1. jasd2d

   10

   The fact that this band tried something so different so confidently this late in their career, at the apex of their commercial success, proves that they are the most creative band of the genre. This is really good stuff. Some of the songs require a second listen to really dig, but you will be rewarded for your patience. There is also some strange stuff on here, Creature Lives for example, but its still very good. We're dealing with our generation's ZepFloydRush people. Enjoy the ride.… Expand

   • Helpful? 6 of 6 users said Yes.
2. BiggNiggRigg

   10

   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

   • Helpful? 2 of 2 users said Yes.
3. pablodius

   8

   I have been listening to Mastodon for awhile now and when I heard about this new album I was very excited. After reading some opinions around the internet, I was hoping the album didn't suck. Everyone keeps talking about how they have changed too much or it is lacking energy. I could not disagree more. While it is not my favorite Mastodon release, it still hits hard and sounds like the Mastodon I have been listening to in the past. It is true that many artists take a drastic change in musical style, but this is not an example of that.… Expand

   • Helpful? 1 of 1 users said Yes.
4. Brian_Thrillson

   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 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

   • Helpful? 0 of 4 users said Yes.

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