Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON have unveiled the official music video for “In The Ruins,” a track featured on their highly anticipated new album, “Marrow Deep,” due out August 28 via Loma Vista Recordings. The album marks the band’s first full-length release without founding guitarist and vocalist Brent Hinds, who was dismissed from MASTODON in March 2025 and tragically died five months later in a motorcycle accident.

Produced by MASTODON at their West End Sound studio in Atlanta alongside Patrik Berger (Lana Del Rey, Charli XCX) and Kurt Ballou (HIGH ON FIRE, CONVERGE), “Marrow Deep” was mixed by Andrew Scheps (Adele, BLACK SABBATH, METALLICA). The record also introduces guitarist Nick Johnston as a full-time member, while keyboardist João Nogueira makes significant contributions throughout the album.

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Five years after the ambitious “Hushed And Grim”, MASTODON return with “Marrow Deep”, an album that captures founding members Brann Dailor, Troy Sanders and Bill Kelliher rising from a period of personal challenges with renewed determination and creative energy.

Drawing inspiration from the Three Fates of Greek mythology and the delicate connections between life, loss and destiny, “Marrow Deep” transforms the band’s intense experiences of recent years into some of the most expansive, daring and emotionally powerful music of their career. The album also marks the first full-length release to feature guitarist Nick Johnston, while keyboardist João Nogueira makes significant contributions throughout.

“Marrow Deep” was co-produced by MASTODON at their own West End Sound studio in Atlanta, together with Patrik Berger (Lana Del Rey, Charli XCX) and Kurt Ballou (HIGH ON FIRE, CONVERGE). The album was mixed by Andrew Scheps (Adele, BLACK SABBATH, METALLICA) and features an impressive lineup of guest appearances, which will be revealed soon.

The new single “Snakes For Dinner” follows last month’s immediate fan favourite “Your Ghost Again”, which reached No. 2 in a Revolver readers’ poll of the best songs of 2026 so far. The track is an emotionally powerful epic featuring Josh Homme’s first appearance on a MASTODON recording since his contribution to “Colony Of Birchmen” from the 2006 album “Blood Mountain”.

Built around crushing riffs and soaring melodies, “Snakes For Dinner” reveals the emotional heart of “Marrow Deep”, reflecting on the lasting absence of those we have lost and the uncertain road that lies ahead.

The single’s announcement arrives shortly after the release of the band’s short film “The Mastodon In The Room”, an intimate and revealing look at MASTODON as they confront the unresolved grief surrounding the loss of founding guitarist Brent Hinds. The film offers a powerful reflection on the legacy of their extraordinary 25-year journey together, while also honestly exploring the personal dynamics and circumstances that led to their separation.

While the film paid tribute to MASTODON’s past and the difficult journey that brought them to this point, “Marrow Deep” represents the beginning of an ambitious new chapter for the band. The album retains the crushing riffs, adventurous songwriting and emotional intensity that have always defined MASTODON, while a renewed creative drive pushes them toward some of the most powerful and captivating music of their career.

“Bill, Brann and myself are thrilled that we still have the opportunity to do this, and we’ve got other members who are just over the moon to be in the band with us,” Sanders says. “That’s a magical feeling that makes us keep wanting to go to band practice. It’s reminiscent of the very beginning of our band, where all members are hungry, we’re united, and excited to get to work. And we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to do this record.”

MASTODON will celebrate the release of “Marrow Deep” with the upcoming “The Poisonous Weapons Tour”, a nationwide trek featuring support from DEAFHEAVEN and ALCEST. The three-band tour will launch on September 16 in Orlando, taking them across the country before reaching its grand finale on October 24 at Sick New World Dallas.

