Mastodon singer/bassist Troy Sanders says the band’s new album, Marrow Deep, carries the weight and intensity of their earlier work. He also praised new guitarist Nick Johnston for bringing riffs, songs, and textures into the recording process.
“[Nick] brought a few songs into the process that he had been working on, and they turned out to be awesome. We’ve been a four-piece for our entire career,” Sanders said.
“And this is the first record with Nick Johnston on guitar, so when he came to the table with some riffs and some ideas and some songs, not only did we think they were really cool and it was exciting, but this is a very authentic way to add his flavor, his textures and his sound to the record, which just helps — we think it just helps it grow.”
Mastodon confirmed that Marrow Deep will be released on August 28, 2026 through Loma Vista Recordings. The album is the band’s first full-length release since 2021’s Hushed and Grim.
In recent interviews, the band has described the record as one shaped by grief and memory. They also pointed to a heavier, more technical direction. The deaths of Brent Hinds and Brann Dailor’s mother form the thematic core of the album. The record includes some of Mastodon’s most metallic material since the 2000s.
Brent Hinds, Mastodon’s founding lead guitarist, left the band before his death in 2025. Marrow Deep is the first album to follow both his departure and passing. The album is dedicated to Hinds and Michele J. Lawrence, underscoring its role as a response to loss.
Nick Johnston entered the project as the band’s new guitarist. He contributes to the album’s recording lineup. He is widely known as a virtuoso progressive-rock and metal guitarist. His addition gives Mastodon a new voice at a moment of transition.
