Hushed and Grim
by Mastodon
  • Record Label: Reprise
  • Release Date: Oct 29, 2021
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 55 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 55
  3. Negative: 6 out of 55
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Timentiy
    Oct 30, 2021
    10
    Невероятно красивый и крутой альбом который я ждал от них со времен Crack the sky. Даже если они будут выпускать такие записи раз в десять лет я готов подождать. Браво!!!
  2. MementoSomnia
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    Spectacular lyricism and untouched raw emotion. A dark story of loss and memory. This album is very different from what we are used to but it falls nothing short of being spectacular. 10/10
  3. Lewy91
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    Beautiful from start to finish, worth the wait. Full of signature mastodon sound, but with clear and evident evolutions. They have grown as people through hardships and the music brews with their experience and emotion. It might be a solid hour and a half but there isn’t a song worth skipping. Masterpiece.
  4. B3tray3rr
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    While it certainly isn’t as heavy as previous albums, Hushed and Grim still feels like the makings of a classic Mastodon album. From Pain with an Anchor to Gigantium, you’ll go on a journey through their grief of losing a close friend. In the end I think it’s a brilliant album, and a great tribute to their late manager.
  5. abrown132
    Oct 30, 2021
    10
    The bad reviews are trolls, stop looking to others for your opinions and enjoy the damn album!! 11/10 btw
  6. Ryanloc
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    You can tell the past year and losing a close friend inspired this album.. and I’m here for it.. thanks guys.
  7. YankeeRebell
    Oct 29, 2021
    10
    Hypnotic and emotionally charged. Stayed enticed the whole first play through. I was infected with ear-worm after listening to their pre-release singles. Now that the full album is out I'm rapped by the entire emotionally roller coaster that is Mastodon's symphony to what I recognize as the 7 stages of grief that are an omnipresent part of this entire production. How we humans emotionallyHypnotic and emotionally charged. Stayed enticed the whole first play through. I was infected with ear-worm after listening to their pre-release singles. Now that the full album is out I'm rapped by the entire emotionally roller coaster that is Mastodon's symphony to what I recognize as the 7 stages of grief that are an omnipresent part of this entire production. How we humans emotionally bear our heaviest grief and deepest sorrow when haunted by memories of loved ones and how we experience mind-boggling confusion and vague senses of melancholy with the passing of acquaintances is what resonates with me when listening to this work. I'm not a seasoned critic of musical post-production games and gimmicks with the melding of instrumentation, but what I can tell is how the lyrics and cord-progressions tie together a tight and consistent theme that is an antithesis to what most senselessly enigmatic contemporary music tends to be. This album is cohesive and beautiful, and may very well be my favorite Mastodon album already.… Expand
  8. CropCircleX
    Oct 30, 2021
    10
    First of all, let me just say that I've been a Mastodon fan since Leviathan and I've loved following their musical evolution throughout the years. Hushed and Grim sounds familiar but new. Parts of the album sound like they could be companion pieces for Blood Mountain or Once More Around the Sun. The albums hits you with some serious curveballs like "Peace and Tranquility" that starts outFirst of all, let me just say that I've been a Mastodon fan since Leviathan and I've loved following their musical evolution throughout the years. Hushed and Grim sounds familiar but new. Parts of the album sound like they could be companion pieces for Blood Mountain or Once More Around the Sun. The albums hits you with some serious curveballs like "Peace and Tranquility" that starts out with a high-octane riff full of ascending and descending palm mutes and hammer-ons, and "More Than I Could Chew", which hammers down a crushing riff supporting clean vocals. I consider this album to have a bit more breadth and complexity compared to Emperor of Sand. While fans of Leviathan, Remission, and Crack the Skye Mastodon may be disappointed that it doesn't sound as hard or heavy as the old stuff, I can appreciate the ways in which they made a familiar sound feel fresh. I think there was only one song that I didn't care for too much, but overall it's a great listen. Give our Atlanta boys some credit. They've been slaying the game for a while now.… Expand
  9. Eldoreabc
    Oct 31, 2021
    8
    A lot More diverse than there other albums, still has a lot Of head banging riffs but a lot of songs with subtlety as well! A lot of the negative reviewers are trolls so keep that in mind.
  10. Sarthak_Baweja
    Nov 8, 2021
    10
    Great album, every Mastodon record takes some time to grow, is what I feel. This album is stellar like all their previous work.
  11. Segundoleo26
    Oct 29, 2021
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Este álbum es más de lo mismo aburrido básico monótono genérico repetitivo… Expand
  12. ZzZ85
    Oct 29, 2021
    3
    I dont think i have ever been more disappointed in an album before. Sad to see such a great band moving more and more away from what made them great in the first place and now the deliver THIS.
  13. Flowpils
    Oct 29, 2021
    1
    Honestly, it gets a generous 1 for Pushing the Tides. Incredibly boring and contains nothing to listen to after the first couple listens. Sad.
  14. driver8207003
    Nov 21, 2021
    9
    The long and short of it is that you simply can't make an honest evaluation of this record on the first one, or maybe three listens. Aside from the length, there is (as one critic noted) so much to unpack here. Rush were also criticized for delving into more melodic mainstream sounding music. However, there is a generous mix of just about every sound and style from the first album up toThe long and short of it is that you simply can't make an honest evaluation of this record on the first one, or maybe three listens. Aside from the length, there is (as one critic noted) so much to unpack here. Rush were also criticized for delving into more melodic mainstream sounding music. However, there is a generous mix of just about every sound and style from the first album up to now. It's intricate, thoughtful, raw and essentially a top knotch offering. And the concert in NY last night only made you realize just how good this new music is; the show was astounding, and even the more mainstream stuff sounded excellent. If you give this record anything less than a good review, you're not listening close enough.… Expand
  15. DiegoCudi
    Nov 1, 2021
    9
    It could be better. Sure, but what would I know compared to Mastodon's virtuous guys.
    It's a record full of somber, contemplative tones and a gloomy dynamic and filled with experimental sections. Does this mean is dull? Absolutely not! It takes some time to fit in, to understand its purpose.
    Nevertheless Its execution is, as always with Mastodon, exceptional with Bottrill this time    It could be better. Sure, but what would I know compared to Mastodon's virtuous guys.
    It's a record full of somber, contemplative tones and a gloomy dynamic and filled with experimental sections. Does this mean is dull? Absolutely not! It takes some time to fit in, to understand its purpose.