“Marrow Deep” track listing:

01. Barbarians Blood
02. Poisonous Weapons
03. Your Ghost Again
04. Snakes For Dinner
05. Out Like A Lamb
06. In The Ruins
07. They’re Coming For You
08. Golden Spires
09. Moth And Bone
10. A Vampire’s Demeanor
11. The Vanishing
12. The Three Fates

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“Your Ghost Again” marks the first new music from MASTODON since the passing of co-founding guitarist and vocalist Brent Hinds. Hinds left the band in March 2025 and tragically died in a motorcycle accident five months later. Following his departure, touring guitarist Nick Johnston stepped into the lineup and is reportedly featured on the band’s upcoming studio album.

In a video released alongside the announcement of the new single, the members of MASTODON revealed that the song serves as a tribute to their late former bandmate, honoring his legacy and lasting impact on the band.

“‘Your Ghost Again’ is about when you lose somebody that’s close to you that you existed with for most of your life,” MASTODON drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor said. “When we were in the studio recording, I kept seeing Brent. I’d see him on my right holding the guitar because that’s where he’d usually be. It’s the same with my mom: I keep seeing her. I was just singing about what I was seeing, and I was seeing ghosts.

Dailor went on to say that “Your Ghost Again” is “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.”

“My portion of the song, lyrically, is all about Brent, and for Brent,” added MASTODON bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders. “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.”

MASTODON guitarist/vocalist Bill Kelliher commented: “We wanted to pick a song that sounds like MASTODON, and that has all the things in there, because it’s the first impression of what people are gonna hear. It speaks about things that have just happened and people passing, I could go deep but I don’t want to because a lot of that shit’s personal.”

photo credit: Alison Webster

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Atlanta News First reports that former MASTODON guitarist Brent Hinds died in a car accident on Wednesday night (August 20) in southeast Atlanta, Georgia. He was 51. The Fulton County medical examiner’s office has reportedly confirmed his passing.

An incident report from the Atlanta Police Department states that officers responded to an accident at the intersection of Memorial Dr. SE and Boulevard SE at approximately 11:35 p.m. “Upon arrival, officers located an unresponsive male who was involved in the collision,” the police said. “The male appeared to be operating a Harley Davidson during the time of collision. Medical personnel pronounced the male deceased. The other driver involved, a female who occupied a BMW SUV remained on scene. The APD Accident Investigations Unit responded to the scene to determine the circumstances. Preliminary investigation indicates the male was traveling West on Boulevard. The female operating the BMW SUV failed to yield while turning left and collided into the male victim who was operating the Harley Davidson. The investigation remains active at this time”.

In March, MASTODON announced that the band and Brent Hinds had “mutually agreed to part ways” after “25 incredible years together.”

Hinds had been MASTODON’s lead guitarist and vocalist since 2000, performing alongside bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, drummer Brann Dailor, and guitarist Bill Kelliher.

Rest in Peace, Brent.

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I. Why Dream Theater are considered so influential?

