Hushed and Grim

The album artwork was by Paul Romano, who has illustrated most previous Mastodon releases. The cover features the title plaque before a dormant tree resembling a torso and outstretched arms, rendered in blacks and greys. The face of Nick John, the bands longtime manager, appears within the tree, peering above an Dharmachakra or 8-spoked wheel. The band attributes John's passing in 2018 as the thematic lyrical inspiration for the album.{{cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/mastodon-pain-and-purpose-hushed-and-grim|title=Mastodon: The Pain And Purpose of 'Hushed And Grim'|date=October 29, 2021 |publisher=Revolver; revolvermag.com}} Also pictured are a stag, a rabbit with a crow mask, a spider, and several hyenas, one of which faces the viewer sporting a Thalia and Melpomene-like saddle on its back, giving an appearance of Cerberus. The cover artwork is the central of five main square panels which combine to form a cross containing the tree, its branches, and roots. Four additional panels form the corners with ancillary themes. The tree is surmounted in the top panel by a hawk with an open exposed heart and rose wreath. Scales seen below the tree on the cover panel develop to a python descending into a cavern containing lascivious scenes supervised by a bull-horned, winged being in the bottom panel. The left branch shows wintering wolves set before Byzantine architecture; at right, The Hanged Man hangs from the branch aside the Emperor of Sand beneath a Spring storm.

{{Music ratings

| MC = 82/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Jurek|first= Thom|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/hushed-and-grim-mw0003609123|title= Mastodon: Hushed and Grim Album Review|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=October 29, 2021}}

| rev2 = Blabbermouth

| rev2score = 10/10{{cite web | url = https://www.blabbermouth.net/cdreviews/hushed-and-grim/ | title = Mastodon 'Hushed and Grim' | date = 29 October 2021 | accessdate = 29 October 2021 | website = Blabbermouth.net}}

| rev3 = Clash

| rev3score = 9/10{{cite web | url = https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/mastodon-hushed-and-grim | title = Mastodon – 'Hushed and Grim' | date = 27 October 2021 | accessdate = 29 October 2021 | work = Clash}}

| rev4 = Consequence

| rev4score = B+{{cite web|last=Hadusek|first=Jon|url=https://consequence.net/2021/10/mastodon-hushed-and-grim-album-review/|title= Mastodon Explore Every Facet of Their Musical Language on Hushed and Grim: Review|website=Consequence|date=October 30, 2021|access-date=November 2, 2021}}

| rev5 = Distorted Sound

| rev5score = 10/10{{cite web|last=McCarthy|first=Laura|url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/album-review-hushed-and-grim-mastodon/|title= ALBUM REVIEW: Hushed And Grim - Mastodon - Distorted Sound Magazine|website=distortedsoundmag.com|date=October 25, 2021|access-date=April 8, 2022}}

| rev6 = Exclaim!

| rev6score = 9/10{{cite web|last=Heilman|first=Max|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/mastodon_hushed_and_grim_album_review|title= Mastodon's 'Hushed and Grim' Is the Grandest Realization of Their Artistry - Exclaim!|website=Exclaim!|date=October 27, 2021|access-date=April 8, 2022}}

| rev7 = Metal Hammer

| rev7score = 4.5/5{{cite web|last=Lawson|first=Dom|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/mastodons-hushed-and-grim-atlanta-riffmasters-boldest-adventure-yet|title=Mastodon's Hushed And Grim: Atlanta riffmasters' boldest adventure yet - Louder|website=Metal Hammer|date=October 25, 2021|access-date=April 8, 2022}}

| rev8 = Pitchfork

| rev8score = 5.7/10{{cite web|last=O'Connell|first= Chris|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/mastodon-hushed-and-grim/|title= Mastodon: Hushed and Grim Album Review|website=Pitchfork|date=October 29, 2021|access-date=October 29, 2021}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Weigell|first= Jon|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/mastodon-hushed-and-grim-1244255/|title= Mastodon Crush/Redeem You on 'Hushed and Grim'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=October 27, 2021|access-date=October 29, 2021}}

| rev10 = Sputnikmusic

| rev10score = 4.5/5{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/83996/Mastodon-Hushed-and-Grim/|title=Review: Mastodon – Hushed and Grim|website=Sputnikmusic|last=Garland|first=Robert|date=October 31, 2021|access-date=November 6, 2021}}

