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

> Explore the drum kit Brann Dailor played on Mastodon's Once More 'Round the Sun (2014) — the Billboard #6 album featuring High Road. Full breakdown of the Tama Starclassic Maple kit, Meinl Byzance cymbals, and Brann's signature half-time groove approach.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Brann Dailor](/llms/drummers/brann-dailor.md)
**Band / Album:** Mastodon — *Once More 'Round the Sun* (2014)
**Genre:** Progressive Sludge Metal / Hard Rock

## Overview

Released on June 24, 2014, Mastodon's *Once More 'Round the Sun* was the band's sixth studio album — debuting at **#6 on the Billboard 200**, their highest-charting record at the time. Produced by Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains) at Doppler Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, the album continued the groove-forward direction [Brann Dailor](/drummer/brann-dailor) had established on [The Hunter](/articles/the-hunter-drum-setup) while adding more melodic density and emotional range.

The album fills the single most important gap in Dailor's Mastodon arc: the chapter between [The Hunter](/articles/the-hunter-drum-setup) (2011) and [Emperor of Sand](/articles/emperor-of-sand-drum-setup) (2017). "High Road" — the album's lead single and most melodically direct track — is Mastodon's most-streamed song across all platforms. "The Motherload," "Asleep in the Deep," and "Chimes at Midnight" showcase Dailor's half-time groove approach at its most refined: grooves that feel enormous because each element has room to breathe.

For Dailor specifically, *Once More 'Round the Sun* is the record on which he became Mastodon's most prominent vocalist to date — layering harmonies and co-lead parts across nearly every track while executing technically demanding drum performances simultaneously.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple (custom wrap finish)
- **Snare:** Tama Starphonic or Artstar Snare, 14" x 6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Meinl Byzance Traditional Series
- **Hardware / Pedals:** Tama Iron Cobra Single Pedal; Tama Iron Cobra Hi-Hat Stand; Roc-N-Soc Nitro Throne; Meinl Stick & Brush
- **Heads:** Evans UV1 Coated (batter), Evans Hazy 300 (resonant)
- **Snare tuning:** Medium tension — body and authority for half-time backbeats with ghost note sensitivity

### The Tama Starclassic Maple: Half-Time Groove Platform

For the *Once More 'Round the Sun* sessions, Brann Dailor continued with his Tama Starclassic Maple kit — the warm, resonant platform he had developed across [The Hunter](/articles/the-hunter-drum-setup) era and touring cycle. The Starclassic Maple's 100% pure maple shells, combined with Tama's Star-Cast mounting system, produce the free-resonating, pitch-capable tone that Dailor's melodic tom vocabulary demands.

For the album's half-time groove architecture, the kit's warm fundamental was particularly important. Half-time grooves create space within an arrangement — the bass drum and snare hit less frequently, which means each hit must carry more musical weight. A maple shell tuned carefully resonates with body and sustain that fills that space with musical character.

The configuration featured three rack toms (10", 12", 13") and two floor toms (14" and 16") — a five-drum melodic palette spanning a wide musical range for the cascading fills throughout "High Road," "Asleep in the Deep," and "The Motherload." The single 22" bass drum continued the single-kick philosophy from [The Hunter](/articles/the-hunter-drum-setup): every kick placement a deliberate musical decision rather than a velocity exercise.

### The Snare: Authority for Half-Time Backbeats

In a half-time groove, the backbeat lands on beat 3 rather than 2 and 4 — each snare hit carrying the weight of two conventional backbeats. Dailor's Tama snare at 14" x 6.5" delivers the body and projection required without sacrificing the sensitivity his ghost-note-dense style demands.

Nick Raskulinecz's production approach favoured a natural, open drum sound with clear definition. The result is a snare that sits warmly in the mix — authoritative on the half-time backbeat, responsive to the ghost note patterns that run beneath the album's spacious grooves on "Asleep in the Deep" and "Chimes at Midnight."

### Meinl Byzance: Dark Palette Bridging Hunter to Emperor of Sand

Brann Dailor's Meinl Byzance cymbal palette on *Once More 'Round the Sun* carried forward the dark, complex B20 bronze character from [The Hunter](/articles/the-hunter-drum-setup) and [Crack the Skye](/articles/crack-the-skye-drum-setup). The Byzance Traditional series — hand-hammered using Turkish techniques — produces dark, blooming cymbals that suit the space half-time grooves create.

