Mastodon – Once More ‘Round The Sun – CD (Photo Credit: Stone/Metal Odyssey)
It’s a bit past midnight, EST, here in Southwest Ohio, as I write this. I became so flustered from watching the various cable news networks that I’ve decided to put together Some Metal and Rock ‘N Roll Thoughts; Connecticut Edition Part Two. With Metal Odyssey, my mind, ears and eyes don’t have to be reminded of the enormity of sadness and war that’s taking place in our world today. Metal Odyssey is an escape, for music fans everywhere.
With that said, even if you don’t believe in a god, take the time to at least wish for a better world; even the smallest acts of kindness can go a long, long way. Try extending a kind act upon a stranger tomorrow and let the fever of goodwill spread. I’m not trying to be Preacher Stone here, I’m just being human. Metal be thy name – Stone.
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Now, onto another snapshot of my trip to Connecticut, which took place the last week of June 2014. If there ever was a theme during my trip back to Connecticut, it was to cherish the small joys of life. Enjoy!
The photo (at top of post) of Mastodon’s new CD, Once More ‘Round The Sun, depicts the actual CD I bought on my trip to Canton, Connecticut. I bought this CD at Best Buy and it was on sale for $9.99. I really, really dig Mastodon and I highly recommend their new CD. Mastodon is one of those bands that doesn’t sound like anyone else. The artwork on the CD cover is a FAR OUT TRIP man! Whoa.
Yes, there is a Best Buy just about everywhere! The above photo I took before I entered this Best Buy store in Canton, Connecticut; just a few minutes away from where my father lives. A very clean and organized Best Buy it is, probably the cleanest Best Buy store I’ve ever been in. Truthfully. Whoa.
I stayed with my father on this trip and cherished every moment I shared with him. We both shared a TON of laughs together… good times, indeed. We both gabbed away with each other, for certain. That is my father, pictured above. He’s a Metalhead, a voluminous book of knowledge and now roots for the Ohio State Buckeyes Football program! Love you dad! Whoa.
My father and I went out to eat together just one time, on my visit to Connecticut. The eatery we went to was George’s Pizza & Restaurant, located in a (not so large) town called Unionville. A clean environment, pleasant waitress and good food made us both happy. That’s the meatball grinder I ordered, pictured above. My dad ordered the same, with Bud Lights as our drinks. Neither one of us knew that the meatball grinder came as TWO 12 inch portions! We both could only eat half! Metal be thy name!
I definitely have enough photos and small stories left to deliver a third installment of Some Metal and Rock ‘N Roll Thoughts; Connecticut Edition. If you’ve missed the first edition, just click on the link below! Whoa! Thanks a Metal ton for visiting and reading my blab. – Stone
Some Metal and Rock ‘N Roll Thoughts; Connecticut Edition – Tuesday, July 15th, 2014
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LONG LIVE MY DAD.
LONG LIVE CONNECTICUT.
LONG LIVE MEATBALL GRINDERS & BEER.
LONG LIVE MASTODON.
Stone.
I have been reading “professionally paid” music critic reviews about the newest release from Mastodon – “Crack The Skye” – the majority of them are not even worth discussing or repeating. I dig the new Mastodon album, simply put it rocks. For Metal sakes, anyone who knows Metal, should know and/or understand that Mastodon is and always has been a Progressive Metal band. With the Progressive Metal bands, you never know exactly what you are going to get with the next album. (To solidify my point, just look at Rush, Dream Theater and Queensryche, these bands have always experimented musically). So what, big deal, so the new Mastodon album is not as heavy as their last release “Blood Mountain” – give me a Metal break.
The Metal musical “escape” I feel and hear while listening to “Crack The Skye” is cool for me. The vocals are still heavy, the guitar leads are still heavy, and the rhythm section is the farthest thing musically from 1970’s Hard Rock as you can possibly get. This album was not created in 1977, this Metal is happening now. Sure, there are plenty of synthetic sounds applied to “Crack The Skye,” that is what makes this album progressive. The synthetic interludes and backdrops along with the lyrics are why I call “Crack The Skye” a Metal journey. Mastodon did not provide here, a “rip and tear – let it all loose, heavy frenzy” – if I or any other true Metal fan wants that, heck, I will listen to a Metal band that is supposed to play that way. Suffice to say, in my Metal opinion, Mastodon has created a Progressive Metal gem. Paid and uninformed music critics can call this new album from Mastodon anything they want. The sole reason why I live for Metal music in the first place, is due to it’s diversity with all of the Metal genres. At the end of the day, when you break it all down, musically, Metal will always be… Metal. 
I really give praise to the vocals, musicianship, song writing and lyrics on “Crack The Skye” – do I find any flaws? Nope. I could never write or play Metal music this darn good. I recommend to all Mastodon and Metal fans across the globe to chase this album down, play it, enjoy it. Rock out to it. Jump onto “Crack The Skye” and experience the Progressive Metal journey that Mastodon created. Now, just because I want to, here is a roll call of the fine Metal musicians that are Mastodon: Brann Dailor (drums, vocals & percussion), Brent Hinds (lead guitar, vocals & banjo), Bill Kelliher (guitar) and Troy Sanders (bass, vocals & bass synth).
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