Mammatus - the Coast Explodes

While the lead track on Mammatus' sophomore release is the third in their “Dragons of the Deep” series, The Coast Explodes overall is a different animal than their self titled debut.

The change, for the most part, is good on The Coast Explodes. “Dragon of the Deep Part Three (Excellent Swordfight)” and the title track carry traces of the bombastic stoner jams from the debut, but both those songs and “Pierce the Darkness” are more energetic and less inclined to form shapes through the fog of distortion. They're all less jam-like in structure and seem more like thought-out compositions (and in the case of “The Coast Explodes,” an extremely well conceived one).

There are two potential deal-breakers on the album, though. One are the vocals, which have that same sort of nasally whine as Dead Meadow. Personally, I think they work well – they add another level of psychedelia. The second is “The Changing Wind,” which sounds like some sort of faux traditional Japanese folk song. It seems woefully out of place on the album, more so when you take into consideration the extra noises added for effect (were those dolphins I heard?).

If “The Changing Wind” is the band having a goof, I suppose they deserve it, for the rest of The Coast Explodes is impressive work. An excellent follow-up.



Tracklist:
1. Dragon Of The Deep Part Three (Excellent Swordfight)
2. Pierce The Darkness
3. The Changing Wind
4. The Coast Explodes

Link: the Coast Explodes