This is easily Mastodon's most focus work to date. It is a 7 song epic about astral travel, Czars and a paraplegic. Without a doubt it will be 2009's Metal Album of the Year and should be considered for Best Album of the Year regardless of class. Songs such as Oblivion and Divinations would be the best tracks of most other metal albums, but The Czar and The Last Baron, take the cake on this one. Both tracks clock in at over nine and thirteen minutes and are nothing short of epic. Troy's vocals and bass playing are as on point as ever, Brann is simply a beast behind the kit and Brent and Bill are mindblowing on guitar. I didn't think that Leviathan would be topped, and while Blood Mountain was close, it didn't top it, but Crack the Skye absolutely does. If you consider yourself a true fan of metal, prog rock or even rock in general, this is an absolute must.
What's great about it: easily going to be 2009's Metal Album of the Year