Mastodon are a happy bunch right now. "The four of us are more proud of Crack the Skye than any other album before," exclaims vocalist and bassist Troy Sanders with a big grin on his face. As they should be…
Due out on March 24th via Reprise Records, Mastodon's fifth album, Crack the Skye, is an epic slab of progressive metal that lyrically and musically traverses the spectrum, dealing with dead Russian Czars, crossing over to the afterlife and time travel. It's Mastodon's simultaneously most experimental and infectious offering to date. The Atlanta foursome went to Hell and back to carve this tome, and Troy was very honest with Crave Online about everything his band experienced—from the trials and tribulations surrounding the album to exposing their inner souls.
Troy checked in with us from home at Atlanta on the eve of the album's release in this exclusive interview.
Crave Online: Do you feel like Crack the Skye is Mastodon's purest departure?
Troy: We always challenge ourselves to make a better album than the last. We aim to improve on our songwriting, playing ability and everything else. We've always been proud of our albums, but we were beyond satisfied with the end result this time. It's this really powerful feeling because we've done five full records, we've been together for nine years and our brotherhood is stronger than it ever has been. That's always a sign of continued growth.
Crave Online: Would you say it's the band's most personal record?
Troy: Definitely, yeah! In many ways, we all dug deeper than we have in the past—some of us more than others. We really laid it out on the table and tapped into the deepest sincerity that we have. It's very genuine. Great art is tapping into your inner self and creating something that is completely honest. It's going to make you vulnerable at times because you're putting yourself on the pedestal. At the same time, I think that's a great place to create art from, whether people like it or not. It's the most brutally honest and sincere side of your heart and soul.
Crave Online: Was that process of laying your souls out there difficult? It feels like there's a lot of pain on this record.
Troy: It's not difficult—when the time is right. If you want to deal with something that's been bottled up for 20 years, you choose whether you want to go there or not. If there's a topic that's hidden and you want to make that topic known, then you choose to do that. Speaking for the other guys, I don't think it was difficult to go there. It was more about taking a risk to go there and hoping it becomes therapeutic. We put every personal or band experience into metaphors and create a fantasy story. We're not literal. It can allow the listeners to immerse themselves into our music and our stories. The music is so open to interpretation that people can pull anything from it. I think it works well on both ends.
Crave Online: This album feels like a movie. Was that an intention?
Troy: We feel this is the purest record that we've ever done and that we had the most cohesive flow from start to finish. That's why we decided this is the record we'd have to play live from start to finish. We've always talked about doing that, but this time it was really apparent. This is the album that we can go out there and do in our entirety during our live show.
Crave Online: In terms of conjuring some of the visuals for the album, what were some of the thematic ideas that were running through your heads?
Troy: Our whole canon has been based on the four elements. This one was based around the element of ether. That was always on our brains. When you're tapping into all things above our atmosphere, the thoughts and imagery are really crucial. We were putting together all of the various topics that we were fascinated with that we wanted to incorporate into the story. It's everything: time travel, being whisked through wormholes, the possibility of tapping into a spirit world, constellations, imagining what the journey of the soul would be like after death and any and all things supernatural. It's a whole journey through time. We wanted to include all of this together to make the story work. A lot of these ideas are in two different ballparks, but they make a complete a circle with the story. The music does feel like the cinematography of a movie, and the story is like the perfect dialogue. We're really trying to get this record turned into a film. We're hoping that it comes to fruition somewhere in the near future. WBR is really fascinated with this idea and this story. We believe they're going to back it, financially and personally.
Crave Online: It's your most haunting record. The album really stays with the listener.
Troy: Well, that's a good thing [Laughs]. We found not only beautiful and spacious but slightly haunting chords to make songs around. The storyline placed on top of those chords metaphorically relates to things that have gone on with us in the past. Brann [Dailor, Drums] had a lot going on, Brent [Hinds, Vocals/Guitar] had a near death experience and we almost lost Bill [Kelliher, Guitar] last year. So, the album is very relative to us. It's a subject we tap into, and it's a subject that we're familiar with, so we can dive into that very authentically.
Crave Online: Well, the emotional spectrum comes across more clearly.
Troy: We focused more on the art of songcraft on this album than we ever did previously. We meticulously combed over every possible arrangement for each song over and over again. We tried to find the most effective arrangement possible to make every song strong. That only made the entire record bigger, better and more badass.
Crave Online: Were there any movies you were watching at the time that may have had an affect on the album?
Troy: I don't really think any one or two things in particular affected this album. We continue to be inspired by people we meet, music we hear, visuals we see and lands that we travel. I don't think it can be narrowed down to any two or three specific elements.
Crave Online: Since you've been together for so long, do you feel like you're more open to each other?
Troy: Yes, absolutely! That's one reason why I'm so proud of my dudes and we're so proud of each other. This has continued to blossom into a healthier more family-like relationship. We've always said we've been spending more time with each other than we have with our kids, wives and houses due to our crazy work ethic and traveling. It definitely lends to the fact that we are continuing to bond closer to one another. If someone wants to tap into subject matter that's more personal, we're all on the same page if we have to do that. It's about whoever has a strong, powerful thought, riff or lyrical passage. That's what we hone in on and make stronger. That comes with time. If this was our first record, I don't think it would be nearly as deep as this record is. It has to come with time. You can't pop Mastodon in the microwave and get a quick meal; it's got to slow-cook.
Crave Online: Given how literary the albums have been, would you ever want to write a book?
Troy: That would be awesome. That would require a whole different side of our energy. I wouldn't rule that out by any means. Who knows!
Crave Online: One element of Mastodon mythos, "The Elephant Man," is nowhere on Crack the Skye. Remission ended with "Elephant Man," Leviathan closed with "Joseph Merrick" and Blood Mountain had "Pendulous Skin." Is he gone from your world?
Troy: He's definitely not gone! We felt the seven songs that made the record are the tracks that made the most sense. Unfortunately, Ole Joe Merrick didn't get a nod on this album. We still have the idea that we've had for awhile of putting the past three tracks and a few new tracks on an Elephant Man EP. It would be an EP strictly dedicated to Joseph's life and his incredible story. He will return! He is not gone nor forgotten [Laughs].
