Released: September 22, 2017
Label: Reprise
Duration: 21 Minutes
Cold Dark Place is the latest four song EP from Georgia heavy metal band Mastodon, and their second release of the year following the disappointing full-length Emperor of Sand.
This newest set of songs luckily mark a return to form for the group, as they've finally found a way to bring together the excellent riff-work of their older releases with a more modern rock approach to structure and sound. Additionally, Cold Dark Place boasts what I consider to be the best vocal work of the group's career, with Brent Hinds (lead guitar), Troy Sanders (bass) and Brann Dailor all taking time to shine.
The lyrics they sing are also excellent; it's rare I actually spend time looking up the words to a song, but across this release I felt compelled to do so. From what I understand, much of Cold Dark Place was written by Hinds in response to the end of a relationship, and his lyricism reflects this with beauty, tragedy, and even a sense of hope.
The EP opens with its weakest track, "North Side Star". The song features some excellent, blistering guitar solo work courtesy of Brent, but is brought down by a more muddled melody that causes the track to lose much of its power.
The second song, "Blue Walsh", is a more reserved groove, exploring a style the band has rarely explored. Within the context of its lyrics, such as "I'm hiding the storm/The storm with the bright green glow/And I'm holding my knife/It's sure to make them leave", the groove helps create a feeling of holding strong even against your own mistakes.
The last two tracks are what truly make this release one of the band's strongest. Toe to Toes is everything you want from a Mastodon song, in their older style or their newer. The riffs pulse forward and it just crackles with energy. Then, on the titular closing track, things are brought down with some chilling and intricate acoustic guitar work. The track brims with tragic emotion and with a sense of longing, completed with an immense feeling instrumental section leading to the end, serving as an excellent send-off to a great release.
I'm exceptionally satisfied by Cold Dark Place. It's smaller size has forced Hinds, Sanders, Dailor and rhythm guitarist Bill Kelliher to approach it with razor-sharp focus, leading in turn to twenty minutes of fantastic music that is at times harrowing, epic, and among the best Mastodon has ever released.
This newest set of songs luckily mark a return to form for the group, as they've finally found a way to bring together the excellent riff-work of their older releases with a more modern rock approach to structure and sound. Additionally, Cold Dark Place boasts what I consider to be the best vocal work of the group's career, with Brent Hinds (lead guitar), Troy Sanders (bass) and Brann Dailor all taking time to shine.
The lyrics they sing are also excellent; it's rare I actually spend time looking up the words to a song, but across this release I felt compelled to do so. From what I understand, much of Cold Dark Place was written by Hinds in response to the end of a relationship, and his lyricism reflects this with beauty, tragedy, and even a sense of hope.
The EP opens with its weakest track, "North Side Star". The song features some excellent, blistering guitar solo work courtesy of Brent, but is brought down by a more muddled melody that causes the track to lose much of its power.
The second song, "Blue Walsh", is a more reserved groove, exploring a style the band has rarely explored. Within the context of its lyrics, such as "I'm hiding the storm/The storm with the bright green glow/And I'm holding my knife/It's sure to make them leave", the groove helps create a feeling of holding strong even against your own mistakes.
The last two tracks are what truly make this release one of the band's strongest. Toe to Toes is everything you want from a Mastodon song, in their older style or their newer. The riffs pulse forward and it just crackles with energy. Then, on the titular closing track, things are brought down with some chilling and intricate acoustic guitar work. The track brims with tragic emotion and with a sense of longing, completed with an immense feeling instrumental section leading to the end, serving as an excellent send-off to a great release.
I'm exceptionally satisfied by Cold Dark Place. It's smaller size has forced Hinds, Sanders, Dailor and rhythm guitarist Bill Kelliher to approach it with razor-sharp focus, leading in turn to twenty minutes of fantastic music that is at times harrowing, epic, and among the best Mastodon has ever released.
Score: 9/10
Best Tracks: Toe to Toes, Cold Dark Place, Blue Walsh
Worst Tracks: North Side Star
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