Once More Round The Sun

Commercial Metal at its best (or worst? depends on your opinion). Eleven songs of Progressive Rock/Metal with soaring vocals, excellent production, and everything you could expect from a 'big budget' release (in terms of Metal). The band keeps refining their style and with this release they show great improvement over "The Hunter" and "Crack the Skye". Very recommended if you like Baroness, High on Fire, Kylesa, and watered down versions of The Ocean and Neurosis.

1. (5:14) - Catchy and well constructed song. Soaring vocals and powerful distorted guitars. Very polished track. 4 out of 5.
2. (4:59) - Reminds me of the most commercial stuff from Pain of Salvation, but with a heavier edge. Excellent melodic closing section. 4.5 out of 5.
3. (4:15) - Heavy punchy sludgy song. Very powerful with solid guitar leads and crafty drumming. The band can't get any better than this. 5 out of 5.
4. (2:58) - Short Hard Rock-ish track with solid rhythm guitars, feels more like a jam song than an actual structured and well polished song. 3 out of 5.
5. (5:32) - Brilliant Melodic song that delivers powerful vocal melodies and quite engaging riffs. Heavy yet very catchy and 'people friendly'. 5 out of 5.
6. (6:12) - Another hyper-catchy tune with guest vocals from Valient Himself. Very mellow and quite relaxing song thanks to its brilliant chorus section. 5 out of 5.
7. (3:23) - Switching up the pace to some more intense tracks with a hearty sense of melody. The band puts the foot on the accelerator a bit more and delivers a solid heavy song. 4 out of 5.
8. (4:08) - Old-school sounding Prog-rock piece featuring additional vocalists (by The Coat Hangers) to enhance the mood. Too bad the chorus section has a 'Fuck' in it. 4 out of 5.
9. (4:59) - Traditionally structured song with a killer solo near the 3.20 minute mark. Not the best of the album but work a listen. 3.5 out of 5.
10.(4:39) - More 'commercial' Hard Rock/Metal that is probably popular with bikers and pseudo Metalheads. Not bad, but clearly straightforward and very typical. 3 out of 5.
11.(7:49) - My favorite song in this release, but I am probably biased since it features Scott Kelly of Neurosis on guest vocals. Crushing guitars and a very heavy vibe that none of the previous songs had. Mastodon are a heavier band at heart, but people have to eat right?

FCC: 4 and 8.

Recommended: 11,5, 3,6,2, 7, 8