Mastodon Launch New Album With Josh Homme-Assisted Single

Mastodon will return with their first album in five years—and first since the sudden death of former frontman Brent Hinds—on August 28. Marrow Deep’s lead single, “Snakes for Dinner,” features a guest turn on vocals from Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme. He also stars in the comedy-horror video, directed by Deathcats, below.

Released by Loma Vista, Marrow Deep is the first album from Mastodon’s new lineup: founders Brann Dailor, Troy Sanders, and Bill Kelliher, plus new guitarist Nick Johnston. Keyboardist João Nogueira also contributes. The band co-produced the record with Patrik Berger and Kurt Ballou.

Brent Hinds was killed in a motorcycle crash last August, five months after exiting the band. The group returned last month with “Your Ghost Again,” on which Sanders and drummer Dailor shared vocal duties. Last week, the band shared a short film, The Mastodon in the Room, honoring their late bandmate and addressing his departure from the group. Later this year, Mastodon will head out on the Poisonous Weapons Tour, with support from Deafheaven and Alcest.

In a press release, Sanders said of the band’s follow-up to 2021’s Hushed and Grim, “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. 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.”

Homme and Mastodon also have history together: “Snakes for Dinner” is their first collaboration since “Colony of Birchmen” from 2006’s Blood Mountain.