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9.0
94611
9.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
Mastodon have dug deep into their darkest moments and have surfaced with one of the best albums of their career
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8.5
94621
8.5 |
Beardfood
Like the greats they’ve created an idiom and realm of their own
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8.0
94614
8.0 |
State
The album ends with soaring guitars leaving the listener wanting more
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8.0
94467
8.0 |
Mojo
This is Mastodon rediscovering both their edge and their emotional resonance. Print edition only
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8.0
94468
8.0 |
Q
No matter how labyrinthine the riffs get, there’s always a winning hook waiting in the wings. Print edition only
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8.0
94469
8.0 |
Uncut
The band maintain their impeccable standards for muscular riffage and structural sophistication. Print edition only
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8.0
94470
8.0 |
Sputnik Music (staff)
Mastodon are one of the most reliable, consistent bands still pushing the boundaries of what prog rock and heavy metal can be
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8.0
94491
8.0 |
Exclaim
At once emotionally powerful and musically arresting
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8.0
94494
8.0 |
NME
The most personal album of their career, and in doing so perhaps their most pertinent too
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8.0
95144
8.0 |
Drowned In Sound
A balanced and well measured offering that might not revolutionise the heavy music landscape just yet, but positions them very well indeed for future greatness
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8.0
97089
8.0 |
The Digital Fix
Emperor Of Sand is an album that is very much needed in the Metal genre at this point in time
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7.6
94608
7.6 |
Pitchfork
Reins-in the Atlanta metal band’s technical abilities without watering them down
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7.5
95185
7.5 |
Gig Soup
As usual, with many different styles interwoven in this album, any fan can cherry pick what they like and be left content with a fantastic new offering from Mastodon
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7.5
94699
7.5 |
Spectrum Culture
In many respects, Emperor of Sand feels like the culmination of Mastodon’s career
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7.5
94618
7.5 |
Consequence Of Sound
From the incendiary solos of “Word to the Wise” to the evocatively personal/universal lyrics, Emperor of Sand proves cathartic for the listener and, hopefully, for the band members as well
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7.3
94569
7.3 |
Paste Magazine
Emperor of Sand is full of passionate performances and serves as one of Mastodon’s most surprising and relatable releases yet
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7.0
94465
7.0 |
The Music
The band make a welcome return to emotionally complex music
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7.0
94466
7.0 |
PopMatters
Even its standout arrangements—and there are many of them—can’t help but conjure previous ones
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7.0
94499
7.0 |
Rolling Stone
Their most ambitious outing since 2009's proggy Crack the Skye
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7.0
94509
7.0 |
All Music
A necessary entry in their catalog
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6.0
94516
6.0 |
The Guardian
The closing Jaguar God, a windswept psychedelic metal waltz, is the best thing here, and the one moment when Mastodon sound willing to fully challenge their listeners’ expectations
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6.0
94623
6.0 |
The Arts Desk
A powerful and heavy piece of work that is truly epic in its scope
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6.0
94814
6.0 |
Clash
For the first time in their career, Mastodon aren't confident in their ability to forge a new path for themselves
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5.0
94513
5.0 |
A.V. Club
While it occasionally works, more often than not Mastodon just sounds confused
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4.0
94629
4.0 |
Earbuddy
See review
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