Setup: 14" Traditional hi-hats, 18" Traditional Thin Crash, 20" Traditional Medium Crash, 22" Traditional Ride, 18" China, 10" Splash. The crashes are deployed with restraint — each accent placed with compositional intent. This Byzance setup carried nearly unchanged into the [Emperor of Sand](/articles/emperor-of-sand-drum-setup) era (2017), where Dailor expanded into Foundry Reserve and Brilliant sub-series.

### Hardware, Pedals, and Sticks

- **Tama Iron Cobra Single Pedal:** Chain drive for consistent, controlled action — every kick note placed with authority in the half-time groove
- **Tama Iron Cobra Hi-Hat Stand:** Matched hardware for consistent feel
- **Roc-N-Soc Nitro Throne:** Comfort for studio sessions and touring
- **Meinl Stick & Brush:** Part of Dailor's broader Meinl relationship alongside the Byzance cymbal setup
- **Evans UV1 Coated heads:** Warm, consistent batter tone across the Starclassic maple shells

## Key Facts

- Debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 — Mastodon's highest chart position at time of release
- "High Road" is Mastodon's most-streamed track on all major streaming platforms
- Produced by Nick Raskulinecz at Doppler Studios, Atlanta, Georgia (released June 24, 2014)
- Fills the Mastodon arc gap between The Hunter (2011) and Emperor of Sand (2017)
- Tama Starclassic Maple — 100% maple shells, single-kick configuration
- Single 22" bass drum — intentional placement philosophy continued from The Hunter
- Meinl Byzance Traditional series — same dark B20 bronze palette bridging into Emperor of Sand era
- Five-drum melodic palette (10", 12", 13" rack toms + 14" and 16" floor toms)
- Tama Iron Cobra single pedal — half-time groove architecture with deliberate kick placement
- Nick Raskulinecz's production: open, natural drum sound with room presence and clear definition
- Dailor's most vocally prominent studio performance — harmonies and co-leads throughout
- Estimated kit value: $3,500–5,500 (Tama Starclassic Maple shell pack)
- Estimated cymbal value: $1,800–2,500 (Meinl Byzance Traditional setup)

## FAQ

**Q: What drums does Brann Dailor use on Once More 'Round the Sun?**
A: Brann Dailor recorded Once More 'Round the Sun (2014) using a Tama Starclassic Maple drum kit with a single 22" bass drum, three rack toms at 10", 12", and 13", and floor toms at 14" and 16". The 100% maple shells and Star-Cast mounting system produce the warm, resonant tone supporting his melodic fills and half-time groove approach.

**Q: What album comes between Mastodon's The Hunter and Emperor of Sand?**
A: 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, debuting at #6 on the Billboard 200 and featuring "High Road" — Mastodon's most-streamed song.

**Q: Who produced Once More 'Round the Sun by Mastodon?**
A: Once More 'Round the Sun was produced by Nick Raskulinecz, recorded at Doppler Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. Raskulinecz is known for Rush (Snakes & Arrows), Foo Fighters (Wasting Light), and Alice in Chains (Black Gives Way to Blue).

**Q: What cymbals does Brann Dailor use on Once More 'Round the Sun?**
A: On Once More 'Round the Sun (2014), Brann Dailor used Meinl Byzance Traditional series cymbals — 14" hi-hats, 18" thin crash, 20" medium crash, 22" ride, 18" China, and a 10" splash. The dark, hand-hammered B20 bronze palette was carried forward from The Hunter and Crack the Skye eras.

**Q: What is Mastodon's most streamed song?**
A: "High Road" from Once More 'Round the Sun (2014) is Mastodon's most-streamed song across major platforms. The track showcases Brann Dailor's half-time groove approach in its most immediately accessible form.

**Q: How does Once More 'Round the Sun fit in Brann Dailor's career arc?**
A: Once More 'Round the Sun (2014) is the transitional album between The Hunter's commercial groove approach and Emperor of Sand's emotionally sophisticated storytelling. On this record, Dailor refined his half-time groove technique and became a more prominent vocalist than on any previous Mastodon album. The Tama Starclassic Maple and Meinl Byzance platform carried unchanged into the Emperor of Sand era.

## Related Resources

- **Full drummer profile**: [Brann Dailor at MetalForge](/drummer/brann-dailor)
- **Next album**: [Hushed and Grim Drum Setup](/articles/hushed-and-grim-drum-setup)
- **Following album**: [Emperor of Sand Drum Setup](/articles/emperor-of-sand-drum-setup)
- **Earlier career peak**: [Crack the Skye Drum Setup](/articles/crack-the-skye-drum-setup)
- **Kit overview**: [What's In Brann Dailor's Kit](/articles/whats-in-brann-dailors-kit)

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/once-more-round-the-sun-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-27 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*