Mastodon - Colony of Birchmen

Hunting for ogres and dwarves is the name of the game as these Atlantan riff resurrectors tear through the woods, gargling incomprehensibly in a southern drawl and spouting middle earth fantasy. The artistry in the fretwork is cunning, complicated and controlled, yet this is still as accessible as metal (sans sugar coating) gets. Josh Homme even pops in for a cameo to provide his own melodious flavour, which, considering his recent output, is a surprise addition on a tune that packs as weighty a punch as this. Ding, ding, and the bogus shit heap of Bullet For My Chemical Valen-prophet finally hits the canvas. [Johnny Langlands]