Medium Rarities
Compilation album by
Mastodon
ReleasedSeptember 11, 2020
GenreProgressive metal, progressive rock
Length70:46
LabelReprise
Mastodon chronology
Cold Dark Place
(2017) 		Medium Rarities
(2020) 		Hushed and Grim
(2021)
Singles from Medium Rarities
  1. "Fallen Torches"
    Released: July 31, 2020

Medium Rarities is a compilation album by American metal band Mastodon. It was released digitally and on limited edition vinyl on September 11, 2020 via Reprise Records. The album is a collection of rare tracks that include covers, instrumental versions of previous songs, and live recordings. Its opening track, a new song titled "Fallen Torches", was released on July 31, 2020.[1][2][3] The song features Scott Kelly from Neurosis for his final guest appearance with Mastodon before his withdrawal from the public eye that was not announced until August 2022.[4][5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Kerrang![6]
Louder[7]

In a positive review, Kerrang! stated the album "certainly underlines the band’s extraordinary ability to shape-shift" and highlighted the song "Fallen Torches" as a "heroic attempt to salvage 2020 via monolithic riffs and an outro thunderous enough to crack planets."[6]

Track listing

No.TitleAdditional informationLength
1."Fallen Torches" 4:22
2."A Commotion" (Feist cover)A-side from Feistodon split single4:14
3."Asleep in the Deep" (instrumental)B-side from "Asleep in the Deep" single6:12
4."Capillarian Crest" (live)B-side from "The Wolf Is Loose" single4:20
5."A Spoonful Weighs a Ton" (The Flaming Lips cover)B-side from The Flaming Lips / Mastodon split single3:27
6."Toe to Toes" (instrumental)B-side from "Toe to Toes" single4:28
7."Circle of Cysquatch" (live)Alternate B-side from "The Wolf Is Loose" single3:15
8."Atlanta"From the Adult Swim singles collection3:25
9."Jaguar God" (instrumental) 7:55
10."Cut You Up with a Linoleum Knife"Original song from the Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters soundtrack1:50
11."Blood & Thunder" (live)B-side from "Capillarian Crest" single3:52
12."White Walker"Original song from the Catch the Throne: Volume II mixtape4:20
13."Halloween" (instrumental)B-side from "The Motherload" single4:38
14."Crystal Skull" (live)Alternate B-side from "Capillarian Crest" single3:25
15."Orion" (Metallica cover)From the Remastered: Metallica's Master Of Puppets Revisited compilation8:15
16."Iron Tusk" (live)B-side from "Colony Of Birchmen" single2:48
Total length:70:46

Personnel

Mastodon

Guest musicians

Charts

Chart performance for Medium Rarities
Chart (2020) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[9] 91
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[10] 14
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[11] 35
Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] 32
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 29
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[14] 38

References

  1. ^ "'Medium Rarities' Out September 11". Mastodonrocks.com. July 31, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  2. ^ Bienstock, Richard (July 31, 2020). "Mastodon Premiere Trippy New Song, Fallen Torches, Ahead of Medium Rarities Compilation". Guitar World. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. ^ Hussey, Allison (July 31, 2020). "Mastodon Announce Medium Rarities Compilation, Share New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  4. ^ "Neurosis' Scott Kelly Admits to Abusing Family, Announces Retirement From Music". Pitchfork. August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  5. ^ Blabbermouth (August 29, 2022). "NEUROSIS Members Blast Former Bandmate SCOTT KELLY: 'There Is Nothing Brave About Systematically Abusing Your Wife And Children'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Beebee, Steve. "Album Review: Mastodon - Medium Rarities". Kerrang!. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  7. ^ "Mastodon - Medium Rarities: A trawl through 20 years of long-lost sonic mayhem". September 11, 2020.
  8. ^ "Mastodon Announce Tour With Gojira, Kvelertak; Ex-Mars Volta Keyboardist to Appear on New Album | Music News @". Ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  9. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Mastodon – Medium Rarities" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  10. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2020. 43. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  11. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Mastodon – Medium Rarities". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  13. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Mastodon – Medium Rarities". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  14. ^ "Mastodon Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
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