Mastodon - Divinations [Single]
 

Mastodon are an Atlanta-based, globally-revered hard rock band. On January 26th 2009 they released their new single "Divinations" from their highly anticipated new studio album "Crack the Skye". Having caught and been greatly disappointed by Mastodon's live performance supporting Tool in Cardiff CIA I must admit I did not hold up much hope for this single as I had assumed it would mimic the poor live performance I saw that fateful day. Luckily for me, in this instance I was wrong!

Divinations starts off as it means to go on beginning with an evil banjo riff that then gets mimicked by guitar with super fast 16th hi-hats before breaking into a full band musical frenzy involving stop starting guitars running alongside bouncy ride cymbals and crazy drum rolls! [Editor: Phew what a mouthful!] The verse vocals are reminiscent of Mastodon's genre i.e. shouting, screamy vocals coupled with highly effected singing. The chorus [which I was not expecting from Mastodon] is very catchy and is vocally nice and melodic and is, in fact, a complete contrast to the verse vocals. The chorus vocal style and melody is very reminiscent of early Funeral for a Friend. This couple with the overall quality of the chorus really helps sell Divinations to me.

What's nice about Divinations is it isn't quite metal, or thrash and has a very Southern Hard Rock feel to it and is always upbeat, and always driving. Musically it is very well played with all band members playing their parts impecably. I am particularly fond of the rip roaring solo in the middle which is nice to hear. Too many bands these days forget the importance of a solo in a heavy rock song. Divinations ends with a nice, heavy beatdown before quickly fading out and being over.

So I listen again, and again. The more times I hear Divinations, the more I like and enjoy listening to it. My only gripe comes fomr a production standpoint and is with regards to the kick drum, which in this genre of music [hard rock, metal, souther rock] is ultra important. The kick drum is mixed like a heartbeat would sound if you were to put your ear on someones chest whilst being at a concert! If the kick drum had pounded more in the chorus it would really have driven home the change from off beat verse, to upbeat chorus to beatdown post chorus.

Divinations is a clear indication that Mastodon's new album "Crack The Skye" is likely to be very good and well worth a purchase. This is coming from someone that, prior to hearing this song was not impressed with Mastodon at all. Sounds to me like Mastodon must be doing something right these days!