Mastodon - Crack The Skye

Crack the Skye is the fourth studio album from American heavy metal band Mastodon, released in March 2009 via Reprise Records.

This album represents the element of aether, which is represented by the souls and spirits of all things, a theme closely related to the context of the album. Because the elements of fire, water and earth have already represented by the band's first three albums Remission, Leviathan and Blood Mountain, respectively, the element of air is the only classical element which has yet to be represented by a Mastodon album, as their follow-up studio albums The Hunter and Once More 'Round The Sun do not represent an element, nor are they concept albums.

Crack the Skye is the first studio album to feature drummer Brann Dailor as the band's third lead vocalist.

Drummer Brann Dailor described the album as more "focused" than its predecessor, Blood Mountain: "Maybe there was a deeper heart to this record that needed more exploring… We got more involved with feeling the vibe of the record and everything feels more creepy and spaced out and something special is going on." Dailor has also said that "Crack the Skye" is meant as an homage to his sister, Skye Dailor, who committed suicide at age 14.

Paul Romano, who had done all of Mastodon's album artwork to that point, created the art for Crack the Skye. The piece features various ethereal images tied in closely with the overall concept of the record. 

Initial critical response to Crack the Skye was very positive. At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received a score of 82, based on 29 reviews, indicating "Universal Acclaim." Time Magazine placed "Crack the Skye" at #3 on its "Top 10 Albums of 2009" list, and Rock Sound named it their Album of the Year for 2009. In addition, Spin Magazine listed it as the 17th best album of the year. Rhapsody called it the 7th best album of 2009.

The album was also voted the #1 Album of 2009 by Metal Hammer's critics and contributors.

The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200, selling 41,000 copies in its first week. In Australia, the album debuted at number 19 and reached number 32 on the UK Albums charts. It had sold 200,000 copies in the US as of September 2010, making it one of their highest selling albums to date.

Check out a couple of tracks from the album:  Divinations, Crack the Skye and Oblivion.

This LP Vinyl Record is Reissued by Reprise Records in April 2014 and was pressed in Europe.