Mastodon, a prominent American metal band, is in the midst of a European tour comprising 22 shows across 14 countries. The band members expressed satisfaction with the tour’s energy and reception, with bassist Troy Sanders describing it as “31 days of musical bliss.” This positive momentum comes despite significant personal losses the band has endured recently.
In February 2025, drummer and co-vocalist Brann Dailor’s mother, Michele Lawrence, passed away at age 69. The following month, Mastodon announced the departure of co-founding guitarist and singer Brent Hinds, concluding a 25-year partnership. Hinds subsequently made critical comments about his former bandmates on social media, referring to them as a “shit band with horrible humans.” Hinds died in a motorcycle accident at age 51. The band received news of his death while at Atlanta airport. Despite the acrimonious public exchanges, Dailor stated that lingering tensions dissipated following Hinds’s passing, emphasizing their quarter-century relationship.
Mastodon’s forthcoming ninth studio album, Marrow Deep, addresses these losses thematically. The album marks the debut of guitarist Nick Johnston and the full-time integration of keyboardist João Nogueira. The project is dedicated to both Lawrence and Hinds and features contributions from notable metal and rock figures, including members of Gojira, Lamb of God, Queens of the Stone Age, and Black Sabbath. Dailor characterized the album as representing the band’s most technical and metallic work since their early 2000s output.
Hinds was known as one of metal’s most unpredictable figures, bringing a country-inflected style rooted in his Alabama background to Mastodon’s sound. He battled substance abuse issues throughout his tenure, though band members acknowledged his authenticity and emotional expression through his instrument. The band’s previous albums have addressed personal hardships, including 2009’s Crack the Skye and 2017’s Emperor of Sand, which won a Grammy Award for best metal performance. Dailor emphasized that despite past conflicts, the band feels energized and alive moving forward.
Marrow Deep releases on 28 August.
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