Mastodon

Mastodon, an American sludge metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999 around bassist and backing vocalist Troy Sanders (who became the lead singer after Eric Saner left in 2001), guitarist and backing vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher, and drummer and backing vocalist Brann Dailor. The band’s first releases came out on the independent label Relapse Records, which specializes in death metal and post-hardcore: two albums titled Remission in 2002 and Leviathan in 2004, preceded by two EPs in 2001 and followed by a third in 2003. All of these releases went relatively unnoticed, and it wasn’t until Mastodon signed with Warner (through the label Reprise Records) that a real turning point occurred, as the band’s music began to receive greater media exposure. The album Blood Mountain, boosted by a guest appearance on one track by Josh Homme (lead singer of Queens of the Stone Age), reached No. 32 in the U.S., a ranking that was further improved by the subsequent albums, Crack the Skye (No. 11 in 2009), *The Hunter* (No. 10 in 2011), and *Once More ‘Round the Sun* (No. 6 in 2014). Mastodon continues to expand its discography with Emperor of Sand (No. 7 in 2017) and Hushed and Grim, No. 20 in 2021. After being ousted from the band under acrimonious circumstances, singer Brent Hinds died on August 20, 2025, at the age of 51, in a car accident. Mastodon continued as a band with Brann Dailor, Troy Sanders, and Bill Kelliher, along with Nick Johnston on guitar. In 2026, the band returned with “Your Ghost Again”, the first song recorded without Brent Hinds and a track dedicated to mourning. “Snakes for Dinner”, featuring Josh Homme on vocals, followed by “In the Ruins”, foreshadowed Marrow Deep, Mastodon’s first album since Hushed and Grim. Co-produced by Patrik Berger and Kurt Ballou, the album was released on August 28, 2026, and was accompanied by a new North American tour with Deafheaven and Alcest.

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