The Hunter
by Mastodon
  • Record Label: Reprise
  • Release Date: Sep 27, 2011
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 96 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 86 out of 96
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 96
  3. Negative: 3 out of 96
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  1. Brian_Thrillson
    Sep 27, 2011
    5
    A very disappointing fifth outing from a band I've loved since their second full length ''Leviathan. There is non of the aggression of their early albums here coupled with a lack of experimentation that marked ''Blood Mountain'' and ''Crack The Skye''. There was really nothing memorable for me here, with most tracks slipping by having made little or no impact on me. It just sounds like aA very disappointing fifth outing from a band I've loved since their second full length ''Leviathan. There is non of the aggression of their early albums here coupled with a lack of experimentation that marked ''Blood Mountain'' and ''Crack The Skye''. There was really nothing memorable for me here, with most tracks slipping by having made little or no impact on me. It just sounds like a band on auto-pilot, going through the motions. I can understand them going down a gear after ''Crack The Skye'' but this just seems lazy to me. The songs lack variety and this is clearly their attempt at breaking into the mainstream. Now, there is nothing wrong with that in theory but when the result is this watered down, radio-friendly version of the prog-sludge we're used to, the result is nothing to get excited about.

    Another huge problem on this record is the production. The whole record just sits in one place, hitting you like a big mess of forgettable, indistinguishable riffs. The effects used on the vocals are cheesy to say the least and that coupled with the almost laughable lyrics for the most part mark this as possibly the sloppily mixed record I've heard all year. Now i wouldn't say this album was all bad, there is a definitely a sense of ''fun'' to the thing and of a band doing what they want and enjoying it but it produces a sound that doesn't interest or excite me on any level. These tracks seem like they'd be cool to hear live but as a studio outing, it's lacklustre to say the least. There's nothing totally un-listenable on here but nothing at all memorable either and it's a far cry from records like ''Remission'' and ''Leviathan'' and offers nothing new that's worth caring about for me. I don't know what else to say, Mastodon are one of my favourite bands but after hearing this I fear for the direction they're going in.    … Expand
  2. Lolasaurus
    Oct 2, 2011
    5
    This is truly Mastodon's first wholly mediocre effort. Senseless and uninteresting. Like many have already said, it's a far cry from their glory days ("Leviathan" and "Blood Mountain"), and stylistic "shifts" aside - which would be the polite way of calling this streamlined, Mastodon have lowered themselves closer to rote, featureless rock a'la CKY. Whereas "Crack the Skye" had a thoroughThis is truly Mastodon's first wholly mediocre effort. Senseless and uninteresting. Like many have already said, it's a far cry from their glory days ("Leviathan" and "Blood Mountain"), and stylistic "shifts" aside - which would be the polite way of calling this streamlined, Mastodon have lowered themselves closer to rote, featureless rock a'la CKY. Whereas "Crack the Skye" had a thorough if not profound conceptual foundation and technical prowess to compensate for a lack in punch & bite, "The Hunter" is entirely lacking in all positive descriptions that can be applied to music, which is especially shameful considering Mastodon were well on their way in forging a new dawn of creativity and quality for the metal scene.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

49
#49 Best Album of 2011
67
#67 Most Discussed Album of 2011
81
#81 Most Shared Album of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Blurt Magazine
    Nov 29, 2011
    80
    It's Apocalypse a-go-go for the Georgia gentlemen. Go with them.
    Read full review
  2. PopMatters
    Nov 23, 2011
    60
    Overall, this album is sure to divide opinion on the band and its future; it will more than likely continue to raise Mastodon's star higher in the sky, enough to get the non-metalheads interested, but not enough to pull the group completely out of the sludge where it belongs and where it works best.
    Read full review
  3. Kerrang!
    Nov 15, 2011
    100
    The Hunter is an album in which to lose yourself. [24 Sep 2011, p.52]
See all critic reviews »