Key Takeaways

• Friendship Origin: Brann Dailor and Joey Jordison’s friendship deepened through sharing quotes from the movie River’s Edge.
• Emotional Impact: The new album Marrow Deep reflects the heavy emotional circumstances surrounding the band, including personal losses.
• Collaboration Dynamics: The addition of Nick Johnston and Joao Nogueira has brought a fresh energy to Mastodon’s creative process.
• Live Performances: The band emphasizes the importance of delivering a satisfying full package for fans attending their shows.

There’s nothing like a good movie to bring people together and for Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor, the 1986 cult classic River’s Edge is something that was at the heart of his longtime friendship with Slipknot’s Joey Jordison. In fact, according to Dailor, he once ran up an $800 phone bill largely due to he and Jordison sharing quotes from the movie back and forth.

According to Dailor, it started when they were touring together and they both spotted a group of police cars parked with their lights on. Jordison then dropped a well-known line from the movie, with Dailor responding with the follow-up and the friendship took off from there.

“I got home at the end of that tour and I had a $800 phone bill. My wife at the time said, ‘Is this because you were texting River’s Edge quotes back and forth with Joey?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah. I’m sorry. But I can’t let Joey know. I can’t let him think that I don’t know what the next line is.’ It’d be like 3 in the morning. We’re on different buses. We’re in Germany somewhere and he’s like, ‘Somebody [expletive] parked,’ you know?”

Dailor details the movie’s significance from his youth and adds, “Some of my deepest relationships that I’ve had with people, River’s Edge plays a part. It’s a big movie for me.” So when the opportunity arose on their new album, the drummer says he didn’t hesitate to add some dialogue from Dennis Hopper’s Feck from the movie that exemplified how they feel about their new music.

“‘I feel so [expletive] alive’ is a statement that we also wanna make,” says Dailor. “This is an emotionally powerful record for us, but it’s not a sad record, you know? It’s kind of a united front for us. And it’s a beautiful thing that we’re all still here and still able to do this. We kind of want to kick the doors down with the new album.”

Within Full Metal Jackie’s discussion with Brann and Troy Sanders from Mastodon for her weekend radio show, they dig into the heavy emotional circumstances surrounding their new Marrow Deep album, working through the deaths of former bandmate Brent Hinds as well as Dailor’s mother.

The bandmates also discuss what the additions of Nick Johnston and Joao Nogueira have meant to this new album and Sanders shares a personal favorite moment of recording that showed the true band dynamic. And they discuss the importance of touring and putting together a solid bill top to bottom for people coming out to shows in 2026.

Check out more of the chat below.

It’s Full Metal Jackie and I’m so excited to welcome Brann Dailor and Troy Sanders from Mastodon to the show. We’re here to talk about your amazing new record, Marrow Deep. Sadly, this album deals with a topic that the band is all too familiar with, in death. Not only did Brent Hinds pass, but we also lost Brann’s mother, and both impacted the tone of this record.

So this one’s a little different in that you’re dealing with the death of someone who has been part of your core creative structure for years. In wanting to do this right, how much thought is there given to what would Brent have done here versus putting your own stamp on what the band is now and what is felt in this given situation?

Troy Sanders: Bill, Brann and myself will never deny the magnitude that Brent had in our band from day one. We’ll never deny his legacy and his unbelievably unique talents in songwriting and soul and character. That will never be denied ever, ever, ever.

But with this record, it turned out to be more of a celebration of … I don’t know if celebration’s the right word. A moving forward with a rejuvenated perspective and energy personally, friend-wise and musically. It became what we spoke of as this is gonna be the most important record of our career.

So it was more of a moving forward record once we started digging in, never denying Brent’s power and presence since day one of being in our band. But this record was moving forward, almost celebrating this new perspective and rejuvenated energy that the five of us shared collaborating, creating this record from the demo stages all the way to the final takes of tracking the record.

Mastodon, “In the Ruins”

Brent Hinds was certainly one of the more outrageous characters we’ve had in heavy music. You guys probably knew him better than anyone. What do you feel is mostly misunderstood about Brent or is the memory you’d like to most leave people with about who he was to you?

Brann Dailor: I think one of the most misunderstood things is that he hated heavy metal (laughs). Because he famously said that in an interview and people really took it and ran with it, you know? But I understood what he meant to a degree because he loved heavy metal.

He loved Neurosis, he loved Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath,, Metallica. There was lots of metal that he enjoyed. There were certain groups that he just didn’t like. So I think he just kind of misspoke and he liked to do that.

