Mastodon‘s first album in nearly five years is Marrow Deep, their first recording without their late longtime guitarist Brent Hinds. With Hinds’ initial separation from the band and eventual passing leaving its stability in flux, Mastodon added guitarist Nick Johnston as a permanent member, an honor also bestowed upon keyboardist João Nogueira who helped the band on their previous record Hushed And Grim. That makes the band a five piece for the first time ever.
The album begins with “Barbarian’s Blood” with plenty powerful riffs delivered in a midtempo way. Troy Sanders’ and Brann Dailor’s vocals enter with traditional Mastodon riffs courtesy of Bill Kelliher and Johnston. “Poisonous Weapons” opens with a shouted “And I felt so fucking alive” with guitar riffs and Sanders’ bass line providing a path for which Dailor’s vocals can walk on. A fun and melodic solo towards the end allows Sanders to reenter the mix. Both opening tracks feature keyboards more prominently to establish the band’s identity as a now fearsome fivesome.
Some tracks lean a little heavier into the post-Crack The Skye mid 2010s sounds, namely “Your Ghost Again,” “Snakes for Dinner” and even the Opeth laced “They’re Coming For You” making for more easily digestible progressive metal for the masses. “Ghost” and “Snakes” have great keyboard solos within them as well, the latter having a guest outro from Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age; historically a contributor to the band. Brann Dailor is great at reminding fans that he is one of the greatest drummers on the planet with how he approaches “Snakes For Dinner,” “Out Like A Lamb” and “A Vampire’s Demeanor” galloping through sections and providing ample room for his own haunting vocals or just keeping the band in time.
“Out Like A Lamb” has all the Mastodon riffing you want and ample keys, both of whom get dedicated solos towards the end, throwing in some audio effects that make you think this is a QOTSA song, especially since Josh Homme ended the last track on vocals. “In The Ruins” takes on a bit of a somber tone with Sanders on vocals; a true band effort brings the song to a close as the instrumentation is essential here from all members. “They’re Coming For You” has a slow and ominous guitar tone very much in the vein of The Hunter while “Golden Spires” begins as though it were a Gojira track with Duplantier styled riffing and “Moth and Bone” hits some heavier notes about halfway through, with the intro section sprinkled throughout, giving Sanders’ more aggressive vocal approach room to breathe.
The final three tracks are a real who’s who of metal from bands like Old Man Gloom, Gojira, Clutch, Lamb of God to freaking Black Sabbath. “A Vampire’s Demeanor” features Nate Newton and Randy Blythe on guest vocals. Dissonant beginnings with a slowly building aggressiveness allow for the guest vocalists to enter the fray nearly overlapping each other while Sanders’ bass provides the foundation along with the drums for a scorcher of a solo.
“The Vanishing” begins with a guest bit of a bass solo played by the legendary Geezer Butler before fading to some seriously melodic guitar playing relying a bit more on atmosphere with Joe Duplantier guesting on vocals too. “The Three Fates” closes things out with some direct heaviness; Neil Fallon adds some spoken sections as well. Keyboards and drums give a bit more of a jazzy and progressive sound here, prolonging the song a bit with the keyboard here giving Opeth a run for its money. Really not dodging the modern progressive metal tropes here, instead embracing them.
For longtime fans there is much to enjoy, especially if you’re a fan of the band’s work 2009 going forward. There are moments of overt heaviness that sound like the classic era of the band with the best cross section of that since 2017’s Emperor Of Sand. Mastodon have written a record that feels like the culmination of things by embracing their past, living in the moment, yet with an eye towards the future especially with the all-star performance from keyboardist João Nogueira who they let soar. Marrow Deep is the sound of a band continuing to grow after over 25 years, with plenty left in the tank to do so.
(released August 28, 2026 on Loma Vista Recordings)
