Elevated temperatures and vast supplies of sunshine often signify a lot of things.

For one, the temptation to coast through these last few weeks abounds. Tight tank tops and miniscule shorts hold on for dear life to the fairer sex, stealing the attention of ogling onlookers.

Because earning a diploma and maintaining relationships still hold value, let us instead examine another cause for joy: spring and summer music. This column will likely disappoint you. Seeing as we’re already 100 words deep into a column allotted finite space, some of your favorite and most anticipated music will be left out.

But (radio edit) it. Let’s get started.

— “Crack the Skye,” by Mastodon (Released March 29): Already released, this is simply the best metal album by a band new to this decade.

Produced by Brendan O’Brien — who’s worked with Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam and Rage Against the Machine — this is metal so over the top it’s truly epic. Mastodon burst onto the scene with 2002’s “Remission” and has continued a penchant for massive themes with its fourth offering.

The premise is centered on a quadriplegic who astrally projects himself too close to the sun, gets the umbilical cord that connects his physical body to his astral body burned off, flies into oblivion (the title of the stellar first track), ends up in Czarist Russia and is eventually transported back to his body by a recently assassinated Rasputin. This is metal with a capital M-E-T-A-L (A-C-I-D also suffices).

Seven tracks comprise “Crack the Skye.” Each is an integral piece to a set that tells a story, making it necessary to own the entire album.

Download: Are you not paying attention? Buy the whole thing now.

— “Relapse” by Eminem (May 19): Here’s hoping we get similar elements that made his two “LP” records classics and “The Eminem Show” equally great and not the fart and Rastafarian Martian sounds of “Encore.”

No man entices controversy like Eminem and in that regard, his first single, “We Made You,” has succeeded. Among the subjects he roasts to a crisp in the video: Bret Michaels, Kim Kardashian, Jessica Simpson, Amy Winehouse, Sarah Palin and Lindsay Lohan.

The song itself isn’t bad. In fact, it grows on you after a few spins. He does come close to that stoney alien voice I fear. Close, but not close enough to make the song unworthy of praise.

The album rides momentum built by the previously released single “Crack a Bottle” with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent, and the recently leaked “3AM,” a disturbing track about a serial killer that is every bit infectious as it is grisly, its lyrics as shocking as its flow uncanny.

Download: “We Made You,” “Crack a Bottle,” “3AM.”

— “21st Century Breakdown,” Green Day (May 15): “American Idiot” cemented their legacy and put them on Dubya’s s***list. But now that everybody’s favorite punching bag is gone, how will Green Day sound in this new era of Hope and Change? After all, it was Stan’s dad, Randy, on South Park who said, “Everything’s going to be different now!”

Fear not. The trio returns armed for further revolutionary anthems. Though the all-black wardrobe and eyeliner they’ve taken a liking to in recent years might get them confused for My Chemical Romance (and makes it plausible to imagine them staging a concert outside Hot Topic) Green Day still rocks. Pass me the angst, please!

Download: “Know Your Enemy.”

— Montemayor is a Mission junior in journalism.