Mastodon's Crack the Skye is my favorite album of 2009 so far. While maybe not quite as fierce as 2004's Moby Dick-based opus Leviathan, the new record is grander in scope and makes up in depth and dynamic for any lost ferocity.

I was not at Coachella this weekend, but Mastodon were. They played Crack the Skye in its entirety, from the dark opening of "Oblivion" to the thrash leads that close out "The Last Baron". Watch the clip, say to yourself "Oh man, this must be great not recorded on a cell phone!", and go score yourself some Crack.