• They perfected the fusion of metal and progressive rock: Dream Theater weren’t the first to mix metal with prog rock, but they perfected the formula. With their 1992 breakthrough album “Images and Words”, they proved that virtuosic musicianship could coexist with melodic songwriting and emotional depth. Songs like “Pull Me Under” and “Metropolis Pt. 1” showcased both heavy riffing and complex arrangements. The band didn’t just borrow from Rush and Yes — they redefined progressive music for a new generation by integrating speed, aggression and dynamic contrasts. Simply put, they made prog metal legitimate.
• Their technical mastery inspired a whole generation of musicians: Every member of Dream Theater is a technical monster — and that’s no exaggeration. John Petrucci’s precision, Jordan Rudess’s keyboard wizardry, Mike Portnoy’s (and later Mangini’s) rhythmic complexity and John Myung’s finger-bending basslines have made them heroes to aspiring musicians. Guitarists, drummers and keyboardists around the world have spent hours trying to master Dream Theater songs. Music schools even analyze their compositions. Their commitment to excellence showed that metal could be not only aggressive, but academically respected — they set the gold standard.
• They popularized the concept album in modern metal: While concept albums were already a thing thanks to Pink Floyd and Genesis, Dream Theater brought that format back in a big way with metal intensity. “Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory” (1999) is still considered one of the greatest modern concept albums ever made — a cinematic journey told through interwoven themes, characters and jaw-dropping music. This inspired countless bands to pursue storytelling on a grand scale, from Opeth to Haken to Between the Buried and Me. Dream Theater proved that metal could be epic, theatrical and meaningful.
• They built a cult following without radio or mainstream support: Of course, “Pull Me Under” was a minor hit, played often in MTV’ s Headbangers Ball, but Dream Theater never relied on hit singles or radio play — they built their fanbase through live shows, word-of-mouth and sheer musicianship. Albums like “Awake”, “Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence” and “Octavarium” weren’t commercial in the traditional sense, but they sold solid numbers and won passionate fans. Their concerts became events, with epic setlists and ever-changing songs. They made progressive metal cool, showing that a band could be fiercely independent and still achieve longevity, international success and influence — all without compromising artistry.
• They created a blueprint for the modern progressive metal scene: Almost every modern prog-metal band owes something to Dream Theater. Whether it’s the technical playing, the album structures or the blending of metal with symphonic and electronic elements, Dream Theater laid the groundwork. Bands like Symphony X, Periphery, Haken, and even Tool (to some degree) operate within a world that Dream Theater helped shape. They built a genre, nurtured a global scene and showed that intellectual metal could thrive. Their influence is heard everywhere — in riffs, solos, arrangements, and ambition.

Over three decades, Dream Theater have influenced not only how metal is played, but how it’s conceived. With fearless experimentation, flawless technique and uncompromising vision, they’ve carved their place in metal history — and they’re still going strong, having an excellent new album, “Parasomnia”, out now! Whether you’re a casual fan or a die-hard fan, Theater’s impact is undeniable and deeply felt throughout the progressive and metal world.

II. Which are the best Dream Theater albums?

Dream Theater have released sixteen full-length studio albums, but some truly stand tall above the rest. These masterpieces not only defined their sound, but shaped the landscape of progressive metal. From technical brilliance to emotional depth, from sprawling epics to unforgettable melodies, these albums capture Dream Theater at their absolute finest.

• “Images and Words” (1992, ATCO)

The album that changed everything. “Images and Words” is where Dream Theater found their identity — with James LaBrie on vocals and a sharp mix of metal riffs and progressive intricacy. “Pull Me Under” was their unexpected hit, but deeper cuts like “Metropolis Pt. 1”, “Take the Time” and “Learning to Live” are prog-metal gold. Every track here is ambitious, powerful and melodic. It’s no exaggeration to say this album created the blueprint for modern progressive metal as we know it today.

• “Awake” (1994, EastWest)

Darker, heavier, more introspective — “Awake” was a bold step forward. Here, Dream Theater dove into deeper emotional territory, exploring inner turmoil, addiction and loss with tracks like “Scarred”, “Voices” and “Space-Dye Vest”. Kevin Moore’s atmospheric keyboard work gave this album a unique, haunting feel. John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy are at their creative peak here, blending complexity with aggression (that means Pantera!). “Awake” is a fan favorite for good reason: it’s intense, cerebral and marks the end of an era with Moore’s final contributions.

• “Falling Into Infinity” (1997, EastWest)

This is one of Dream Theater’s most polarizing albums — a bold yet compromised attempt to balance artistic ambition with commercial appeal. Pressured by their label to deliver more accessible material, the band introduced shorter song structures and radio-friendly elements, but still retained their progressive roots in tracks like “Trial of Tears”, “Peruvian Skies” and “Lines in the Sand” Despite the tension behind its creation, the album showcases emotional depth, technical brilliance and strong songwriting. Over time, it’s gained appreciation for its melodic richness and unique place in Dream Theater’s discography — a misunderstood but essential chapter. That album made me a Dream Theater fan!

