RIP Brent Hinds

A tier list of Mastodon albums would be epic Anthony

1:11 I stand behind once more round the sun

9/10 one of the best releases of August
RIP Brent

This review has its share of shaky moments.

You switched up the dedications for Your Ghost Again and Snakes for Dinner btw

That's Neil Fallon, from Clutch, on The Three Fates.

He didn't even mention the best song on the album, The Vanishing.

I really liked this album. Of course it has a big Brent shaped hole that is noticeable but it almost feels like it was part of the sound if that makes sense. This really got me excited for what they'll do next.

Pleasantly surprised you enjoyed this one. Love the Mastomen, love the album. RIP Brent Hinds

They still had me with the hunter. Shit was fun.

I’ll never forget the first time I ever heard mastodon. They opened for slayer and the leviathan album had just come out. I was utterly blown away by their performance and instantly a fan. RIP Brent Hinds

Anthony, I appreciate the review! I think it's a pretty fair and balanced critique overall, but I was surprised you didn't mention the incredible lineup of guest appearances throughout the record:

• Ben Koller (Converge, Mutoid Man, Killer Be Killed) playing drums/percussion on "Barbarians Blood"
• Josh Homme (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures) singing the outro on "Snakes for Dinner" (his first Mastodon feature since "Colony of Birchmen" on Blood Mountain)
• Randy Blythe (Lamb of God) and Nate Newton (Converge, Cave In) providing guest vocals on "A Vampire's Demeanor"
• Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) on bass and Joe Duplantier (Gojira) on guest vocals for "The Vanishing"
• Neal Fallon (Clutch) providing those southern preacher-style vocals you briefly mentioned on "The Three Fates."

​I also wanted to offer a slight clarification on "Your Ghost Again." In recent interviews, Brann and Bill mentioned that the track is specifically about briefly catching a glimpse of Brent's ghost out of the corner of their eye while recording and performing after his passing. "The Vanishing" is the track that primarily honors Brann's mother.

​While I'm glad to see you enjoyed this more than Hushed and Grim, a strong 6/light 7 feels a bit low to me. After 8 or 9 full listens, I'm still confident putting it at a strong 8/light 9: easily their most cohesive work since Crack the Skye. But art is subjective, and I appreciate your perspective as always.

​If you happen to see this, what was your personal favorite track? Mine is "Poisonous Weapons": that bridge leading into Nick Johnston's solo is incredible, and it features some of Brann’s best vocal work on the whole record.

Your Ghost Again is about Brent and thinking they kept seeing him in the studio.

Snakes for Dinner is about Branns mom. It's pretty clear in the lyrics and the band has also confirmed it.

As a long time mastodon fan, i cant believe im enjoying this as much as i am. Vanishing might be my favorite track since the czar.

Nice mini catalog review. I love The Hunter and I think those songs were better live than on the album. I’m pleasantly surprised with the lush little flourishes that speak to a more diverse direction moving forward.

My favorite album overall is Emperor of Sand actually.  While I love Leviathan and think Blood Mtn and Crack the Skye are the quintessential Mastodon sound, I think Emperor is the perfect evolution of their songwriting and everything that makes Mastodon great.  Almost all my favorite riffs, choruses, and guitar solos are on Emperor.  I also decently like Hunter, really love Hushed and Grim, and for the most part hate Once More Round the Sun almost entirely.  But anyways, as for Marrow Deep.  I think it's unfathomably impressive that they lost a major songwriter/singer/guitarist who was a prominent part of the bands core identity, then proceeded to write an almost flawless album that displays the resiliency of Troy, Brann, and Bill as well as displays the talent of Nick Johnston while showing us the sort of direction the band will be going in as they move into this new era without Brent (RIP legend.)

Your Ghost Again is about Brent actually, but snakes for dinner is about Branns mom

I felt like you at the first listen, but it grew on me rapidly after that. It's emotional and crisp. And man, does it sound good.

2:55 no accounts don't differ, as the band clarified his departure in their mini doucmentary. From their view for understandable reasons, as Hinds' commitment to the band had been dwindling for a decade at that point and they bascically had to drag him into the studio for their last LP. Therefore the live shows suffered and Brent was much more interested in other endeavours, as apparently he just did not want to do metal anymore. The band hoped they could reconcile after the dust settled, but life had different plans... RIP Dirty B Hinds