Mastodon
Latest Mastodon news, guitars, gear, music, performances, and collaborations covered by Guitar Radar.
Guitar Radar has 3 stories about Mastodon, tracking new music, tours, collaborations and gear. Most of it sits under industry, learn and music. The most recent story, from Sep 14, 2026, is “Mastodon responds after Brent Hinds' estate sues the band”. Coverage here goes back to Aug 31, 2026.
About Mastodon
Mastodon is a progressive metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed around 2000 by Brann Dailor, Bill Kelliher, Troy Sanders and Brent Hinds. The band signed with Relapse Records in 2001 and released its debut album Remission in 2002. Leviathan, a concept album based on Moby Dick, followed in 2004 and was named album of the year by Revolver, Kerrang! and Terrorizer; the band later earned a Grammy nomination for Colony of Birchmen from Blood Mountain and its first Grammy win for Emperor of Sand's opening track.
On the gear side, Brent Hinds was best known for Gibson guitars, above all a Silverburst Flying V commissioned from Gibson in 2005 and fitted with Classic '57 humbuckers, plus Gibson SGs and Les Pauls. Bill Kelliher is a well-known Explorer player who has moved between Gibson and ESP, uses Friedman amps and cabinets, and relies on a Fractal Axe-Fx II for effects. The band uses low tunings such as D standard and Drop C, so it prefers heavier string gauges.
Guitarist Nick Johnston now plays with the band.
Sources: Mixdown: Gear Rundown, Mastodon's Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher · Premier Guitar: Interview, Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher · Wikipedia: Mastodon (band)
Stories
Mastodon responds after Brent Hinds' estate sues the band
The estate claims Hinds was never bought out of his ownership share before his death and objects to the band's public comments and use of his likeness.
Nick Johnston breaks down five lead-guitar approaches in a new Mastodon-era masterclass
The newly published lesson moves from hybrid picking and legato to sweep picking, tapping and chromatic blues phrasing, with Johnston demonstrating how he connects the techniques musically.
Mastodon release 'Marrow Deep', their first album with guitarist Nick Johnston
The August 28 record is Mastodon's ninth, their first as a five-piece, and their first since founding guitarist Brent Hinds left the band and later died.