The song "Colony of Birchmen" from the band's third album (released in 2006), Blood Mountain, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2007. Blood Mountain was followed in 2009 by Crack the Skye, and in 2011 by The Hunter, which debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and achieved major commercial success in the United States. The Hunter features the song "Curl of the Burl", which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 2012. Mastodon's 2014 album, Once More 'Round the Sun, peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart and features the band's third Grammy-nominated song, "High Road". The band's seventh album, Emperor of Sand, was released on March 31, 2017, and features the band's most commercially successful song to date, "Show Yourself", which peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in June 2017. The followup single, "Steambreather", peaked at number 18 on the same chart in October 2017. The album's opening track, "Sultan's Curse", earned the band their first Grammy award. Emperor of Sand was the band's first album to receive a Grammy nomination; it was nominated for Best Rock Album.
Mastodon was formed on January 13, 2000, after drummer Brann Dailor and guitarist Bill Kelliher moved to Atlanta from Victor, New York, and met bassist/singer Troy Sanders and guitarist/singer Brent Hinds at a High on Fire show. They discovered they had a mutual appreciation of sludge metal bands Melvins and Neurosis, heavy metal legends Iron Maiden, and 1970s hard rockers Thin Lizzy, and shortly thereafter formed Mastodon. In an interview in 2009, Kelliher revealed that the first time Hinds attended a practice with the band, he "showed up so wasted he couldn't play".
The band recorded a demo in 2000, which featured Eric Saner on vocals. Saner left the band for personal reasons after just a couple of months. After recording a four-song demo and a 7-inch picture disc through Reptilian Records, Mastodon landed a record deal with Relapse Records in 2001. Mastodon released the EP Lifesblood in 2001, and its first full-length album, Remission, in 2002, with the singles "March of the Fire Ants" and "Crusher/Destroyer" (which was also featured on Tony Hawk's Underground). On each of Mastodon's first three full-length albums, the last track was an instrumental composition with a title that related to the Elephant Man.
Artist Paul Romano was responsible for all of the band's album art and backdrops up to 2011. The artwork for the band's fifth studio album The Hunter was made by AJ Fosik, a woodcarver who was also responsible for the backdrop the band used live at the time. Oakland-based artist Skinner, who, in his own words, specializes in "psychedelic nightmare paintings", has taken the reins on Once More 'Round the Sun. "It's going to be a work of art for sure. It's going to be very eye-opening", said bassist Troy Sanders before the album's release. "Very striking. It's from another dimension, and a lot of our music is geared toward that idea—taking you to another planet on songs. It's out there, and I think it's incredible."
Studio albums
Remission (2002)
Leviathan (2004)
Blood Mountain (2006)
Crack the Skye (2009)
The Hunter (2011)
Once More 'Round the Sun (2014)
Emperor of Sand (2017)
Hushed and Grim (2021)
EPs
Lifesblood (2001)
Cold Dark Place (2017)
Once More
Mastodon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'll tell you that to your face
I'm from the clouds and I shine like the moon
And I'm here to fuck up the place
Make it last, make it count
Make it one more round and I'll see you outside
Heaven knows life can turn on a dime
They have got me hanging upside down again
Once more 'round the sun we go again, oh yeah
What's the meaning of this life
That we leave when we're caught up on the race
My heart is spinning like a merry-go-round
And I want you to take a ride
I know it's nice and I know that you are weary
But it's nice once you step inside
Roll me over and turn me around
And let's make up on time
They have got me hanging upside down again
I just want to melt into the sun, oh yeah
Once more 'round the sun we go again
They have got me hanging upside down again
I just want to melt into the sun again
They have got me hanging upside down again
Once more 'round the sun we go again
The lyrics of "Once More 'Round the Sun" by Mastodon speak to the fleeting nature of life and the importance of making the most of it while we can. The opening lines, "I'm a man and that's who I am / And I'll tell you that to your face," establish a sense of confidence and self-awareness, setting the tone for the rest of the song. The singer goes on to proclaim that he is "from the clouds" and "here to fuck up the place," suggesting a rebellious nature and a desire to challenge the status quo.
The chorus urges us to "make it last, make it count / Make it one more round," emphasizing the importance of savoring the moment and enjoying our time. The line "Heaven knows life can turn on a dime" serves as a reminder of how quickly things can change and how vital it is to make the most of our time while we have it.
The second verse explores the question of the meaning of life, a theme that is echoed in other Mastodon songs. The singer's heart is "spinning like a merry-go-round," suggesting a sense of confusion or disorientation. However, he invites the listener to "take a ride" with him, perhaps in an attempt to find some answers or meaning together. The bridge, "I know it's nice and I know that you are weary / But it's nice once you step inside," seems to encourage the listener to try something new, even if it seems daunting or unfamiliar.
Overall, "Once More 'Round the Sun" is a song that encourages us to live our lives to the fullest and embrace the unknown. It acknowledges the fleeting and unpredictable nature of life while urging us to enjoy ourselves and make the most of our time.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a man and that's who I am
I am who I am, and I am unapologetically myself.
And I'll tell you that to your face
I am not afraid to be honest with you and speak my mind.
I'm from the clouds and I shine like the moon
I come from a place of beauty and I radiate that beauty for all to see.
And I'm here to fuck up the place
I am here to break down barriers and make a positive impact in the world.
