Once More 'Round the Sun (2014) - Mastodon

 

Once More 'Round the Sun – Mastodon’s Psychedelic Metal Odyssey

Tracklist:

1. Tread Lightly – 5:14

2. The Motherload – 4:59

3. High Road – 4:15

4. Once More 'Round the Sun – 2:58

5. Chimes at Midnight – 5:32

6. Asleep in the Deep – 6:12

7. Feast Your Eyes – 3:23

8. Aunt Lisa – 4:08

9. Ember City – 4:59

10. Halloween – 4:39

11. Diamond in the Witch House – 7:49 (feat. Scott Kelly)

By the time Mastodon released Once More 'Round the Sun in 2014, they were no longer just metal’s best-kept secret. They were veterans of the modern heavy scene, with a discography that blurred the lines between sludge, prog, and classic rock. Coming off the emotionally rich and critically adored The Hunter (2011), expectations were high — and Mastodon answered with an album that was both a continuation and an evolution.

Once More 'Round the Sun is vivid, sprawling, and surprisingly accessible. It doesn’t chase radio hits, nor does it bury itself in concept. Instead, it strikes a balance between Mastodon’s raw origins and their more polished, melodic leanings.

This is arguably Mastodon's most colorful record — in both sound and vision. The artwork, created by artist Skinner, is a kaleidoscope of mythic creatures and chaotic shapes, and that same sense of trippy wonder carries through the music.

From the moment Tread Lightly opens with a hypnotic, spacey riff before launching into a propulsive assault, it’s clear the band is reaching beyond the earthbound. The record often feels like a hallucinogenic ride through cosmic landscapes and personal introspection.

Guitar tones shimmer and grind, Brann Dailor’s drumming remains as explosive as ever, and the band continues to rotate vocals between Troy Sanders, Brent Hinds, and Dailor — a dynamic that gives each track a distinct flavor.

Though less overtly conceptual than albums like Crack the Skye, Once More 'Round the Sun is shaped by a sense of personal reckoning. The title refers to the cyclical nature of life, and many of the lyrics touch on mortality, repetition, and growth.

Brent Hinds has said the album was influenced by a particularly difficult year for the band — full of death, turmoil, and self-reflection. That pain bubbles underneath even the most anthemic moments, giving the album emotional depth that rewards repeat listens.

• The Motherload stands out with its almost pop-metal chorus and infectious groove — it’s one of the band’s catchiest songs, complete with an infamous psychedelic twerk-heavy music video that polarized fans.

• High Road is the lead single and a mission statement: “You take the high road down / I’ll take the low road to hell.” It mixes punkish fury with soaring vocal hooks.

• Chimes at Midnight showcases their knack for building tension and atmosphere, while Aunt Lisa brings in gang vocals courtesy of The Coathangers for a left-field punk twist.

• The closing title track, Diamond in the Witch House, features Scott Kelly of Neurosis and ends the album on a doom-soaked, weighty note — a tradition of Kelly guesting on Mastodon’s darkest moments that began with Leviathan.

Once More 'Round the Sun is often seen as a bridge between Mastodon’s heavy, proggy past and their more song-oriented, melodic future. It doesn’t chase the sprawl of Crack the Skye, nor does it quite replicate the raw power of Remission. Instead, it refines what came before into a sharp, cohesive, and highly listenable package.

For some fans, it marked a shift too far toward the mainstream. For others, it was proof that Mastodon could evolve without losing their identity. Whatever your stance, it’s hard to deny the band’s continued willingness to take risks — even a decade into their career.

Once More 'Round the Sun may not be Mastodon’s most iconic album, but it might be their most well-rounded. It balances hooks and heaviness, introspection and experimentation, structure and sprawl. It’s an album by a band that knows exactly who they are — and refuses to stay in one place for too long.

If you’re looking to understand the middle ground between early Mastodon’s chaos and their newer, more streamlined sound, this is the album that connects the dots. It’s not just another trip around the sun — it’s a ride worth taking again and again.