Emperor of Sand
by Mastodon
  • Record Label: Reprise
  • Release Date: Mar 31, 2017
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 76 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 64 out of 76
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 76
  3. Negative: 6 out of 76
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  1. PapaEmeritus
    May 9, 2017
    6
    My least favorite album of theirs. Every song seems like one that just barely didn't make it on any of their other albums. Also, it's too derivative...of their own music. It sounds like they are now stuck in a rut.
  2. Palinodia
    May 5, 2017
    6
    The album is not bad, but its not good either. In my opinion its another try for a ''crack the skye'' album success. They try to sound proggy, aggressive and emotional together. I like the focus on their vocals and especially Bran's voice is again perfect, the melodies are wonderful, those weird sounds that connect melodies throughout their songs are well done, but still this album needsThe album is not bad, but its not good either. In my opinion its another try for a ''crack the skye'' album success. They try to sound proggy, aggressive and emotional together. I like the focus on their vocals and especially Bran's voice is again perfect, the melodies are wonderful, those weird sounds that connect melodies throughout their songs are well done, but still this album needs more time. More time on the composition, MORE time on mixing and more time to think outside of the box and blew our minds again as ''crack'' did. I also can recognise some well produced songs like ''Sultan's Curse'', ''Streambreather'' and ''Jaguar God''.… Expand
  3. DavidWasHere
    Oct 9, 2017
    6
    While I would never say a band "sold out" or hate an album from a metal group that's going for a more accessible sound, I'm not going to like this new Mastodon album rubbed me the wrong way. A lot of the band's trademark sludge-meets-progressive metal sound is here and is as harsh and exhilarating as ever, there are a ton of spots that sound like they are trying for a softer alt-metalWhile I would never say a band "sold out" or hate an album from a metal group that's going for a more accessible sound, I'm not going to like this new Mastodon album rubbed me the wrong way. A lot of the band's trademark sludge-meets-progressive metal sound is here and is as harsh and exhilarating as ever, there are a ton of spots that sound like they are trying for a softer alt-metal sound. Like Show Yourself has vocals that wouldn't be out of place on a 90s grunge album, Ancient Kingdom concludes with this mix of hard rock and orchestral music that would be out of place on My Chemical Romance's the Black Parade (and no I am not kidding on that analogy), to the super bland ballad closer Jaguar God that is a blatant and shameless rip-off of Metallica's Nothing Even Matters before devolving into a hodgepodge of different styles and sounds that's more choppy than pleasing, and Precious Stones has these Queens of the Stone Age riffs mixed with what kind of sounds like Foo Fighters vocal inflections. And speaking of vocals, the goofy deep voice yet clean singing on Word of the Wise is just down right hilarious for all the wrong reasons! That's not to say this more accessible sound is terrible on all the songs here, Roots Remain is still powerful even with a radio friendly sound for the hard rock stations.

    I know Mastodon is making more accessible records for non-metalheads, and I enjoy albums like the Hunter and Once More 'Round the Sun as much as I enjoy albums like Leviathan and Crack the Skye. However here I feel the band is at an identity crisis, mixing their trademark sound with a style of another band or musical ideas, but unfortunately never panning out. It's certainly not bad! In fact in a few years, I could see this album growing on me. Mastodon are still a talented band and there is still a ton of mosh ready thrashers here and there. But in the end, it's just not really doing it for me.    … Expand
  4. Music_Observer
    May 14, 2017
    6
    Without a compelling concept or interesting presentation, this is simply another example of a metal band going after the same exact listeners who crave a specific amount of artificial power, with only the album’s finale showing the amount of bravery and creativity that the rest of the work needed. My Score: 103/180 (Okay) = 5.7/10

Awards & Rankings

65
#65 Most Discussed Album of 2017
98
#98 Most Shared Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Drowned In Sound
    Apr 19, 2017
    80
    Emperor of Sand, it seems, is a confident and timely step in the right direction. A balanced and well measured offering that might not revolutionise the heavy music landscape just yet, but positions them very well indeed for future greatness.
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  2. Magnet
    Apr 14, 2017
    70
    Emperor is solid, dexterously played hard rock from a band that used to crush listener skulls. [No. 141, p.59]
  3. Punknews.org (Staff)
    Apr 10, 2017
    70
    Working again with producer Brendan O’Brien, Mastodon maintains their polished technical expertise. The album is clean but not scrubbed of feeling.
    Read full review
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