Make it last, make it count
We should cherish every moment in life and make the most of our time.
Make it one more round and I'll see you outside
Let's enjoy this moment together and create more memories with each other.
Heaven knows life can turn on a dime
Life is unpredictable and can change rapidly and unexpectedly.
So let's enjoy our time
Let's embrace the present and make the most out of our lives.
They have got me hanging upside down again
Life has thrown me a curveball again.
Once more 'round the sun we go again, oh yeah
We are going through another year of our lives and must make the most of it.
What's the meaning of this life
What is the purpose of our existence?
That we leave when we're caught up on the race
We often forget the bigger picture of life when we get consumed by our daily struggles.
My heart is spinning like a merry-go-round
My emotions are in a state of constant flux and change like a carousel.
And I want you to take a ride
I want you to experience life's ups and downs with me.
I know it's nice and I know that you are weary
Life can be beautiful, but it can also be exhausting and tiring.
But it's nice once you step inside
Despite the challenges, life can be rewarding and fulfilling.
Roll me over and turn me around
Let's embrace the unpredictability of life and make the most of it.
And let's make up on time
Let's not waste any more time being angry or bitter.
I just want to melt into the sun, oh yeah
I want to embrace the warmth and happiness of life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WILLIAM BRENT HINDS, BRANN TIMOTHY DAILOR, WILLIAM BREEN KELLIHER, TROY JAYSON SANDERS, BRIAN MICHAEL DOWNEY, PHIL LYNOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nuynobi
1) Leviathan
2) Crack the Skye
3) Blood Mountain
4) Once More Round the Sun
5) Emperor of Sand
6) The Hunter
7) Remission
Leviathan is clearly superior. The Hunter and Remission are clearly deficient. The rest in the middle are really hard for me to rank. I'd probably rank them differently depending on the direction of the wind.
@therochdaleavenger1038
Liking the 5 desert album thread... you may not care but here's mine
Kanye West dark twisted fantasy
Weezer pinkerton
Dillinger escape plan option paralysis
Radiohead OK computer
Mars volta Frances the mute
Mastodon probs wouldn't quite make MY cut but then again my choices may not make others ! This album is good but prefer bloody mountain. Love crack the Skye too
@dargombez8289
* Band : MASTODON
* Album : "Once More 'Round The Sun"
* Copyright : 2014 Reprise Records/ Werner Bros Records/ WEA International
* Genre : Progressive Metal
* Origin : USA (Atlanta, GA)
* Years Active : 2001 - present
* Producers : Nick Raskulinecz & MASTODON
* Engineering : Jon Albritton
* Additional Engineering : Noah Landis
* Recordings : Nathan Yarborough & Tom Tapley
* Mixing : Nick Raskulinecz
* Mastering : Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound
* Cover Artwork & Lay out : Skinner
* Recorded, Engineered & Mixed at Rock Falcon Studios, Franklin, TN, USA
* Additional Recorded at The Projector Room Studios, Decatur, GA, USA// Above Sunset Studios, Bar, Switzerland
* Additional Mixed at Paramount Sound Studios, Hollywood, LA, USA
* MASTODON are :
1. Troy Sanders (Vocals & Bass)
2. Brent Hinds (Vocals & Guitars)
3. Bill Kelliher (Guitars)
4. Brann Dailor (Drums)
* Guest Player :
1. Scott Kelly of NEUROSIS (Vox at track.11)
* Supporting Players :
1. Isaiah Owens (Synthesizers & Keyboards)
2. Gary Lindsey (Back Vocals)
3. Meredith Franco (Back Vocals)
4. Stephanie Luke (Back Vocals)
5. Julia Kugel (Back Vocals)
@thebronzepill7892
I had a similar experience, then discovered that all Mastodon albums have the power to 'open up' once heard in the right frame of mind.
Every album since (and including Leviathan) I've had a similar experience. Initital interest in a few songs, then appreciation for others, then fall in love.
I wrote Mastodon off with The Hunter, which is now one of my favourite albums of all time.
They're a special band.
Nowadays every Mastodon album has found its own special place in my life.
@lordthunderbolt
2023 AN STILL ROCKIN
@sonnylambert4893
Feb 24 and YEAH!!!
@ThrashRoC
Mastodon is ABSOLUTE one of the BEST Bands today ...and "OmrtS" is a MASTERPIECE ..
@jeffjones3940
imagine being so good that this is your 4th best record
@aneill8282
Interesting...so how do you rank their albums, I wonder?
@jeffjones3940
@@aneill8282 hard to do a concrete list, and i like them all but here goes.
1) Crack the Skye
2) Blood Mountain
3) Leviathan
4) Once more round the Sun
5) The Hunter
6) Remission
7) Emperor of Sand
@klaushen
@@jeffjones3940 Leviathan 3rd!?!?!?!?!?
@jeffjones3940
@@klaushen if it was a tier list the top 3 would be in the same tier
@nuynobi
1) Leviathan
2) Crack the Skye
3) Blood Mountain
4) Once More Round the Sun
5) Emperor of Sand
6) The Hunter
7) Remission
Leviathan is clearly superior. The Hunter and Remission are clearly deficient. The rest in the middle are really hard for me to rank. I'd probably rank them differently depending on the direction of the wind.
@christophermoon3717
This album played on repeat during the worst and best part of my life. Its a fu⁸king spiritual experience whenever I need the power of these tunes.