    Nevertheless Its execution is, as always with Mastodon, exceptional with Bottrill this time as producer.
    It lacks the heaviness of first records showing that evolution and growth is part of their journey, which is great in many ways, and it will be enjoyable for the people who can embrace changes and acceptance, and who value the effort of a band sharing their craft with passion.    … Expand
  16. manlyandlovinit
    Jan 21, 2022
    10
    This is art. Mastodon has always been the most interesting and viscerally enjoyable band of the last 20 years for me. Here they show their songwriting prowess never diminishes; it simply evolves.
  17. Manofmusic
    Dec 6, 2021
    10
    Absolutely fantastic album. Disliked it after first few listens but after months I cannot stop listening to it. Up there with Crack the Skye. Such an ethereal feel. Listen to the album from beginning to end or don't listen at all.
  18. Worldatlol
    Oct 29, 2021
    6
    Definitely one of the weaker Mastodon albums, but after my first listen this album has started to grow on me. The album dies lose it's footing in places, but it does have some gorgeous moments such as the song 'sickle and peace', or what may be my favourite song on the album 'peace and tranquility'. I have had 'peace and tranquility' on repeat now, the intro riff gives off Rush vibes andDefinitely one of the weaker Mastodon albums, but after my first listen this album has started to grow on me. The album dies lose it's footing in places, but it does have some gorgeous moments such as the song 'sickle and peace', or what may be my favourite song on the album 'peace and tranquility'. I have had 'peace and tranquility' on repeat now, the intro riff gives off Rush vibes and has a real nice peace to it, but at 50 seconds in, the song switches gear. The song slows down which is not usually something I like, but in this song it's gorgeous and hypnotising. Not often that I enjoy a slower song as much as this.… Expand
  19. PinoPanico
    Oct 30, 2021
    6
    Forse la prima vera e propria delusione da parte dei mastodon. Un album confusionario, senza un'anima, senza magia, sterile. La qualità del suono mi lascia perplesso, sembra registrato con un telefono in una grotta libanese. Sinceramente non capisco dove la band volesse andare a parare con questo album, dopo singoli come fallen torches, forged by Neron e Rufus live mi aspettavo un suonoForse la prima vera e propria delusione da parte dei mastodon. Un album confusionario, senza un'anima, senza magia, sterile. La qualità del suono mi lascia perplesso, sembra registrato con un telefono in una grotta libanese. Sinceramente non capisco dove la band volesse andare a parare con questo album, dopo singoli come fallen torches, forged by Neron e Rufus live mi aspettavo un suono più duro, più pesante, un po' più trash se vogliamo e invece l'unica traccia che segue questa strada è pushing the tides, primo singolo uscito e paradossalmente quello meno indicativo dell'album. Non so veramente che aggiungere, c'è tutto e niente in quest'album, richiami alle vecchie composizioni, tastiere space che sembrerebbero venire direttamente dai lavori di dailor negli Arcadea, parti di chitarra psichedeliche alla tool, un'accozzaglia di roba che sinceramente non riesce a conquistarmi ne a trasmettermi qualcosa. Come album è veramente una delusione assoluta, gli direi 4, le singole tracce prese ognuno per sé valgono sicuramente di più. Boh, sono confuso incredulo e amareggiato, voto finale 6.… Expand
  20. Yeeaarrhh
    Nov 9, 2021
    10
    Hushed and Grim gets better with every listen. Huge Mastodon fan and this one is on par with Leviathan, Blood Mountain, and Crack The Skye. This is perhaps their best, but between those albums it’s honestly apples and oranges.
  21. Richard_Jones
    Sep 16, 2022
    0
    'Hushed & Grim' is, for me, Mastodon's best album. I love it. 'Crack the skye' is next but quite different. Richard

Awards & Rankings

54
#54 Most Discussed Album of 2021

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Uncut
    Nov 16, 2021
    70
    The sense is of a band confirming their place as among the most enterprising in the genre. [Jan 2022, p.27]
  2. Consequence
    Oct 29, 2021
    83
    Hushed and Grim could have used a trim, but overall, it was worth the wait.
    Read full review
  3. AllMusic
    Oct 29, 2021
    90
    While Hushed and Grim tracks the stages of grief, it also reflects on the soul's journey after death. Musically, Mastodon illuminate the emotional heft of their subject matter in gorgeously architected compositions rendered with abundant creativity, massive power, and searing honesty.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »