By SoDak
Admittedly, I was among the folks who were not pleased with the more melodic turn of Mastodon on Crack the Skye (2009), which included Brent Hinds’s vocals. I really liked Remission (2002) and Leviathan (2004). I thought Blood Mountain (2006) was a masterpiece. I continued to buy the records following Crack, but I did not devote much attention to them. My interest returned with the Emperor of Sand (2017), when I saw them play again. I was blown away by the quality of the songs, from throughout their catalog, and I thought the singing by all of them was excellent. Perhaps, I needed some time to reassess the records. Ongoing discussions with Jack Rafferty were also enjoyable, given his deep appreciation of Mastodon. I also enjoyed watching the film on the making of Emperor. Over the last eight years, I have thoroughly enjoyed returning to Mastodon’s music and getting excited them. I can appreciate the various changes and developments in their sound, and I hear a continuity across the records. Part of this joy has involved appreciating Hinds’s contributions to the band. He was an extraordinary guitar player, and he often drew upon banjo fingerings, creating a distinct style. He wrote both catchy riffs and beautiful compositions. I really love the emotion in his clean vocals. Over the last few years, my wife and I often listen to the song “Toe to Toes,” from Cold Dark Place (2017) while watching the video. Hinds’s brilliance on the guitar and singing is evident. I will miss hearing what new he would have created.
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