Mastodon have proven themselves adept at working their art through grief. Their first album, Remission, features a burning horse on the cover that drummer-vocalist Brann Dailor associated with his late sister Skye, a loss that would later more directly inspire Crack the Skye. A couple years later, The Hunter was informed by guitarist-singer Brent Hinds’ brother’s death during a hunting trip. Emperor of Sand was touched by bassist-vocalist Troy Sanders’ wife receiving a cancer diagnosis, as well as the loss of guitarist Bill Kelliher’s mother. Hushed and Grim was driven by the loss of their longtime manager Nick John, a figure who had been with them from their rise out of the worlds of grindcore, death metal, and noise rock into a vaunted and esteemed career as modern metal masters. And then they lost Brent Hinds.
Mastodon’s New Album
Mastodon have always risen to the occasion, and their new album Marrow Deep is no different. It’s no secret that Hinds fell out of love with heavy music as the band’s career went on, with him saying as much in interviews over a wide span of years. You’d be forgiven for thinking it was a wider held belief of the band, given their extracurricular activities largely revolving around rock and prog rather than the extremes of their early career. Marrow Deep proves otherwise.
All of Mastodon’s power is on full display here, with some of the best playing and vocal performances ever from Dailor and Sanders, while Kelliher continues to be an absolute riff machine. Yet, what truly shines is the warm glowing pride the trio of founding members have for newcomers Nick Johnston and João Nogueira.
Guest Appearances
The application of guests across Marrow Deep is delivered with a similar painterly sophistication. The feature list is stacked: Ben Koller and Nate Newton from Converge come in for guest spots alongside Kurt Ballou manning the boards; Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme returns for the first time since Blood Mountain; Clutch’s Neil Fallon likewise returning to the fold for the first time since Leviathan, and Gojira’s Joe Duplantier and Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe show up for good measure, as well. And there’s even an appearance by heavy metal godfather Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath.
Throughout Marrow Deep, Mastodon sound freer than they’ve sounded since Blood Mountain. But so too do the songs bear the obvious strain of loss and love, including Dailor’s mother, who passed during the making of the album, as well. There is a near-panic to the vocals, a desperation you only get graveside, grasping at fingertips being dragged away from you forever.
Upcoming Tour
Mastodon are headlining a Fall 2026 North American tour with support from Deafheaven and Alcest. Mastodon don’t just sound like they are honoring the immensity of their artistic and personal past. They sound hungry for the future again in a way they haven’t quite been so fervent about since Crack the Skye blew the doors off. That eagerness and hunger is infectious. If Crack the Skye signaled the beginning of their second era, then Marrow Deep is the big bang of their third. This is rebirth.
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Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
