Mastadon could be the best thing metal has going these days. Certainly the best metal to come out since System of a Down. “Crack the Skye” follows some convoluted storyline about a Russian czar (I think). But the music is what’s so captivating. Mastodon rings out the metal cliches with surprises and weirdness (hence the SOAD comparison). I really want to delve more into their older albums, though. Some of the ten minute-plus songs can be tedious. Divinations is my favorite by far.