Mastodon - Crack the Sky | Is a Masterpiece … Except ONE Song?? (Full Album Discussion)

Ryan welcomes first time guest co-host Joe to the 'The Worst of the Best' podcast for a full breakdown of Mastodon’s 2009 prog-metal masterpiece, Crack the Skye. Ryan went in completely blind, zero Mastodon songs ever heard and came out obsessed. Joe, a longtime fan with personal ties to the band’s Rochester roots, explains why this concept album about astral projection, Rasputin, coma recovery, and profound loss hits so hard.

They go track by track, sharing favorite riffs, solos, vocal moments, and the heartbreaking real life stories behind the songs (including the devastating loss that inspired the title track). Expect deep dives into the ethereal themes, blazing guitar work, shifting time signatures, and those unforgettable hooks, plus the big reveal: each host secretly picks their “worst” song on an otherwise near-perfect album.

If you love prog metal, concept albums, or just great music conversation, this one’s for you. Have you heard Crack the Skye? What’s YOUR least favorite track on it?

0:00 – Intro & how the Worst of the Best format works
0:27 – Joe joins, why he picked Mastodon & Crack the Skye
3:04 – Album background & Ryan’s blind experience
14:52 – Track 1: Oblivion (epic build & layered chorus)
30:43 – Track 2: Divinations (Viking spirit & catchy hooks)
39:07 – Track 3: Quintessence (dreamy psychedelia)
45:54 – Track 4: The Czar (10-minute suite & massive solo)
1:00:10 – Track 5: Ghost of Karelia (sludgy Troy spotlight)
1:04:26 – Track 6: Crack the Skye (heartbreaking plea)
1:14:26 – Track 7: The Last Baron (13-minute grand finale)
1:22:16 – Favorite moments & overall thoughts
1:25:23 – The big “worst song” reveals
1:31:13 – Wrap-up & where to find Joe’s podcast

Hit LIKE if Crack the Skye is a masterpiece, subscribe for more Worst of the Best episodes, and comment your own ranking!

Check out Joe on All Apologies Podcast: allapologiespodcast.com

#Mastodon #CrackTheSkye #ProgMetal #MastodonReaction #WorstOfTheBest #MetalPodcast #ConceptAlbum #ProgRock #HeavyMetal #AlbumBreakdown #MastodonAlbum #BrentHinds #ProgMetalReaction #MetalDiscussion #RockPodcast

mastodon, crack the skye, mastodon reaction, prog metal, mastodon album, crack the skye reaction, worst of the best, metal podcast, prog rock, concept album, mastodon discussion, brent hinds, mastodon 2009, heavy metal reaction, album breakdown, prog metal reaction, mastodon full album, metal discussion, rock podcast, mastodon czar, oblivion mastodon, divinations mastodon