Album Review: Mastodon – Marrow Deep
Reviewed by Dan Barnes
I think it’s fair to say it’s been a turbulent time in the Mastodon camp recently, with the sudden departure of Brent Hines in the spring of 2025 being the breaking-up of the quartet that had been together since the band’s inception a quarter-of-a-century before. There seemed to be some acrimony about Brent’s departure, made all-the-more tragic by his unexpected death in a road traffic accident in August 2025.
Perhaps the turmoil accounts for the gap between Hushed and Grim and this, their nineth studio album, being the longest time the band have taken, with fans having to wait five-years for Marrow Deep to be released. Not only the longest time between records, but this is Mastodon’s longest record to date, clocking in at more than sixty-five minutes run-time but, I would suggest, there is not a moment wasted in that hour-plus.
First single, Your Ghost Again, was released in June and dedicated to the memory of Brent when played at the Download Festival. Its fast and edgy riffs more in keeping with the pre-Blood Mountain-era of the band, embracing the Mastodon chaos and alluding to the fact that the split with Brent is something that will forever colour their collective souls; the pre-chorus reveals haunting vocals and musical moments.
Second single, Snakes for Dinner, goes Seventies prog and even a little jazz among its big themes and complex lyrical imagery, and includes a contribution from Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme, who makes his first appearance with Mastodon since 2006 and Blood Moountain’s Colony of Birchmen. Third, and most recent single, In the Ruins, seamlessly balances delicacy and aggression in a tribute to the heavy music we grew up with, and is an album highlight in my opinion.
To call Mastodon a heavy metal band is to short-change them, for while metal is a good starting point and they meet many of the visual and audible criteria, here on the likes of A Vampire’s Demeanor’s [sic] stomping riff and screaming vocals, featuring Randy Blythe and Nate Newton, of Lamb of God and Converge, respectively – it’s a track that harkens back to Leviathan; Golden Spires uses spikey guitars to disrupt the generally laid back feel and nautical motifs, the growls hitting like Derrick-era Sepultura.
The quality of guest musicians appearing on Marrow Deep is proof-positive that Mastodon is highly respected, and that is demonstrated by the presence of both Sabbath bass-legend, Geezer Butler and Gojira’s Joe Duplanter for The Vanishing. Not surprising that there’s a distinct Black Sabbath influence throughout this one, running over seven-minutes and with Geezer’s lush basslines recreating the feel of Paranoid’s Planet Caravan. It might not be the album’s heaviest track, but it is another highlight among many, as it becomes a study in restraint.
Those Sabbath-vibes can be heard on Poisonous Weapons, amid cascading guitars and classic metal sounds; not to leave Joe out, They’re Coming For You opens with some Gojira chops and a groovy beat.
The sludgy elements the band have been using since The Hunter come through on the doomy opener, Barbarian’s Blood, and the progressive lines of Out Like a Lamb; Moth and Bone heads off in a psychedelic direction, combining the keys of João Nogueira and the acoustic guitar of Nick Johnson, new members who make their presence felt all the way across Marrow Deep.
The near-eight minute epic The Three Fates, featuring a contribution from Clutch’s main beard, Neil Fallon, closes the record with a huge statement: fat, rolling guitars, a narrative section, musical ebb
and flow, marvellously anachronistic moments butted up against fiercely modern passages, all come together to give a fitting conclusion to the record.
Marrow Deep is Mastodon unchained and heading off in whichever direction the muse takes them. Be it sludge or stoner, alternative or progressive, groove or experimental, or just some go old hard rock, Mastodon won’t be defined, as to do so would narrow the potential of their music. Like Opeth, they have embraced the possibilities of modernising Seventies prog to create a sumptuous banquet that’s not too rich but offers a myriad of flavours and textures that are utterly cohesive in their diversity. Marrow Deep is a sure-fire contender for the End of Year Polls.
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