I waited until today to go out and buy Mastodon’s new album even though I could’ve listened to it a week before on iTunes, but I’m one dense motherfucker. So I waited out and watched each day as people all of were loading up onto the hype train for this album. But finally, this day arrived and I got up, went to the music store, plucked “Once More ‘Round the Sun” from the shelf, drove home, did today’s first review, and then immediately threw this sucker into my computer and listened to what the fuss was all about. And goddamn it, I was so pleased with what I heard that I decided to do a second review today. Totally worth it.

This is a big improvement from Mastodon’s last album, “The Hunter”. At least that’s what I think anyway. Some people I saw thought this wasn’t as good as “The Hunter”, but I disagree. “Once More ‘Round the Sun” is an excellent addition to Mastodon’s arsenal of music that will be added amongst the greater albums of modern metal. The style and tone is such that is astounds the listener and pulls them in to hear more and more with each track that does a full on assault on the mind, consuming it and allowing the music to be the only thing that matters to the listener. The vocals are almost the same as they are in every album, but in this they sound a bit more refined and experienced. I say they sound more experienced because one of the vocalists, Troy Sanders, also worked on a side project during this time and that project was called Killer Be Killed. For those who’ve heard the band and their debut album, you know how Sanders sounds and how much he improved especially working with a different group of people. The guitars are also very well done here because they do what they do best and create extravagant riffs and pull through demanding songs with ease and skill. The drums pound along through the entirety of “Once More ‘Round the Sun” and contain an absolute killer rhythm and beat all the time while adding just the right sound to the songs that make them all the more better.

Probably my new favorite album from Mastodon, “Once More ‘Round the Sun” is a glorious addition to any metal-goer’s playlist that will no doubt be played hundreds of times and loved every single moment. I anticipate that this will be they’re final album for now because of Sanders’ touring with Killer Be Killed for their new album, but this is just merely my own speculation. I personally don’t mind either way. If Sanders keeps with Mastodon to tour and create another album and put Killer Be Killed on hold that’s fine. If he wants to go tour with Killer Be Killed and hold off on touring with Mastodon, I’m not opposed to that either. No matter which of the two happens we will still be given great music from two great bands that I cannot wait to hear more from.

 

BUY “Once More ‘Round the Sun” on iTunes : https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/once-more-round-the-sun/id866402576

LISTEN to “Once More ‘Round the Sun” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDjSDnMxFME

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