Mastodon are currently doing press for their upcoming ninth studio record, Marrow Deep, which is their first without late guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds (who departed in March of 2025 and died in a motorcycle accident five months later). In a new interview with Metal Injection, drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor weighed in on whether he thinks Hinds would’ve liked the band’s new LP (as well as the surprising metal subgenre Hinds may’ve wanted Mastodon to try).
What Did Brann Dailor Say About Hinds + Marrow Deep?
During their chat with Metal Injection (uploaded to YouTube on Aug. 21), Dailor and bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders discussed multiple topics, including transitioning into a five-piece group (with newcomers Nick Johnston and João Nogueira) and their upcoming tour (alongside Alcest and Deafheaven).
Roughly halfway into their conversation, the pair were asked if they “ever considered what would Brent think or feel of the new record if he heard it?”
Whereas Sanders calmly replied, “That has not crossed my mind,” Dailor dove deeper into how he thinks Hinds would react to Mastodon’s latest album.
“[He] probably wouldn’t like it very much,” Dailor laughed, adding: “No, he might. I mean, I don’t know. Maybe there’s aspects of it that he would dig. But, you know, he wasn’t the biggest fan of heavy stuff toward the end. He was kind of always trying to steer us away from having that.”
Dailor continued:
I would have to think that there’d be a majority of the record that Brent would dig it, you know, and want to be – like if he was still here and still wanted to be in Mastodon and wanted to come rock with us, that he’d put his stamp on some of these tracks. Put his shine on some of it [like] the way he always did.
You can see Dailor and Sanders’ entire interview with Metal Injection below:
Mastodon’s Brann Dailor + Troy Sanders Discuss Marrow Deep + More
Although Hinds had zero creative input on Marrow Deep, the record is obviously inspired by him to a degree.
For instance, the first single from Marrow Deep – “Your Ghost Again” – came out this past June, and as Dailor explained at the time [via Loudwire]:
[It’s] about being in those familiar places you used to be with people, which for us is in the studio. I just kept seeing [Brent] out of the corner of my eye, where he would normally be with his guitar. It’s about that: your mind plays tricks on you, especially so soon after someone dies and you’re in the places where they always were. You just see them.
Hopefully this album helps everybody. Hopefully they can find some piece of it that speaks to them about it. I know Brent’s not there and it’s weird and it’s hard, and some people might be like, “Well I don’t wanna listen to it because Brent’s not there and I’m hurting about that,” but we are too. Big time. It means a lot to me, and I hope that’s able to translate to our fans and people who are grieving, too. I understand that, because we never really addressed it. We just couldn’t. And to the fans I’m just sorry that I wasn’t able to be more for them when that happened, because I couldn’t. For myself, I’m still unpacking it.
Likewise, Sanders commented:
My portion of the song, lyrically, is all about Brent, and for Brent. The bridge lyrics are two lines of pure gratitude towards Brent. It’s all the gifts from you, now you can take them back where you must go, meaning you came into my life, you exposed me to things that blew my mind, together we conquered thousands of stages around the world, had magical moments that we can never repeat again, but all the beauty that you brought it still remains, always will and it’s just a line of gratitude because that’s important that we include Brent.
READ MORE: Mastodon Officially Address Brent Hinds’ Death in New 35-Minute Video
The Surprising Metal Subgenre Hinds May’ve Wanted Mastodon to Try
In discussing Hinds’ desire to move away from “heavy stuff,” Dailor remarked that – whether seriously or jokingly – Hinds suggested that the group tackle another metal subgenre in addition to prog, sludge, stoner etc.
“He once said, ‘We should make a black metal song,’ and I’m like, ‘I just don’t know if you’re being serious or coming and going. One day, it’s this [and] one day, it’s that,” Dailor said while waiving his arms for emphasis.
Obviously, Mastodon have yet to explore Hinds’ suggestion.
Other Brent Hinds + Mastodon News
Marrow Deep – which follows 2021’s Hushed and Grim – will release this Friday, Aug. 28, via Loma Vista Recordings. You can pre-order the album (and related merch) here!
Mastodon officially announced the album back in July, writing:
Hello Everyone,
You have all been asking for it, so we are excited to announce our new album, Marrow Deep, will be released August 28th, 2026 and we are kicking it off with a new video for our new song ‘Snakes for Dinner,’ which features an appearance from our long time friend, Josh Homme.
It’s been quite the journey making this album, and we are very happy with how it came out, we can not wait for you to hear the whole thing! Until then, check out the new video, and pre-order a copy of the album today. Stay tuned, we’l keep bringing you updates, content and bunch of other cool fun stuff!
As always, thank you for being part of our world. We look forward to seeing you all on the Poisonous Weapons Tour and beyond!
– Mastodon
Similarly, the pre-order description for Marrow Deep reads:
Equal parts crushing & cathartic, ‘Marrow Deep,’ finds GRAMMY winners Mastodon pushing their sound into new depths without sacrificing what makes them one of heavy music’s most forward-thinking forces. Mastodon channel profound grief into one of the most emotionally charged albums of their storied career. A 13 song testament of the effect those close to us can have on our lives—effects that can extend well beyond the time we have with them. An album ultimately representing resilience & solidarity.
The quintet released a second song/video – “Snakes for Dinner” (featuring Queens of the Stone Age guitarist/singer Josh Homme) – alongside the album announcement.
As already mentioned, Mastodon are embarking on their North American Poisonous Weapons Tour in support of Marrow Deep (with Alcest and Deafheaven). The 27-date run will stretch across the United States and Canada, starting in Orlando, Florida on Sept. 16 and ending in Dallas, Texas on Oct. 24. You can see all of the dates and grab tickets here!
Earlier this month, Loudwire also reported on CKY debuting a new song, “Beware of the Heartless,” that includes a guitar solo from Hinds.
Of the track, frontman Chad Ginsburg commented:
We were reminded that it was a year since our friend Brent passed away. Brent played a solo on a song we recorded called ‘Beware of the Heartless’ and I thought, ‘why would I leave this on my computer?’ Brent took the time to play on it and we loved him, and in honor of his passing, we were too bummed out in the moment to think about that shit, but I want to throw it out there because I don’t want to hold onto it forever. I want to let go of it and give it to everyone.
You can listen to “Beware of the Heartless” below:
CKY, “Beware of the Heartless” (featuring Brent Hinds)
What do you think of Dailor’s thoughts on Brent Hinds and Marrow Deep? Would you want to hear Mastodon’s take on black metal? Let us know!
Also, be sure to check out our list of 31 rock + metal albums turning 20 in 2026 below!
31 Rock + Metal Albums Turning 20 in 2026
What was hitting as nu-metal faded and emo exploded? Let’s take a look at the big rock and metal albums from 2006.
Gallery Credit: Chad Childers, Loudwire
