Review by Dom Vigil
Following the March release of their epic full length, Emperor Of Sand, Mastodon have returned once more to deliver the haunting and moody Cold Dark Place just in time for autumn. The four song EP was recorded while the band was in the studio for Once More ‘Round The Sun and Emperor Of Sand and gives listeners yet another look into Mastodon’s vast collection of music.
“North Side Star” opens the EP with quite possibly some of the band’s strongest vocal harmonies alongside rich acoustic guitar. The theatrical opener quickly transports you back into Mastodon’s world and feels a bit dark, as the EP’s title suggests. Picking up the pace before the end, “North Side Star” is easily one of the most versatile songs on the EP, but that’s not to say that the three that follow aren’t well worth listening to either.
Although Cold Dark Place is an EP, it doesn’t feel short by any means. These haunting songs are easy to fall into, picking up right where Emperor Of Sand left off. Where “North Side Star” is very guitar heavy, the ambient “Blue Walsh” focuses primarily on strong drums, catchy bass and echoey vocals. “Toe To Toes” then keeps things moving forward with relentless drumming and high energy guitar work.
The title track then provides listeners with a dark and ominous closer, something to keep them hanging on for more. Carried by acoustic guitar and deep vocals, “Cold Dark Place” almost feels like a darker reflection of “North Side Star” making the short EP still feel well rounded. Even though these four songs were recorded separately, they flow perfectly together, giving fans something new to chew on until the next chapter.
LISTEN TO: “North Side Star”
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