There is a Crack in the Sky

Metal is often misrepresented as glorifying the “darker” parts of life, such as death, destruction, “the devil”. If you’re a fan of heavy metal, you know we’re all just human, trying to process the world and the negative aspects of living that not all genres can easily tackle. A recent reminder of this was losing Ozzy exactly a month ago today, which shook the rock and heavy metal community around the world. As earth-shattering as that was, it was also a bittersweet reminder that he lived a fuller life than expected given his past. When I read the news about Brent Hinds’ tragic passing yesterday, I felt shockwaves rattling through me, and through the lives of millions who have come to know, love, and cherish his musical output. I wanted to write a bit on how I found Mastodon, what they mean to me and so many others, and to process this loss through the admiration I have for Brent and the band. 

If your formative years were the mid/late 2000’s like mine were, you likely heard of Mastodon through “Colony of Birchmen”. A hit single for the group from their 2006 album Blood Mountain, I first experienced the track in Rock Band 2 and came to love it after repeated listens. (Also, a quick shoutout to Harmonix for creating Guitar Hero and Rock Band and getting me into so many different genres of rock, metal, and more. Even with my Dad passing so much knowledge down to me through his music taste, it was hard to cover it all, and those games helped fill the gaps.) While I loved that single, the full album was too much for my growing brain to comprehend. After all, I had just graduated from pop-punk elementary school where Green Day and Blink-182 helped catapult me further into musical enlightenment. 

Crack the Skye released in 2009, breaking my brain even further and setting me off on a new musical trajectory of progressive metal, and metal in general. I came to love Blood Mountain and previous releases from the band, as Crack the Skye presented a more focused, concise release that led me to wanting more and more of their trademark sound. I remember my small circle of friends who also enjoyed this band, and spinning the album together are memories I’ll not soon forget. Even seeing the “Divinations” music video on MTV helped me normalize my feelings as I outgrew my Dad’s taste into heavier offerings, along with peers and classmates as I felt like an outsider to the typical path most others followed.

Back then, I was so impressed and moved by the music, I don’t believe I ever dived into the themes and concepts of Crack the Skye, which detail the loss of the drummer’s sister to suicide at 14*. The album as a whole represents the aether, a spiritual resting place when we leave our Earthly bodies behind for the unknown. Here is a quote from Brann Dailor, drummer of Mastodon, explaining the album and what it means to him: 

“My sister passed away when I was a teenager and it was awful, and there's no better way to pay tribute to a lost loved one than having an opportunity to be in a group with my friends and we make art together. Her name was Skye, so Crack the Skye means a lot of different things. For me personally, it means the moment of being told you lost someone dear to you, [that moment] is enough to crack the sky.”*

I’ve been listening to the album since I read the news on Brent, and it’s hard not to feel the eerie yet graceful musical journey this album displays, and connect it to him as well. This album was such a huge influence on me and so many others, a truly timeless release that will stand as one of the strongest metal releases of the century. The band has also entered that status from their growing discography for 20+ years, a unit that were the same four members since 2000. I am not really sure what happened to prompt the drama that occurred months prior to this, but it is hard to focus on now knowing Brent is gone, and I’d had hoped they would have the chance to make amends in time. Without that being possible now, I know the band is as shaken as we all are, and felt much deeper as they were bandmates, brothers, life-long companions that made their mark on this mortal soil. 

There is a crack in the sky. There is a hole in the ground. Somewhere in between, there is fire in our hearts and tears in our eyes of all who came to know and love Mastodon. 

“This Mortal Soil” is my favorite track from the band, the ambient guitar intro absolutely shattered my expectations of what music could be. I remember spinning it endlessly before even approaching the track, where Sanders’ and Hinds’ vocals wash in like waves, adding emphasis to the dream-like intro the guitars present. This band lives in my bones, and I’ll never forget the impact they had on me. Seeing countless other musicians, fans, and friends come to offer their own thoughts and love to Brent and the band, I know I’m not alone here. I’ll end it with a lyric from “The Last Baron”, a wonderful thirteen minute album-ender that stunned me upon first hearing it. Thank you for everything, Brent. 

Please take my hand

Please take my soul to rest

So we can always be around 

RIP Brent Hinds, 1974-2025

Written with love and ineffable sadness by Evan Lurie