Album_NN1 Review_NN1 :_: 'Crack_VV0 the_AT Skye'_NP1 Mastodon_NP1 Crack_VV0 the_AT Skye_NP1 ,_, "_" the_AT fourth_MD studio_NN1 full-length_RR from_II Atlanta-based_JJ doom_NN1 merchants_NN2 Mastodon_NP1 ,_, is_VBZ supposed_JJ to_TO be_VBI the_AT album_NN1 that_CST will_VM expand_VVI the_AT band_NN1 's_GE fanbase_NN1 beyond_II its_APPGE novel_NN1 ,_, loosely_RR stitched_VVN coalition_NN1 of_IO metalheads_NN2 ,_, prog_VV0 rock_NN1 fans_NN2 and_CC cool_JJ kids_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB it_PPH1 's_VBZ tough_JJ to_TO imagine_VVI the_AT magisterial_JJ "_" Skye_NP1 "_" having_VHG the_AT mainstream_JJ impact_NN1 of_IO discs_NN2 from_II Queens_NN2 of_IO the_AT Stone_NN1 Age_NN1 or_CC even_RR the_AT Mars_NP1 Volta_NP1 ,_, the_AT band_NN1 's_GE closest_JJT big-name_JJ analogues_NN2 :_: It_PPH1 's_VBZ too_RG brainy_JJ ,_, too_RG lumbering_JJ ,_, too_RG stubbornly_RR interested_JJ in_II its_APPGE own_DA peculiar_JJ internal_JJ workings_NN2 ,_, to_TO concern_VVI itself_PPX1 with_IW obvious_JJ hooks_NN2 or_CC bite-size_JJ riffs_NN2 ._. 
Mastodon_NP1 's_GE usual_JJ preoccupations_NN2 are_VBR everywhere_RL in_II evidence_NN1 :_: intricate_JJ melodies_NN2 ,_, stabby_JJ guitars_NN2 ,_, interconnected_VVD ,_, needlessly_RR obtuse_JJ lyrics_NN2 and_CC shape-shifting_JJ vocals_NN2 (_( especially_RR those_DD2 from_II guitarist/co-lead_NN1 singer_NN1 Brent_NP1 Hinds_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS increasingly_RR sounds_VVZ like_II Ozzy_NP1 Osbourne_NP1 with_IW a_AT1 cold_JJ )_) ._. 
More_RGR muted_JJ and_CC noodle-y_NN1 than_CSN past_II Mastodon_NP1 offerings_NN2 ,_, "_" Skye_NP1 "_" is_VBZ buoyed_VVN by_II two_MC phenomenal_JJ ,_, and_CC phenomenally_RR outsize_JJ ,_, tracks_NN2 :_: the_AT record-ending_JJ shred-athon_NN1 "_" The_AT Last_MD Baron_NN1 "_" and_CC "_" The_AT Czar_NN1 ,_, "_" an_AT1 ambitious_JJ ,_, stupendous_JJ four-song_JJ suite_NN1 that_CST manages_VVZ to_TO evoke_VVI everything_PN1 from_II Iron_NN1 Maiden_NN1 to_II avant-jazz_NN1 in_II 10_MC Olympian_JJ ,_, whiplash_NN1 minutes_NNT2 ._. 
Mastodon_NP1 's_GE long-standing_JJ fondness_NN1 for_IF ponderous_JJ mythology_NN1 threatens_VVZ to_TO overwhelm_VVI the_AT disc_NN1 's_GE regular-scale_JJ tracks_NN2 ._. 
"_" Skye_NP1 "_" examines_VVZ death_NN1 ,_, time_NNT1 travel_NN1 and_CC Rasputin_NP1 's_GE misadventures_NN2 in_II czarist_NN1 Russia_NP1 ._. 
"_" Divinations_NN2 ,_, "_" the_AT disc_NN1 's_GE most_RGT inscrutable_JJ track_NN1 ,_, makes_VVZ an_AT1 attempt_NN1 at_II soaring_JJ imagery_NN1 but_CCB winds_VVZ up_RP with_IW a_AT1 grave_JJ mix_NN1 of_IO stoner_NN1 logic_NN1 and_CC beginner_NN1 's_GE physics_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 's_VBZ just_RR about_II the_AT only_JJ time_NNT1 the_AT band_NN1 's_GE ambitions_NN2 exceed_VV0 its_APPGE grasp_NN1 ._. 
