Mastodon – The Hunter

A lot of great bands have come to an end prematurely due to pushing too hard in the studio, and it's to Mastodon's credit that they've been upfront about their decision to record their latest album over the space of just a couple of weeks – understandable after the purgatorial grind that resulted in 2009's Crack the Skye.  

The Hunter is the sound of Mastodon having fun: classic and southern rock influences abound, and there's some sly vocal nods to the likes of Ozzy and John Garcia. However, even the best moments (the majestic war-cry of Black Tongue, the stirring swells of The Octopus Has No Friends) sound like retreads and are balanced by an equal number of misfires (most notably the hysterical rock-opera nightmare that is The Creature Lives). It's an enjoyable listen overall, but there's no denying that this is their least substantial release to date.