What can I say for Mastodon!!! After their second full-length album "Leviathan" in August 2004, which received dithyrambic critics and made the band very popular, Mastodon are considered as one of the most talented bands in heavy scene. And this is because of their difficult, complex and characteristic technical manner of playing by exteriorizing their real instincts and passions.

"Crack The Skye" is their fourth album recorded at Southern Tracks Studio of Atlanta and is produced by Brendan O'Brien (Velvet Revolver, Rage Against the Machine, Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam και Stone Temple Pilots). It contains 7 tracks and the 4^th one has 4 parts (1-Usurper, 2-Escape, 3-Martyr, 4-Spiral) labeled by Reprise Records. The tracks have the characteristic Mastodon's sound except from the 1^st one (it sounds more like Amorphis) and it is an amalgamation of classic metal, hard rock, progressive and thrash technical elements enriched by clear and melodic parts by Troy Sanders and Bill Kelliher with less brutal sound. Scott Kelly has returned as a guest musician on the title-track. Lyrics explore topics such as astral travel, wormholes and Stephen Hawking's theories, while there is no relation to Charist Russia of Grigory Rasputin (because of a drawing of him featured in the band's merchandise). The artwork is signed again by Paul Romano (Trivium, Godflesh). The album has been announced for a March 24 2009 release and it will also be available in a limited  CD/DVD edition. The second track "Divinations"(check the incredible video) and "The Czar" are also the promotional tracks.

The truth is that Mastodon is a band with a maximum range and I expected more from this album (especially after the history that 'Leviathan' has written). "Crack The Skye" is more commercial and that's the point. Brann Dailor said that the album is more 'focused"and "everything feels creepier and spaced out..." and I agree with him. We'll see them ilive in Athens, Greece on June 30 at Rockwave Festival...See you all there...