• “Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory” (1999, Elektra)

Arguably their greatest artistic achievement. “Scenes from a Memory” is a concept album done right — a haunting narrative of reincarnation, murder and fate, woven into dazzling progressive metal. Musically, it’s a technical tour de force, yet the emotion never gets lost. Tracks like “Home”, “The Spirit Carries On” and “Finally Free” balance storytelling with showmanship. This album elevated Dream Theater to mythic status in the prog world. It’s a complete experience that demands (and rewards) full attention, start to finish.

• “Train of Thought” (2003, Elektra)

This is Dream Theater at their heaviest and most aggressive. “Train of Thought” was a conscious shift toward a darker, more metallic sound, and it hits like a sledgehammer. Tracks like “As I Am”, “This Dying Soul” and “In the Name of God” are filled with crushing riffs, relentless drumming and razor-sharp precision. But there’s still plenty of prog complexity and emotional punch. It’s the perfect album for metalheads who want a bit more brain with their brutality — and vice versa.

Dream Theater have always been a band that pushed their own limits, and these five albums represent the absolute best of what they’ve achieved. Whether it’s their genre-defining classics or their daring experiments, these records continue to inspire musicians and fans around the world. If you’re just starting out with Dream Theater, these five will give you a front-row seat to progressive metal perfection.

III. Trivial and interesting facts about Dream Theater

Dream Theater are not just musical wizards — they’ve also accumulated a fair share of quirky, surprising and interesting trivia throughout their decades-long career. From mysterious names to hidden messages and nerdy obsessions, here are some lesser-known facts that even some hardcore fans might not know!

• Before they were Dream Theater, the band went by the name Majesty. The name came from drummer Mike Portnoy, who thought a Rush song (“Bastille Day” from “Caress of Steel”) sounded “majestic”. But not long after forming, they received a cease-and-desist letter from another band already using the name. Forced to change, they chose Dream Theater — a name suggested by Portnoy’s father, inspired by a small California movie theater. Ironically, the name fit perfectly. Majesty still lives on though: the band’s symbol (the “Majesty symbol”) is a tribute to those early days.
• Bassist John Myung is famously quiet; rarely gives interviews and often keeps to himself. But when he does contribute, he leaves a strong impact. One of his most beloved lyrical contributions is “Learning to Live” from “Images and Words”, a deeply philosophical track about overcoming pain and understanding the human condition. He also co-wrote lyrics for songs like “Trial of Tears” and “Fatal Tragedy”. It’s fascinating how someone so soft-spoken offstage can express such depth and insight when given the pen. Myung remains a mystery — and that only adds to his legend.
• Dream Theater are the kind of band who’ll hide a full concept inside a concept album. Mike Portnoy’s famous “Twelve-Step Suite” — a song cycle exploring his recovery from alcoholism — was spread out over five albums, starting with “The Glass Prison” in 2002 and concluding with “The Shattered Fortress” in 2009. Fans who followed closely eventually pieced together the full story, but the band never officially announced the concept until later. It’s a brilliant Easter egg hunt, showing just how much they love layering stories within stories, both musically and thematically.
• Dream Theater are known for their tribute shows, and perhaps the most iconic was when they performed Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” album live in its entirety — from front to back — in 2002. They did the same with Iron Maiden’s “The Number of the Beast” and Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon”. But these weren’t just loose covers. Dream Theater practiced, nailed the details and paid serious tribute. These performances became legendary among fans and proved just how versatile and respectful they are of the bands that inspired them.
• When Kevin Moore left, Dream Theater struggled to find the right keyboardist. Jordan Rudess was offered the role after the “Awake” sessions but turned it down to join the Dixie Dregs, a jazz-fusion group he admired. Ironically, the band found him too good at the time — his classical-meets-sci-fi style was jaw-dropping. But by 1999, he was finally in. Since joining, Rudess has brought insane technical ability and a signature sound using custom synth rigs and iPad apps — some of which he developed himself. He’s the band’s ultimate tech wizard.

