Moving on while not forgetting

Mastodon - Marrow Deep

By Manuel Gemperli

It’s impossible to listen to or write about the new Mastodon album “Marrow Deep” without thinking about Brent Hinds. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for the remaining and the new members of the band to make this album. From their formation in 2000 until Hinds’ departure in 2024 their lineup remained unchanged. Only five months later he died tragically in a motorcycle accident.

Mastodon needed to be those four guys. Every member seemed crucial to who they were as a band, to their sound, to their identity. One thing I respect so much about Mastodon is that they created a sound that was always unmistakenly them. Of course, they had their influences, their points of references, but throughout their Heavy Metal-pantheon worthy career they first and foremost always sounded like themselves, and at the same time each record had their own identity. This is something only very few bands can say about themselves. But here they are with a new album, moving forward despite the tragedy and loss. 

The first thing that is clear when listening to “Marrow Deep” is that Mastodon still sound like Mastodon. And that’s a good thing. They still manage to be heavy, melodic, complex and immediate at the same time. The framework is familiar and yet you always wonder what may come next as you’re listening. The chemistry between Troy Sanders, Brann Dailor and Bill Kelliher is familiarly amazing. New guitarist Nick Johnston carries on the legacy of his predecessor in a respectful way while still incorporating his own style. What sonically stands out even more is the addition of João Nogueira. We have heard keyboards and synths before on Mastodon records, but you can hear why he was made an official full-time member. He is heavily featured throughout this record. And I love it. It adds even more texture to their sound and it seems so natural, considering that they always had those proggy elements and hints of psychedelia to their sound. 

Mastodon always incorporated melody to their sound, often most prominently through Brann Dailor’s insanely catchy vocals (I mean that the most positive way possible. The guy is not only a genius on drums), so this is not a new element, but there seems to be an even more heavy emotionality in many moments, possibly due to the fact that according to Brann the thematic core of this record is not only Hinds’ death but also the passing of Dailor's mother. I don’t know where we will eventually rank this record among their increasingly impressive catalog, but after my first impressions, I think we can without a doubt call this a more than worthy addition. It has all the elements I love about Mastodon. So many years into their career they remain a creative force. They can still surprise you, make you wanna bang your head but also touch you emotionally. Brent Hinds will live on through all those amazing Mastodon records, and in way through this one as well. We may not hear his guitar playing on here, but we still hear him.