Mastodon, the GRAMMY Award-winning progressive sludge metal band, is set to release their ninth studio album this year, according to drummer and vocalist Brann Dailor. The journey to this album has been a tumultuous one, marked by both personal tragedy and creative challenges. The band's road to this point has been fraught with difficulties, including the departure of guitarist and vocalist Brent Hinds in 2025, following a falling out, and the subsequent loss of Hinds in a motorcycle accident in August of the same year. Additionally, Dailor himself endured the loss of his mother. Despite these setbacks, Dailor confirmed that the album is now finished and ready for release.
In an interview with Blabbermouth.net, Dailor shared his excitement about the album, acknowledging the emotional toll it took on the band. "It was a hard record to make. It was a very emotional time for us. I lost my mom, we went through all this turmoil with Brent, and then he passed away. It’s been tough. It’s all in the music, it’s all in the songs, and I’m excited to release it and get it out there into the world because we’ve been sitting on it for a while. A lot of this stuff, at least the skeletons of what this album is, we’ve been sitting on for two years now. A lot was going on." Dailor also confirmed that the album will not feature any contributions from Hinds, as the band continued to work on it without him.
The album's completion is a significant milestone for the band, especially considering the circumstances under which it was created. Dailor's personal loss and the band's internal turmoil added a layer of complexity to the creative process. "No. It’s all new stuff. Toward the end, unfortunately, it was hard to get him to come down to the [practice] space. He was interested in doing other stuff, which was fine. It was a confusing time. [Laughs] I was the one going, ‘Come on, man. Come down. Let’s riff.’ He was a free spirit. He wanted to ride his motorcycle around and go do this and that. He was wherever the wind took him. Unfortunately, it was not down to the practice space to work on riffs. It was a little bit frustrating. I was okay with it. I was like, ‘Hey man, everyone can do whatever they want to do in their life. If you’re unhappy and not wanting to be here doing whatever, figure out what does make you happy and do that.'"
The album's release later this year is a testament to the band's resilience and commitment to their craft. Dailor's personal interpretation of the album's creation highlights the emotional depth and the band's ability to channel their experiences into powerful music. "What makes this particularly fascinating is the raw emotion that the album exudes. It's a reflection of the band's resilience in the face of personal and creative challenges. From my perspective, the album serves as a testament to the power of music as a form of catharsis and a means of connecting with others."
In conclusion, Mastodon's ninth studio album is not just a musical release but a personal testament to the band's ability to overcome adversity and create art from pain. The album's completion and upcoming release are a reminder of the band's dedication to their craft and their fans, offering a much-needed distraction from the turmoil they've endured. "If you take a step back and think about it, the album's release is a powerful statement about the band's ability to transform personal tragedy into something beautiful and meaningful. What this really suggests is that music has the power to heal and inspire, even in the darkest of times." Personally, I think this album will be a significant release for the band and their fans, offering a much-needed respite from the challenges they've faced.