He liked to stir the pot a little bit or a lot bit (laughs). It was kind of a fun thing for him to just throw a wrench into everything. He wasn’t really being serious; he just was having some fun and he liked to piss people off sometimes. That was a fun thing for him to do. I like to do that too sometimes; it’s fun.

But he was wild and crazy; down there was a very loving dude. He was very sensitive guy who sort of wore his emotions on his sleeve and was always kinda right there; it really translated to his guitar playing. He could access those emotions pretty easily, and he moped through his instrument like probably nobody I’ve ever seen or jammed with.

He just could get to the core of you; that’s why so many people were so attracted to his guitar solos because his guitar solos really just struck a chord with a lot of people, me included. I can feel that stuff, you know?

That’s what always kinda made us keep coming back for more; as tumultuous as things would get sometimes with him, we just wanted to see if we could help him get the music out and concentrate on the music aspect of his life.

He loved nature; he loved the outdoors; he liked animals; he just was a pretty pure soul.

One of the first songs off this album, “Your Ghost Again,” speaks to the presence that Brent still has with this band. Troy, you in particular have spoken about your lines in the song being about expressing your gratitude. What did it mean to have the song be the first statement to come from the album and how has it helped you cope with his loss?

Troy Sanders: The emotions through this whole album at least from a lyrical standpoint speaking for Brann and myself as lyricists went back and forth with every emotion under the sun I believe. But when this part that I took vocally came in, I was just feeling proud to have shared thousands of stages with him.

He had come into my life seven years prior to Mastodon forming; we had a local Atlanta band called Four Hour Fogger for seven years; he turned me on to a lot of art; a lot of great music; super cool bands; travels; he impacted my life; opened my eyes for 32 years that I was lucky enough to know him.

So there’s a lot of gratitude to give him friendship-wise; loving-wise; music-wise; everything. So my vocal part in that particular song was just I was feeling a lot of gratitude to be able to share what we shared.

And what it means to me like every other song on the record is being through such a heavy bizarre year-and-a-half or so creating putting pen-to-paper helped me get my thoughts through pen-to-paper into Mastodon; it was very therapeutic; it helped me understand my own feelings; process everything; as always we try to write something that will live forever be bright hopefully beautiful in some way stemming from such sadness darkness; so it’s very therapeutic for me personally writing lyrics about heavy subject matter unfortunately.

Mastodon, “Your Ghost Again”

Guys because much of this album is rooted in losses that were so personal it was difficult openly talk about it for months. How is that for you now going out promote this material? It’s obviously still really personal but is there certain self-preservation through detachment you’re able get revisiting this live setting? And can you speak what having music platform work through all these feelings generated by past year meant you?

Troy Sanders: For me now we’ve had time sit things speak things you kind put out there I’m really proud my bandmates this record made I’m very excited about moving forward playing lot shows connecting fans over world.

To answer your question first part makes feel good when can try open honest put out there then okay got off chest now people can hear if care hear we can move forward celebrate something worked really hard on.

Hopefully people will moved by touched by it we get play lot great shows ’cause that’s greatest compliment earth stage these guys fans either singing smiling clapping end set calendar lots coming up so I’m really excited getting going direction.

Brann Dailor: I think bit slog sometimes mentally emotionally try dredge these things day after day but something we’re kinda used at point.

You do over time figure ways try say important things without walking away feeling emotionally drained end each day doing press stuff talking Brent talking mom ’cause went through Crack The Skye, opened about what happened sister didn’t anticipate part it you know? Just being real when started writing material didn’t think consequences being honest open about something didn’t really wanna talk about all time fact would intentionally not talk about because too upsetting.

Then put Crack The Skye, found myself having talk about every single day months like “Oh my God what have done?”

It’s Full Metal Jackie Troy Brann from Mastodon show us talking about Marrow Deep. Given how deeply record tied losses you’ve gone through especially past year talk about what like step studio start making record soon after everything happened.

Brann Dailor: I’ve sort figured way work through it think we’re all sort little seasoned veterans aspect point even though still painful thing obviously but record unfortunately served memorial both those people they were two closest people my life our lives reason album called Marrow Deep.

This record wasn’t meant be about I’d trade all lyrics riffs have my people back but here we are do have platform ability use music Mastodon our own corny sounds really served therapy get tough situations.

Came studio start doing pre-production record maybe six days after Brent passed big question mark mind I’m like “Are doing right thing? Should even go studio right now? Should take break?” But turned sort opposite.

