MASTODON operated as a four-piece for their entire career. "Marrow Deep", out August 28 via Loma Vista Recordings, is the first record made by five people, and bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders says the arithmetic changed the band.
Guitarist Nick Johnston appears on a full-length for the first time, alongside substantial contributions from keyboardist João Nogueira. "Nick brought a few songs into the process that he had been working on, and they turned out to be awesome," Sanders told Australia's Everblack podcast. "We've been a four-piece for our entire career. 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."
Nogueira, who played on parts of 2021's "Hushed And Grim", was involved throughout this time. "It's a very healthy growth, because this is the first time ever we've been a five-piece, and everyone is very actively collaborating, contributing and writing. So, it was awesome energy."
The record is markedly heavier than its predecessor, and Sanders frames that as reflex rather than strategy. "'Hushed And Grim' was the whole lockdown, COVID album. We recorded what turned into a double album. And we had the time to just keep writing and exploring and lengthening songs, and we didn't really edit ourselves whatsoever." Five years of touring that album produced what drummer Brann Dailor calls a knee-jerk reaction. "Bill and Brann started riffing very heavy, kind of just turning it back to 'Leviathan' era almost, heavy, meaty, riff-driven songs. Let's pick up the pace and let's put our rock pants on and get to it."
He also admitted to a familiar pre-release fatigue. "We finished the record nine or 10 months ago. So we've kind of been living with it from the starting point for quite a while. I feel good about it, but in a great way, it's been so long that I don't know how to feel anymore. We've been there since riff one, so the five of us, we like it and we're very proud of it. But it's gotten to that point where we just don't know anymore. So it needs to come out."
"Marrow Deep" was co-produced by MASTODON at their own West End Sound in Atlanta with Patrik Berger and Kurt Ballou, and mixed by Andrew Scheps.
The band tour behind it on "The Poisonous Weapons Tour" with DEAFHEAVEN and ALCEST, opening September 16 in Orlando and closing October 24 at Sick New World Dallas.
Founding guitarist Brent Hinds left MASTODON in March 2025 and died in a motorcycle accident five months later.
Source: blabbermouth.net