Let’s check out the new Mastodon album! I’m doing a first listen review so this’ll be fun.
Oh man I am immediately into this, the drums hit hard before a massive guitar rings in to open ‘Barbarians Blood’ and this is going to be good! That musical transition early on was a nice little twist as the song keeps that Mastodon groove going and the groove that has become so completely identifiable for the band. With an “I felt so fucking alive” we get straight into ‘Poisonous Weapons’ and this is awesome, you just get lost in the music here as it takes you on a journey you find yourself just grooving as it slows down and there is like a moment of calm before a storm because it slowly builds back up to a soaring solo then the song explodes to play us out with an aggressive final stab. Our first taste of this new album was ‘Your Ghost Again’ and you know that it wastes no time at all and what I love about this band is that ability to go from the heavy to this soothing rhythm and that balance is what makes Mastodon what they are. This song is huge!
This is the bands first album in five years and the first to include new members contributing to the music, and what they have come up with is raw and for me shows that real sense of purpose and they are driving it home with this so far. If you’re a fan you would’ve heard ‘Snakes For Dinner’ and if so then you know what you’re in for. Vocally the harmonies in here fill this song out to no end and this is my stand out so far, thanks to a special appearance by Josh Homme. ‘Out Like A Lamb’ keeps things rolling and man, I wish I was in the dark with a candle lit and sipping on an expensive whisky just taking this in right now, this album is smooth. Oh this track has just taken us full prog, that solo, then a keyboard solo to follow, what a treat!
‘In The Ruins’ slows things down, oh wait, not for long! Then ‘They’re Coming For You’ is just that perfect song to keep things rolling along. The rawness and realness of these songs is so awesome. This album is such a treat to listen to, ‘Golden Spires’ is that perfect track 8, most albums have a banger at track 8, go check, you know I’m right. There is so much going on with this song but it is in no way cluttered, excellent production here. Oh yeah, ‘Moth and Bone’ big fan of this, this I’m going to call it a ballad, well a ballad for Mastodon is just so well done, that guitar sweeping is pristine. Ahh ok it just went power, well not a power ballad as such but the pedal just got stepped on and this has ramped up to a beast. Yeah this one rules.
A few tracks left, up next is ‘A Vampire’s Demeanor’ and we get screamy on this one thanks to Randy Blythe and Nate Newton in the verses before that blissful Mastodon step into peace and groove, they do this so well, as they get that wave again to continue to rock the hell out of it. That was a wild ride. The last two songs have the longest run times starting with the 6:44 ‘The Vanishing’ the intro played by the one and only Geezer Butler sets the scene as this takes you places, again with some amazing keys just elevating this to new levels. Neil from Clutch does some amazing work in ‘The Three Fates’ for the longest track on the album at 7:48 and what a way to close out this album, this one again just explodes and mid song takes a trip, like I think I’m on an actual trip, this is wild. The ending is abrupt and just sums up the closure for this album. That’s it, no more.
Mastodon after five years between albums have delivered a journey, this album is truly something. Light a candle, turn off the lights, immerse yourself in Marrow Deep and let it see where it takes you.
Essential Information:
From: Atlanta, Georgia USA
Release date: 28 August 2026
Record label: Loma Vista Recordings
Produced By: Patrik Berger and Kurt Ballou
Website: http://www.mastodonrocks.com
Track Listing:
Barbarians Blood
Poisonous Weapons
Your Ghost Again
Snakes For Dinner
Out Like a Lamb
In The Ruins
They’re Coming For You
Golden Spires
Moth And Bone
A Vampire’s Demeanor
The Vanishing
The Three Fates