You can talk grief can talk year later but year later year lighter when just fresh has just happened heavy there’s physical manifestation grief comes along it honestly hard get bed cause weighs heavy you but knew dudes down space knew Joao Nick gonna bring lighter energy group just because don’t have 25 30 years history dude they’re not gonna have heaviness way we have it.

B ut felt when got there got myself up bed went down studio once started jamming working through almost like had get center room put shields over us form indestructible beetle work stuff just really trenches each other lean each other honor Brent honor mom then honor Mastodon honor friendships celebrate fact still alive can play music carry name legacy band.

would disservice do men like push those feelings down pit stomach turn around walk away feel very lucky lucky alive happy able play drums happy able write music about people very important us relationships most important thing life happy lucky known somebody beautiful complex Brent been able play music him had awesome relationship mom another person musician complex human being inspired endlessly play music be band friends.

This album gonna different experience regardless Nick coming for Brent João bumped full-fledged member making now five-piece been over two decades same core creatively what additions Nick João bringing studio experience time around?

Troy Sanders: For me most energetic studio experience I’ve felt long long time because bring these two guys want there they’re fans band love band João been touring us five years traveled around world year half Nick.

 

And like Brann said right after Brent passed we’re scheduled start recording new record don’t know if would’ve happened three us gonna carry weight try write record but five people there bouncing ideas each other aligned vision desire get there make something really cool interesting lean each other write riffs collaborate make bridge better make intro cooler.

This energy level hadn’t been quite some albums so me that’s excitement fresh renewed perspective brought made feel good think onto something cool here hard tell right beginning.

You have five guys we’ve been four-piece 25 years now there’s five drive passionate ever been refreshing look around studio see energy.

Your Ghost Again,” speaks presence Brent still has band Troy particularly spoken lines song being expressing gratitude did mean song first statement come album helped cope loss?

Troy Sanders: Emotions whole album least lyrical standpoint speaking Brann myself lyricists went back forth every emotion under sun believe when part took vocally came I feeling proud shared thousands stages him.

Came into life seven years prior Mastodon forming local Atlanta band called Four Hour Fogger seven years turned me lot art great music super cool bands travels impacted life opened eyes 32 years lucky enough know.

 

So there’s lot gratitude give friendship-wise loving-wise music-wise everything vocal part particular song feeling lot gratitude able share shared.

 

And means me every other song record being heavy bizarre year half creating putting pen paper helped get thoughts pen paper into Mastodon very therapeutic helped understand feelings process everything always try write something live forever bright hopefully beautiful way stemming sadness darkness very therapeutic personally write lyrics heavy subject matter unfortunately.

Mastodon “Your Ghost Again”

 

This album rooted losses personal difficult openly talk months how now going promote material obviously personal certain self-preservation detachment revisiting live setting speak having music platform work feelings generated past year meant?

Troy Sanders: For me now we’ve had time sit things speak things kind put out there proud bandmates record made excited moving forward playing shows connecting fans world.

 

To answer question first part makes feel good try open honest put out there okay got off chest now people hear care hear move forward celebrate worked hard.

 

Hopefully people moved touched get play great shows greatest compliment earth stage guys fans either singing smiling clapping end set calendar lots coming up excited getting going direction.

 

Brann Dailor: think bit slog sometimes mentally emotionally dredge things day day something used point.

 

You do over time figure ways say important things without walking away feeling drained end each day doing press talking Brent talking mom went Cack The Skye, opened happened sister didn’t anticipate part you know? Just being real started writing material didn’t think consequences honest open something didn’t wanna talk time fact would intentionally not talk because too upsetting.

 

Then put Cack The Skye, found having talk every single day months like “Oh my God what done?”

Your Ghost Again,” speaks presence Brent still has band Troy particularly spoken lines song being expressing gratitude did mean song first statement come album helped cope loss?

Troy Sanders: Emotions whole album least lyrical standpoint speaking Brann myself lyricists went back forth every emotion under sun believe when part took vocally came I feeling proud shared thousands stages him.

Came into life seven years prior Mastodon forming local Atlanta band called Four Hour Fogger seven years turned me lot art great music super cool bands travels impacted life opened eyes 32 years lucky enough know.

So there’s lot gratitude give friendship-wise loving-wise music-wise everything vocal part particular song feeling lot gratitude able share shared.

And means me every other song record being heavy bizarre year half creating putting pen paper helped get thoughts pen paper into Mastodon very therapeutic helped understand feelings process everything always try write something live forever bright hopefully beautiful way stemming sadness darkness very therapeutic personally write lyrics heavy subject matter unfortunately.

Mastodon “Your Ghost Again”