Mastodon - Marrow Deep

Mastodon’s new album Marrow Deep is set for release on August 28 via Loma Vista Recordings. This album release is arguably more important than any of the albums that the band has released in the last decade (or perhaps even longer). Five years on from Hushed and Grim, Marrow Deep will be forever known as the first Mastodon album post the band parting ways with wildman-guitarist Brent Hinds, who passed away in tragic circumstances not long after a less than amicable split. The band have recently shared a short film, The Mastodon in the Room, which shows the founding members attempting to process the unresolved grief surrounding the loss of Brent, who’s position in the band became untenable despite his massive contribution to the band’s catalogue and identity. Given all of this I approached my initial listens to Marrow Deep with lots of questions - could Mastodon still really ‘be Mastodon’ without Brent?

It took all of 30 seconds of opening track "Barbarian’s Blood" to confirm that Mastodon will continue forge ahead with strength and their identity in tact despite the undeniable loss.  Brann Dailor, Troy Sanders, and Bill Kelliher remain an exceptionally strong and authentic core, and with fresh contributions from new guitarist Nick Johnston and  keyboardist João Nogueira the band sound reinvigorated and fresh, without losing their identity.

I was a hardcore Mastodon fan for about a decade (peaking from Blood Mountain to Once More ‘Round the Sun), but admittedly haven’t been following their work as fanatically in more recent times. Marrow Deep and the recent loss of Brent has managed to re-awaken my deep respect and enjoyment for this band’s music. Throughout the 12 tracks there is an adventurous, progressive aspect to the song writing and arrangements. Every song seems to have more than their fair share of killer guitar lines and different sections jammed into them, and the riffing is largely heavy and satisfying. The production is organic, yet crisp.  The vocals from Sanders and Dailor bring both aggression and melody as needed.  Dailor’s drumming is as energetic and tasteful as ever. The addition of prominent keyboards adds a 1960-1970’s classic rock and prog flavour to the undeniably Mastodon tracks �" there are sythns, organs and mellotron used at various stages. Both of the new band members add a virtuosity to the mix. Numerous guest appearances also elevate the tracks too (Josh Homme’s vocals in "Snakes for Dinner" or Geezer Butlers’ NIB style bass intro to "The Vanishing" are a great example of this).  Lyrically I hear lots of subtle and less subtle nods to the loss of Brent Hinds and similar themes around loss, which adds a depth to the album.

The two pre-release singles ("Your Ghost Again" and "Snakes for Dinner") are no doubt great tracks, but I’m also a massive wrap of "Barbarians Blood", "Poisonous Weapons", "Out Like a Limb", "In The Ruins", "Golden Spires"…. Hell, there are great tracks littered all the way through this album and nothing that stands out to me as weaker than the rest. In todays day and age I find 8 tracks to be about the right length for an album, however the 12 tracks on Marrow Deep hold my usually waning attention span throughout.

Mastodon have made a triumphant yet respectful statement with Marrow Deep. Its been a master stroke to pair the album release with their Brent Hinds tribute ‘The Mastodon in the Room’ short film, as I think providing some more transparency around Brent’s departure from the band and their emotions around his death will allow any fans who were left with unresolved baggage to have some level of closure. This closure then allows fans to embrace the new album with a clean slate and enjoy it for what it is - a fresh start and a brilliant album -  unmistakably Mastodon at their creative best.

Track Listing
1. Barbarians Blood" (featuring Ben Koller)       
2. Poisonous Weapons
3. Your Ghost Again
4. Snakes for Dinner (featuring Josh Homme) 
5. Out Like a Lamb        
6. In the Ruins
7. They're Coming for You          
8. Golden Spires            
9. Moth and Bone          
10. A Vampire's Demeanor (featuring Randy Blythe and Nate Newton)              
11. The Vanishing (featuring Geezer Butler and Joe Duplantier)              
12. The Three Fates (featuring Neil Fallon)

Added: July 27th 2026
Reviewer: Chris Reid
Score:
Related Link: Mastodon @ bandcamp
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Language: english

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