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MASTODON wrote: “Friends and Fans, After 25 monumental years together, Mastodon and Brent Hinds have mutually decided to part ways. We’re deeply proud of and beyond grateful for the music and history we’ve shared and we wish him nothing but success and happiness in his future endeavors. We are still very inspired and excited to show up for fans in this next chapter of MASTODON. As we move forward, all 2025 touring plans will remain intact. We look forward to seeing you on the road”.

Since 2000, Brent Hinds had been Mastodon’s lead guitarist and vocalist, performing alongside bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, drummer Brann Dailor, and rhythm guitarist Bill Kelliher.

For 25 years, Mastodon’s lineup remained unchanged, releasing eight studio albums, starting with “Remission” in 2002 and culminating in their latest LP, “Hushed and Grim” in 2021.

Mastodon performed last weekend at the Tool Live In The Sand festival in Punta Cana, Mexico, alongside TOOL, PRIMUS, COHEED AND CAMBRIA, EAGLES OF DEATH METAL, etc, and recruited YouTuber and session musician Ben Eller to step in for Hinds.

Outside of Mastodon, Hinds leads Fiend Without a Face, and he’s played in Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, Legend of the Seagullmen, and more.

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by Antonis Mantzavinos

‘Leviathan’ is a concept album, inspired by the 1851 novel ‘Moby-Dick’ by Herman Melville. This epic novel from the 19^th century focuses on ‘the sailor Ishmael’s narrative of the maniacal quest of Ahab, captain of the whaling ship Pequod, for vengeance against Moby Dick, the giant white sperm whale that bit off his leg on the ship’s previous voyage’. It is also considered as part of the band’s tetralogy of their first 4 albums, representing the water element, according to what the band have previously stated (‘Remission’ is associated with Fire, ‘Blood Mountain’ with Earth and ‘Crack the Skye’ with Aether). A lot of people have argued in the past that, Mastodon play a kinda weird music, with a plethora of heavy, fast and technical riffs scattered, using technical and fast drumming, a fuzzy and hazy sound production, together with extreme vocals. Well, no matter how messy, or scattered, or extreme their music has been labeled, ‘Leviathan’ is the album which brought them to the forescene of heavy metal, broadened their fan base, got them invited to play at Ozzfest for the first time (2005) and in a few words, made them world-wide famous.

This major breakthrough was achieved by the really hard work of all 4 members, and I really stress this out, as all 4 of them reached insane playing standards (something they kinda surpassed as well in their upcoming releases..). Especially Brann Dailor, whose drumming is absolutely phenomenal, I strongly consider him one of the best metal drummers out there, and this argument is massively supported by his work in ‘Leviathan’. Playing on this record, he manages to be at the same time very: technical, fast, heavy, groovy and elevate the whole experience to another level… The guitars on the other hand are super heavy and there is a cataclysm of riffs all over. Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher have played on the album like there is no tomorrow. Their contribution is amazing and ‘Leviathan’ has some of the best trademark Mastodon riffs to have ever been recorded.

