(Photo Credit: Owen Ela)

The world famous Atlanta, Georgia progressive metal act Mastodon has just announced that they have finished recording the follow-up to 2014’s Once More ‘Round The Sun, working with the famed producer Brendan O’Brien, who they had first collaborated with on the band’s groundbreaking and critically adored 2009 concept album Crack The Skye.

Mastodon apparently finished recording in Atlanta before moving to Los Angeles for the final mixing stage. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to expect an early 2017 release for the new album.

Mastodon bassist and vocalist Troy Sanders seems to be confident about the record. In an interview with Metal Hammer, Sanders said that “We’ve got it in the bag. We’re just putting a timeline together of when and where. So that’s all coming together now. So 2017’s going to be an incredibly busy and fruitful year in the world of Mastodon. I’m fortunate to be able to say that. I’m very excited for what the New Year will bring.”

Some immediate plans may have to be put on the back-burner, however, with guitarist Brent Hinds having broken his leg trying to start his motorcycle. Hinds posted a picture of himself laying in bed with a cast on his right leg with the caption “broke my fucking leg starting my motorcycle goddamnit. sorry to all the shows I was about to play with gto and west and more and fiend without a face.lifes a bitch then you die. happy thanking !”

Hinds was planning to embark on a short run of dates with Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, his collaboration with Alice in Chains vocalist William Duvall and The Dillinger Escape Plan guitarist Benjamin Weinman. It is not presently clear if he will still play all the scheduled shows with the group. It is also unclear whether the accident will affect Mastodon’s schedule.

Regardless, there is much to expect from the upcoming album. Guitarist Bill Kelliher told GuitarMania that “It’s a little bit of the same as the last album, but I think it goes even deeper in certain areas — a couple of more psychedelic parts, a little more technical parts. There are a couple of new places we haven’t gone before. So it’s just kind of a continuation of the last record to me, but even deeper.”

Once More ‘Round The Sun sold around 34,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 6 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on June 24, 2014 via Reprise Records.