What Drums Did Brann Dailor Use on Once More 'Round the Sun? | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums does Brann Dailor use on Once More 'Round the Sun?

Brann Dailor recorded Mastodon's Once More 'Round the Sun (2014) using a Tama Starclassic Maple drum kit with a single 22 inch bass drum, three rack toms at 10, 12, and 13 inches, and two floor toms at 14 and 16 inches. The Tama Starclassic Maple's 100% maple shells and Star-Cast mounting system produce the warm, resonant tone that supports Dailor's melodic tom vocabulary and half-time groove approach across the album.

What album comes between Mastodon's The Hunter and Emperor of Sand?

Once More 'Round the Sun (2014) is the Mastodon album between The Hunter (2011) and Emperor of Sand (2017). It was Mastodon's sixth studio album, produced by Nick Raskulinecz and released on June 24, 2014 on Reprise Records. The album debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 and features 'High Road,' Mastodon's most-streamed track.

What cymbals does Brann Dailor use on Once More 'Round the Sun?

On Once More 'Round the Sun (2014), Brann Dailor used Meinl Byzance cymbals — the same dark, hand-hammered B20 bronze palette he had established across the Crack the Skye and The Hunter eras. His setup included 14 inch Traditional hi-hats, an 18 inch Traditional Thin Crash, a 20 inch Traditional Medium Crash, a 22 inch Traditional Ride, an 18 inch China, and a 10 inch splash. The Byzance's dark, blooming character suited the album's half-time groove architecture, filling the space that half-time feels create with atmospheric cymbal colour.

Who produced Once More 'Round the Sun by Mastodon?

Once More 'Round the Sun (2014) was produced by Nick Raskulinecz, known for his work with Rush (Snakes and Arrows), Foo Fighters (Wasting Light), and Alice in Chains (Black Gives Way to Blue). Raskulinecz brought a more open, naturally ambient drum production approach compared to the tightly defined sound Mike Elizondo had created on The Hunter (2011). The sessions were recorded at Doppler Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.

What is Mastodon's most streamed song?

High Road from Once More 'Round the Sun (2014) is Mastodon's most-streamed song across major streaming platforms. The track showcases Brann Dailor's half-time groove approach in its most immediately accessible form — the interplay between a driving guitar riff and the half-time drum feel creates the song's characteristic forward momentum.

How does Once More 'Round the Sun fit into Brann Dailor's career arc?

Once More 'Round the Sun (2014) is the transitional album between The Hunter's commercial groove approach (2011) and Emperor of Sand's emotionally sophisticated storytelling (2017). On this record, Dailor refined his half-time groove technique, became a more prominent vocalist than on any previous Mastodon album, and maintained the Tama Starclassic Maple and Meinl Byzance platform that carried unchanged into the Emperor of Sand era. The album fills the only gap in Dailor's Mastodon album arc between Koloss-adjacent records and the Grammy-winning Emperor of Sand.