Moving on after the exit of an integral band member is never an easy task, but for Mastodon the circumstances were infinitely harder. Five months after their friend and guitarist of twenty-five years Brent Hinds parted ways with the band, he tragically lost his life in a motorcycle accident, leaving the three remaining band members bereft with a seemingly impossible hole to fill. Blindsided by shock and grief, they continued with their touring and recording schedules, choosing axeman Nick Johnston to be the man who would take up permanent guitar duties. Also welcomed into the fold was keyboardist Joao Nogueira, and with the rejuvenated Mastodon now operating as a five piece, new album ‘Marrow Deep’ finds the band charting a renewed and impassioned course.
Mastodon of course are no strangers to making music overshadowed by death. 2009’s career defining ‘Crack The Skye’ saw drummer Brann Dallor confront the tragic suicide of his sister, while 2017’s ‘Emperor Of Sand’ was a loose concept album about the band’s individual experiences of dealing with cancer within their immediate families. Even the band’s most recent album, 2021’s ‘Hushed And Grim’, was recorded in the midst of them losing their longtime manager and friend Nick John. With this in mind, it will come as no surprise that ‘Marrow Deep’ is littered with odes and references to the late Hinds (his tattooed likeness can also be seen in the album’s spellbinding cover art) as well as the sad passing of Dailor’s Mother, who died during the writing of this album.
In quintessential Mastodon fashion, ‘Barbarian’s Blood’ opens the album in thunderous style as powerhouse drumming gives way to treacle thick, sludge-infused riffs, alongside bassist Troy Sander’s commanding howl. A shapeshifter of a track recalling both the Mastodon of new and old, the storming opener also features the first touches of proggy, atmospheric keyboard work from Nogueira, cementing his place in the band early on in the record. Immediately noticeable too is just how crisp and clear the band sound in the hands of producers Kurt Ballou and Patrick Berger. Dailor’s distinctive drum patterns have a little more space to breathe, whilst this is by far the most prominent Sander’s bass have ever sounded on record. ‘Poisonous Weapons’ is another absolute rager of a track and features a great solo from new boy Johnson, who instead of trying to replace the irreplaceable has clearly brought his own ideas to the Mastodon table. Likewise his lead guitar work on the ferocious ‘Out Like A Lamb’ is showstopping, demonstrating just what a perfect fit he is. Lead single ‘Your Ghost Again’ already feels like a Mastodon classic with Noguiera’s keyboards once again nudging the band in a proggier direction during instrumental passages, recalling ‘Sorceress’ and ‘Heritage’ era Opeth.
‘Marrow Deep’ gets really interesting, however, when it starts venturing into slightly more uncharted waters. The album’s moving centrepiece ‘In The Ruins’ is easily one of the best tracks of their career, featuring Hinds-esque, heartfelt vocals from Sanders, moving guitar work and a chorus that truly embeds itself in the mind. The trippy ‘The Vanishing’ is also a standout. Opening with a bass intro from the legendary Geezer Butler, it morphs into an emotive and psychedelic-tinged ballad complete with memorable, emotive arpeggios, gorgeous harmonised vocals and a glorious solo from Johnson. Speaking of guest features, Lamb Of God’s Randy Blythe lends his almighty roar to the groove-infected and riff-filled ‘A Vampire’s Demeanour’, whilst Clutch’s Neil Fallon lends his unhinged vocals to the mind-bending trip of a closer ‘The Three Fates’. Here, we find the band fully embracing all things psychedelic, using the second half of the near eight-minute runtime to have one heavy blissed-out jam, complete with mesmerising keyboard and guitar solos.
In all, ‘Marrow Deep’ contains many elements you could easily attribute to Mastodon’s past albums, in particular ‘Blood Mountain’ and ‘Hushed And Grim’. But more importantly, this album represents a new incarnation of Mastodon; with Johnson and Nogueira on board, the band are confidently carving a new path and entering a new era of their career. ‘Marrow Deep’ is a passionate, intricate, raging, and at times poignant album that more than stands up to the band’s best work.Â
ADAM FIRTH