Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy has weighed in on Mastodon’s new album, “Marrow Deep,” the band’s first release since the departure and death of guitarist Brent Hinds.
Portnoy’s remarks focused on how the band has evolved through a difficult period, praising both the emotional depth and musical direction of the new record.
“Huge Congrats to my brothers in Mastodon on their new release ‘Marrow Deep’,” Portnoy said. “Blown away by what they’ve created…picking themselves up after a rough couple years, this is an inspired work that you can feel their emotions from their past colliding with the excitement of the beginning of a new chapter.”
He went on to highlight the individual contributions of the band’s members, including new collaborators Nick and Joao, along with the album’s mix of heavy and progressive elements.
“Brann, Troy & Bill sound reinvigorated and firing on all cylinders…and Nick & Joao bring so many new sounds and possibilities to the band,” Portnoy continued. “And stylistically, there are some of the most brutal, heavy riffs I’ve heard from them in many years…but also, the prog elements are more experimental and atmospheric than ever! Gonna be hard to beat this one as my AOTY!”
Portnoy’s praise arrives against the backdrop of one of the most turbulent chapters in Mastodon’s history, one that has shaped both the tone and the making of “Marrow Deep.”
Brent Hinds departed Mastodon in March 2025 after co-founding the band and serving as its lead guitarist for more than two decades. Just five months later, Hinds died in a motorcycle accident. The loss hit the remaining members hard, as they were already navigating the transition away from him creatively and personally.
“Marrow Deep” carries the weight of that loss directly. The band has confirmed that Hinds had no creative input on the record whatsoever, making it the first Mastodon album in the group’s history to be written and recorded entirely without him. The album, released on August 28, 2026 through Loma Vista Recordings, marks the band’s ninth studio effort. It also marks their first as a reconfigured lineup.
That reconfiguration includes guitarist Nick Johnston and keyboardist João Nogueira, both of whom joined as permanent members following Hinds’ exit. “Marrow Deep” is their first full-length release with the band. Their contributions are central to the expanded, more experimental sound Portnoy singled out in his review.
Bassist and vocalist Troy Sanders has spoken about how the new five-piece lineup has approached the writing process, noting that the collaborative dynamic shifted significantly with the additions. Drummer Brann Dailor has also addressed the emotional toll behind the album. He lost his mother around the same period Hinds passed away, compounding the grief that runs through the record.
Portnoy’s comments add to the early praise surrounding “Marrow Deep” as Mastodon continues to navigate its new chapter following Hinds’ departure. Further reactions from fans and critics are expected as the album reaches a wider audience.
