{"id":1479,"date":"2025-03-20T21:16:47","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T14:16:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ethoscollective.live\/?p=1479"},"modified":"2025-07-28T11:24:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T04:24:12","slug":"mastodon-hushed-grim-2021-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ethoscollective.live\/vi\/album-review\/mastodon-hushed-grim-2021-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Mastodon \u2013 Hushed & Grim [2021]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For nearly two decades, Mastodon<\/strong> has been redefining heavy music, shifting between sludge, prog, and metal with effortless precision. Their latest album, Hushed and Grim<\/em>, stands as their most expansive and emotionally charged effort to date. A sprawling double album drenched in grief, introspection, and sonic experimentation, it sees the band diving deeper into mood and atmosphere while still delivering the crushing weight they\u2019re known for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Monument to Loss and Reflection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Written in the wake of the passing of longtime manager and close friend Nick John, Hushed and Grim<\/em> is a meditation on loss, mortality, and acceptance. The sorrow is palpable from the very first moments of “Pain With an Anchor”<\/strong>, where brooding melodies collide with thunderous drumming. Across its nearly 90-minute runtime, the album unfolds like a journey through the stages of grief, shifting between somber contemplation and cathartic heaviness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The album cover\u2014featuring an eerie, gnarled tree intertwined with ghostly faces\u2014mirrors the music\u2019s emotional weight. This is not a quick, riff-driven record; it’s a slow-burning exploration of sorrow, built on layered textures and deep, hypnotic grooves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mastodon at Their Most Expansive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Musically, Hushed and Grim<\/em> sees Mastodon<\/strong> pushing further into progressive rock territory without abandoning their heavier roots. Tracks like “The Crux”<\/strong> and “Sickle and Peace”<\/strong> showcase their signature interplay of intricate guitar work and colossal rhythms, while “More Than I Could Chew”<\/strong> harkens back to their sludge-metal origins, dripping with thick, distorted riffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, this isn\u2019t just an album of brute force. Songs like “Had It All”<\/strong> and “Skeleton of Splendor”<\/strong> bring a more introspective, almost Floydian feel, where Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher\u2019s guitar work stretches into haunting, psychedelic territory. Meanwhile, Brann Dailor’s<\/strong> drumming remains as dynamic as ever\u2014whether delivering precise, jazz-influenced fills or sheer percussive fury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Showcase of Vocal Diversity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of Mastodon\u2019s greatest strengths has always been their three-pronged vocal attack, and Hushed and Grim<\/em> is no exception. Troy Sanders<\/strong>, Brent Hinds<\/strong>, and Brann Dailor<\/strong> all trade off vocal duties, each bringing a different emotional texture to the album.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dailor, in particular, takes center stage on many tracks, his soaring clean vocals adding a sense of melancholic grandeur to songs like “Teardrinker”<\/strong> and “The Beast”<\/strong>. Sanders\u2019 gruff, commanding voice still cuts through on heavier moments, while Hinds injects raw emotion into his bluesy, Southern-tinged delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This dynamic makes Hushed and Grim<\/em> feel vast and unpredictable, as each vocalist brings something unique to the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balancing Heavy and Hypnotic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While Mastodon has never shied away from long-form songwriting, Hushed and Grim<\/em> takes their ambition to new heights. The album\u2019s length may be daunting to some, but its ebb and flow keep things compelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Songs like “Savage Lands”<\/strong> and “Pushing the Tides”<\/strong> deliver the aggression longtime fans crave, while “Eyes of Serpents”<\/strong> and “Dagger”<\/strong> lean into moody, atmospheric soundscapes. There\u2019s a clear sense of progression throughout, with each track serving as another step in a deeply personal narrative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For fans of Crack the Skye<\/strong>, this album\u2019s emphasis on texture and melody will feel like a spiritual successor, though with a heavier emotional weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Verdict<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hushed and Grim<\/em> is Mastodon\u2019s<\/strong> most ambitious and emotionally resonant record yet. It\u2019s a vast, immersive listen\u2014one that rewards patience and repeated spins. While some may find its length overwhelming, those willing to dive in will find an album rich in depth, texture, and feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A tribute to loss and resilience, Hushed and Grim<\/em> stands as one of the band\u2019s most profound works\u2014a record that doesn\u2019t just demand to be heard, but felt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rating: 9\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n