The opening riff from ‘Blood and Thunder’ sets the record straight from the very first second, where the groove is unbeatable, combined by huge drums and vocals (Neil Fallon from Clutch is guesting here, and this is fucking great!), and then you just have no doubts of what is about to follow on the album. The fast tempo and pace is consistent. However, there are glimpses of how the band has made the shift towards more progressive waters (e.g.: ‘Seabeast’, ‘Megalodon’) with songs setting down the pace for a while and then speed up again. What is also worth mentioning is how well the vocals have been taken care by both Brent (verses), with his Ozzy-like voice and Troy (choruses), and the result is just awesome, it fits perfect! ‘Island’ (or I should say ‘Iceland’, as there are some great lyrics, blending the Norse mythology among others) moves on the ocean of riffs and drums in a dominant manner. ‘Iron Tusk’ is definitely a highlight of the record. This one is groovy, with amazing double drums and killer, chunky riffs. ‘Naked Burn’ is another great song where Brent unfolds his vocal talent, and also a song with some beautiful prog riffs, assisted by lyrics where there is criticism for religion and the church. ‘Aqua Dementia’ features Scott Kelly from Neurosis, and you could argue that this one carries as well an environmental message through the lyrics: “An invitation to clairvoyance It’s hard to stand around and watch while they ignore us She is dumped on Used as an ashtray’, ‘And we cleanse the earth to bring it down’. Next is the epic and long ‘Hearts Alive’, a 13 minute prog masterpiece, with impressive riffs and where Brent is simply killing it, both on his riffs and solos but also vocal-wise. Simply brilliant! Following such a heavy and hectic sequence of songs, it is a great opportunity to cool the situation off with a beautiful outro, ‘Joseph Merrick, a wonderful instrumental piece, a weird structured but still mellow and cinematic ending to their marvelous ‘Leviathan’, accompanied by such a nice organ, where the listener has the chance to reflect on the whole experience of listening to the album.

As an epilogue, what needs to be highlighted is that, ‘Leviathan’ at the point of its release reignited the interest of many people for heavy metal and this particular sound Mastodon spotted on. Blending different styles, from thrash, metalcore, classic heavy metal, progressive, even melodic death metal, ‘Leviathan’ opened the gates for more people to listen, experiment with music and throw different pathways ahead to explore even more. In the form of a slightly chaotic, amorphous and heavily intense album, Mastodon did a fantastic job to cross over from the narrow and strict audiences until then, to the mainstream success of what their future has started to show in front of them. The inspiration from the ‘Moby Dick’ story allowed the band to pursue their own music quest, to throw themselves in the open seas trailing their destiny, seeking new territories and through unexplored waters.

Track listing:

1. Blood and Thunder (feat. Neil Fallon)
2. I Am Ahab
3. Seabeast
4. Island
5. Iron Tusk
6. Megalodon
7. Naked Burn
8. Aqua Dementia (feat. Scott Kelly)
9. Hearts Alive
10. Joseph Merrick (instrumental)

Trivia:

• ‘Leviathan’ was recorded in Seattle, Washington (March 2004) and was released by Relapse on August 31, 2004.
• It was awarded ‘Album of the year’ in 2004 by 3 magazines: Revolver, Kerrang! And Terrorizer.
• The (incredible) cover art and booklet artwork was done by Paul Romano.
• The album features Neil Fallon (Clutch) on “Blood and Thunder” and Scott Kelly (Neurosis) on “Aqua Dementia”.
• 3 cover songs were included as bonus tracks in the vinyl box set: “The Bit” (Melvins), “Emerald” (Thin Lizzy) and “Orion” (Metallica)
• On the vinyl editions, the tracks “I Am Ahab” and “Ísland” appear in a different track sequence than regular.
• Brann Dailor, when he wrote the bridge for “Blood and Thunder”, was inspired by a CD he got back in the early 90s called “Yalla – Egypt’s’ hitlist’ .
• Joseph Merrick was the Elephant Man (known for his severe physical deformities, who lived in the UK in the second half of the 1800s), and the outro of ‘Leviathan’ is part of the sequence of 3 instrumental pieces, which started on ‘Remission’ with ‘The Elephant Man’, continued with ‘Joseph Merrick’ on ‘Leviathan’ and ended with ‘Pendulous Skin’ on ‘Blood Mountain’. Mastodon unfortunately did not continue this thematic sequence after ‘Blood Mountain’.
• Ashes of the Leviathan Tour 2024: The tour finds the two iconic bands joining forces and co-headline for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of two seminal releases: Lamb of God’s biggest-selling album Ashes of the Wake and Mastodon’s acclaimed sophomore album Leviathan, which were both released on August 31, 2004.

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