previous record, 2009â… Expand

Mastodon continues to develop their style and change things up, and very successfully I might add. Six months after the release I still find myself going back to this album on a regular basis. It has all the elements I enjoy from progressive rock to metal, with some psychedelic flavor mixed in. I look forward to listening to this album for years to come.