}}

Hushed and Grim was well received, with review aggregator Metacritic indicating "universal acclaim" with a score of 82/100 based on 13 reviews.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/hushed-and-grim/mastodon|title=Hushed and Grim by Mastodon|website=Metacritic}} AllMusic critic Thom Jurek wrote that the album's tracks are "rendered with abundant creativity, massive power, and searing honesty."{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/hushed-and-grim-mw0003609123|title = Hushed and Grim - Mastodon | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|website = AllMusic}} Rolling Stone commented that "Hushed and Grim never stops giving, and the album’s energy, depth, and power make it a completely unique addition to the band’s mammoth catalog." In an outlying review, however, Chris O'Connell of Pitchfork called the album "an inoffensive, occasionally alluring, but overwhelmingly dull 90-minute slog."{{Cite web|last=O'Connell|first=Chris|date=October 29, 2021|title=Mastodon: Hushed and Grim Album Review|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/mastodon-hushed-and-grim/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029040518/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/mastodon-hushed-and-grim/|archive-date=October 29, 2021|access-date=November 14, 2021|website=Pitchfork}}

{{track listing

| all_writing = Mastodon

| headline = Disc one

| total_length = 43:04

| extra_column = Lead vocals

| title1 = Pain with an Anchor

| length1 = 5:01

| extra1 = Brann Dailor, Troy Sanders

| title2 = The Crux

| length2 = 4:59

| extra2 = Sanders

| title3 = Sickle and Peace

| length3 = 6:17

| extra3 = Sanders, Dailor

| title4 = More Than I Could Chew

| length4 = 6:51

| extra4 = Dailor, Sanders

| title5 = The Beast

| length5 = 6:03

| extra5 = Brent Hinds, Dailor, Sanders

| title6 = Skeleton of Splendor

| length6 = 5:04

| extra6 = Sanders, Dailor

| title7 = Teardrinker

| length7 = 5:20

| extra7 = Dailor, Sanders

| title8 = Pushing the Tides

| length8 = 3:29

| extra8 = Sanders, Dailor

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Disc two

| total_length = 43:13

| extra_column = Lead vocals

| title1 = Peace and Tranquility

| length1 = 5:55

| extra1 = Hinds, Dailor, Sanders

| title2 = Dagger

| length2 = 5:12

| extra2 = Sanders

| title3 = Had It All

| length3 = 5:25

| extra3 = Sanders

| title4 = Savage Lands

| length4 = 4:24

| extra4 = Dailor, Sanders

| title5 = Gobblers of Dregs

| length5 = 8:34

| extra5 = Sanders, Dailor

| title6 = Eyes of Serpents

| length6 = 6:49

| extra6 = Sanders, Dailor

| title7 = Gigantium

| length7 = 6:54

| extra7 = Dailor, Sanders

}}

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Mastodon

• Brann Dailor – drums, vocals (except 2, 10, 11)
• Brent Hinds – lead guitar, vocals (5, 9)
• Bill Kelliher – rhythm guitar
• Troy Sanders – bass, vocals

Additional musicians

• João Nogueira – keyboards
• Darby Rose Tapley – intro vocals (3)
• Marcus King – solo guitar (5)
• Dave Witte – percussion (10)
• Rich Doucette – sarangi (10)
• Jody Sanders – French horn (11)
• Kim Thayil – solo guitar (11)
• Kevin Fox – cello, string arrangement (15)
• Drew Jurecka – viola, violin (15)

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Technical

• David Bottrill – production, mixing
• Ryan McCambridge – engineering
• Tom Tapley – recording
• Billy Joe Bowers – editing
• Miles Landrum – recording assistance
• Braden Griffith – additional engineering (5)
• Nathan Yaccino – additional engineering (11)
• Ted Jensen – mastering

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{{reflist}}

{{Mastodon}}

Category:Mastodon (band) albums

Category:2021 albums

Category:Reprise Records albums

Category:Albums produced by David Bottrill