Mastodon - Cold Dark Place

If metal is your cup of tea and you have ears that have been functioning well over the last 15 years or so, the chances are pretty high that you know who Mastodon are. The 4 piece, hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, have been going from strength to strength ever since the release of their debut Remission in 2002, managing to find their identity very early on and set themselves apart from the pack. They've become one of those bands where if you hear one of their riffs or licks, you know it's Mastodon. Over the course of their career, they've written songs about a giant whale, mythical creatures, deadly monsters, astral travel and desert survival. Written during the recording sessions for their last 2 albums, Cold Dark Place adds another concept to their arsenal, but contains a very personal twist. The cold dark place is Brent Hinds head and heart, and the EP is about "the concept of living and how much it hurts to f*cking be alive".

This EP was entirely written by Hinds, and musically it's quite clear that he's at the very core of the Mastodon writing process. He has a knack for writing really beautiful yet haunting passages, and this is immediately noticeable on EP opener "North Side Star". The songs features a 13 string pedal steel guitar, an instrument that's notoriously difficult to master (unless you're Brent Hinds, apparently). It adds real depth to the atmosphere of the track, setting the tone for what's about to happen before the vocals even have chance to kick in. The vocal melodies are tasteful and are just as eerie as the music sitting behind it, creeping through dark passages before launching into an uptempo, lighter feeling section, littered with a number of impressive licks and solos. One of the most impressive things about Mastodon is their ability to play around with different styles of music without making anything sound out of place, something they display in "Blue Walsh". The song tip toes through an almost ballad like feel at first, with the vocals of Brann Dailor (drums) echoing out over the delicate guitars. Roughly halfway through, it explodes into a southern sounding, almost bluegrass influenced lick, followed by Hinds blaring out the lyrics "Time has caught up with me, taking all my energy". "Toe To Toes" is the shortest song on the album, and is also probably the catchiest too. The pace is easy to nod your head to, and contains some blinding riffs that are easy to bang your head to. The vocal melodies are also hook laden and memorable, and compliment the chord progressions developing beneath them. Closer "Cold Dark Place" sways through a variety of different vibes, painting a very honest and harrowing picture of Hinds' mind. The 3/4 swing tempo gives the song an almost lullaby like feel in places, making the lighter sections sound calming and bright, while the darker sections sound sombre and stirring. The solo is an expressive and emotive slice of brilliance too, bringing an epic close to the EP. 

I read in an issue of Total Guitar once that they were in search of "the perfect riff". Going off the strength of all their albums, I'd say they're going to keep hammering out scorchers until they find it. This EP is no exception to that statement. The way they navigate through songs is second to none. Travelling down a number of different routes and exploring so many different territories, they never feel like they're racing through sections. It's like they drift through, taking their time to admire the scenery before progressing. Cold Dark Place is a beautiful, tasteful and passionate look into one mans mind and his internal battles, and is a must listen for any fans of the band and the genre. 

D.S

x