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"Mastodon had never released an EP of unreleased tracks that were neither live tracks nor a soundtrack for a movie. It's done with this brilliant and essential "Cold Dark Place"."
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4/5
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If we ignore the EPs on live recordings and movie soundtracks, Mastodon had never released an EP of unreleased tracks so far. It was done in 2017 with the release of "Cold Dark Place" consisting of four tracks from the working sessions of the last two albums of the Americans. From the outset, Mastodon clearly displays its desire to isolate this EP from the two albums in question by using a title and a cover aesthetic opposite the bright colors and solar themes of "Once More 'Round The Sun" and "Emperor Of Sand".
However, when you have been listening to these four tracks, it is more the connection with the two mentioned albums that comes to your ears than the darkness suggested by the title and the intriguing cover of "Cold Dark Place". This connection is shown by the same ease to make accessible and immediate the virtuosity of the thematic changes that Mastodon had started to refine since "The Hunter". North Side Star' is the most characteristic example, with its dusty mid-tempo beginning carried by a languid Brent Hinds on vocals that bursts into a funky, groovy jerk halfway through.
In a more compact and direct variant, 'Blue Walsh', misty in its psychedelic fumes, and 'Toes To Toes' which brings back to the quickly assimilated formats of "Emperor Of Sand" are two concentrates of energy and melody built around invigorating cadences and brilliant riffs laid down by the duo of guitarists Hinds-Kelliher. The more the EP goes on, the more the feeling of having been listening to a synthesis of "Emperor Of Sand" is confirmed. Impression confirmed by the last poignant ballad led in its creep by a Brent Hinds at the edge of his skin which has many similarities with 'Jaguar God' which closed down "Emperor of Sand".
The quality of this EP is amazing and although it is very short by definition, it is an absolute must for the last two albums of the Atlanta band. "Cold Dark Place" is the epitome of what Mastodon is capable of composing under the constraints of efficiency, melody and technical and harmonic virtuosity. Recorded a few months after the release of "Emperor Of Sand", as if to support its impact, will "Cold Dark Place" be the standard for the Mastodon's future works? - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. North Side Star
02. Blue Walsh
03. Toe To Toes
04. Cold Dark Place
LINEUP:
Bill Kelliher: Guitares
Brann Dailor: Chant / Batterie
Brent Hinds: Chant / Guitares
Troy Sanders: Chant / Basse
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4/5 (2 view(s))
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4/5 (1 view(s))
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