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.
Aug 31, 2026
Credit: Loma Vista Recordings (via source)
Mastodon put out 'Marrow Deep' on August 28 through Loma Vista Recordings, and for a guitar audience the headline is the personnel. Canadian player Nick Johnston, known until now for instrumental solo records and a long-running Schecter signature, is on the album as a full member alongside Bill Kelliher. Keyboardist Joao Nogueira also joins, making this the first Mastodon album tracked as a five-piece.
It is also the first Mastodon record since founding guitarist and co-vocalist Brent Hinds parted ways with the group in 2025 and died in a motorcycle crash months later. The band has talked about moving away from the psychedelic and punk streaks Hinds brought, toward something heavier and more direct. Patrik Berger and Kurt Ballou co-produced with the band, and Andrew Scheps mixed.
The rollout ran through the summer with three singles: 'Your Ghost Again' in June, 'Snakes for Dinner' in July with a guest vocal from Josh Homme, and 'In the Ruins' in mid-August. Geezer Butler, Randy Blythe, Joe Duplantier and Neil Fallon turn up elsewhere on the 12-track set. Early reviews have been strong. A North American tour with Deafheaven and Alcest follows in the fall.
Credit: Mastodon (via source)
Why it matters
Nick Johnston moving from solo instrumental artist to a permanent seat in Mastodon is one of the year's more consequential guitar-chair changes, and 'Marrow Deep' is the first real look at how the band writes without Brent Hinds.
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Sources
- https://consequence.net/2026/07/mastodon-new-album-song-snakes-for-dinner-josh-homme/(primary)
- https://www.nme.com/news/music/mastodon-announce-first-new-album-in-five-years-marrow-deep-with-blistering-josh-homme-featuring-single-snakes-for-dinner-3956754
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marrow_Deep
- https://blabbermouth.net/news/mastodons-brann-dailor-on-marrow-deep-its-the-right-record-for-us-at-this-point-in-time
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