Figured there was a following here (and not to really not derail the Pearl Jam thread further)
I've been listening to the album for about a week or so (the band streamed it on their myspace page), and as of now, this is probably my early album of the year contender. Its really mellow at times with about 95% clean singing. but when the heavier/fast parts come in, you really feal like headbanging along. the mellow parts also give me somewhat almost a modern day Pink Floyd feeling, maybe its just me.
Here's the video for Dvinations for those that maybe haven't heard of them
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The album is 9.99 at Best Buy this week and with the Special Edition version 11.99, which has a bonus dvd, with a making of documentary on the album, and track by track commentary, which is very entertaining to listen too.

And here are the tour dates for the band (where they are also playing 'crack the skye' in its entirtey

Apr. 10 - Workplay Theater - Birmingham, AL
Apr. 11 - House of Blues - New Orleans, LA
Apr. 13 - Granada Theater - Lawrence, KS
Apr. 14 - Fox Theatre - Boulder, CO
Apr. 16 - Martini Ranch - Phoenix, AZ
Apr. 18 - Coachella - Indio, CA
Apr. 19 - Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA
Apr. 21 - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
Apr. 22 - Neumo's - Seattle, WA
Apr. 23 - Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, BC
Apr. 24 - MacEwen Ballroom - Calgary, AB
Apr. 25 - Starlite Ballroom - Edmonton, AB
Apr. 26 - The Odeon - Saskatoon, SK
Apr. 28 - The Garrick - Winnipeg, MB
Apr. 29 - Fine Line Music Hall - Minneapolis, MN
Apr. 30 - Metro - Chicago, IL
May 01 - Crofoot Ballroom - Pontiac, MI
May 02 - Beachland Ballroom - Cleveland, OH
May 04 - Le National - Montreal, QC
May 05 - Opera House - Toronto, ON
May 07 - House of Blues - Boston, MA
May 08 - TLA - Philadelphia, PA
May 09 - Fillmore @ Irving Plaza - New York, NY
May 10 - Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY
May 12 - 9:30 Club - Washington DC
May 13 - Cat's Cradle - Carbarro, NC
May 14 - Orange Peel - Ashville, NC
May 15 - Center Stage - Atlanta, GA

I don't follow the band enough to know if they're featuring a different lead vocalist on this one or if he's just trying to sound... different, but it really sours what enjoyment I'd hoped to get out of the album. There's something meandering and dull about quite a few of the songs, too, and I've found myself skipping past a number of them. Not a fan of the direction they went in here, to be honest.

I bought it for 9.98 at Target on Tuesday and I wish I would've spent $2 more to get the deluxe at BB, but I didn't go there until later and I'd already opened the standard edition. I've only listened to it once so far, but I enjoyed it. I like clean vocals better than screaming, though. The only other Mastodon CD I've heard and own is the previous one, Blood Mountain. I've read that they scream a lot on the previous albums and I thought I wouldn't like them as much. On the first listen of Crack The Skye, the track that stood out for me was The Czar. I really liked the guitar work in that song.

From this review:

And this one:

I'm not a superfan, but I like what I've heard (their previous two albums) and will give their new album a listen today.

for as long as i can remember, they've had 3 members sharing the vocals. and this album sounds just like their previous efforts so i'm not sure what you mean when you say 'direction they went'. it's a great album and i've listened to it at least 10 times already.

I'm not a huge fan of theirs but I intend to check this one out based on the clips I've heard.

I love this band...seen then about 5 times now. Have all the deluxe editions (including this one).

It will make it into my regular rotation Monday, but the clips do sound awesome!

Hadn't listened to this band prior to now, aside from Colony of Birchmen which plays on the radio from time to time, but I picked up this and Blood Mountain Tuesday. Like the CD quite a bit, especially the first track.

I'm looking forward to this, but I'm waiting for the vinyl, which comes out on Record Store Day (April 18th, I believe?).

Keep listening to that album, it's definitely a grower.

Not so sure about this new one. Their last two albums are up there with my favorite albums of any genre, this new one is decidedly more bland-sounding. I'll give it a chance, though.

Edit:

As expected, the more I listen to it, the more I like it. It definitely has a lot more straight up hard rock on it than any of their other albums, but the songs are all really good.

Killer song and video.

Is that really the way that they spelled "sky"?

From one of the reviews that I read (or maybe it was the Sound Opinions podcast), Skye was the drummer's sister and she killed herself when she was 14.

correct.

Ok. That makes sense.

Wow, that's really sad news.

I liked too that the making of the album documentary, was extensive and really went into the process of making the album (its close to an hour long), and that it isn't just 10 min fluff piece of the band goofing off in the studio, like alot of bonus dvd's seem to be.

Also, i really like that little math metal piece in "the Last Baron"

Also in the documentary, they mentioned that Brent got the crap beat out of him at the mtv awards 2 years ago, anyone know the full story?

because of this thread, I'm going to buy this album.
Haven't listed to anything by Mastodon other than Leviathan.

Interesting interviews with Dailor and Hinds about the album:
http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/g...ent?oid=742524

Long story short, it's about both Dailor's sister and Hinds' fighting-induced coma in 2007.

All I know is that Brent was drunk. And Shavo from System of a Down and some other dudes kicked his ass pretty bad.

I actually meant the first song on the new album. But no worries, I plan to give both albums plenty of listening time.

I hate that the only southern California date is at Coachella. Last time I saw them was in October 07' opening for Queens.

Agreed. I don't want to go bake out in 120 degree heat with a bunch of indie queers to see a set.

This album has grown on me like a fungus over the past week. I think it's such a bizarre piece of music and I can't get enough. They really put on their space helmets for this one. I've listened to it about 20 times so far, and each time I discover something new.

My favorite track is currently "Crack the Skye". It's so mind-numblingly powerful and crushing. 2nd would be "The Czar", a mammoth, psychedelic track with a badass mellotron.

I got the Limited Edition "Tunnel Book" and it's probably the best packaging I've ever seen for a single album.

long time mastodon fan - i like it. having fun listening to the non-metal production. i like albums that make you think.

I really enjoyed their first full length but kinda lost track of them after Leviathan... Crack the Skye is amazing. Got my cd.dvd from amazon this morning.

I was a little hesitant at first knowing that they were moving into a more mainstream straight forward rock direction, but after a few listens it is growing on me and I respect them for continuing to evolve as a band. Can't wait to see them in Cleveland with INTRONAUT!!!

They are doing mostly small clubs on this tour, I'm sure they'll do another jaunt later on this year after they hit all the big festivals this summer around the globe.

I purchased the album on iTunes and got a bonus "score" copy that has all the songs without vocals, VERY COOL! You really get to hear all the fine instrumental details that make this such a strong record...