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ATLANTA, GA — Progressive metal titans Mastodon have officially crossed the finish line on their highly anticipated ninth studio album, following an arduous two-year journey marked by unprecedented personal tragedy and internal turmoil. Drummer and vocalist Brann Dailor confirmed the successor to Hushed and Grim is complete, revealing that the record was forged through the grief of losing his mother and the death of former founding guitarist Brent Hinds.

Despite the band’s long history with Hinds—who was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident last August after parting ways with the group earlier in 2025—Dailor reaffirmed that the new album consists entirely of fresh material and features zero musical contributions or riffs from the late guitarist. The album is officially slated for release via Reprise Records later in 2026.

“It’s All in the Music”: A Record Forged in Grief

Speaking with Blabbermouth.net, Dailor was candid about the heavy atmosphere surrounding the new sessions. “It was a hard record to make. It was a very emotional time for us,” Dailor stated. “I lost my mom, we went through all this turmoil with Brent, and then he passed away. It’s been tough.”

The drummer emphasized that the weight of these losses has been channeled directly into the new material. While Mastodon has always been a band that uses music to process tragedy—most notably on albums like Crack the Skye and Emperor of Sand—this upcoming release appears to be their most vulnerable to date. “It’s all in the music, it’s all in the songs,” Dailor added. “I’m excited to release it and get it out there into the world because we’ve been sitting on it for a while. A lot of this stuff, at least the skeletons of what this album is, we’ve been sitting on for two years now.”

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The Brent Hinds Departure: Why the “Free Spirit” is Absent

One of the biggest questions looming over the production was whether Hinds had recorded any material prior to his departure or his passing. Dailor reaffirmed that the record consists entirely of new material written by the current lineup.

“No [contributions from Hinds]. It’s all new stuff,” Dailor clarified. He described the final months of Hinds’ tenure in the band as a “confusing time,” citing Hinds’ waning interest in the studio environment. “He was a free spirit. He wanted to ride his motorcycle around and go do this and that… Unfortunately, it was not down to the practice space to work on riffs. It was a little bit frustrating. I was okay with it. I was like, ‘Hey man, everyone can do whatever they want to do in their life. If you’re unhappy and not wanting to be here doing whatever, figure out what does make you happy and do that.’”

Fans looking to catch Mastodon live in 2026 can click here for ticket info.

Release Date and What’s Next

While a specific title and tracklist have yet to be unveiled, Dailor confirmed via social media on May 10th that the band is targeting a late 2026 release. With the “skeletons” of the songs having been in development for over two years, the band is reportedly eager to finally share the finished product with the world.

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FAQ

When is the new Mastodon album coming out? Brann Dailor has confirmed the album is finished and scheduled for release later in 2026.

Is Brent Hinds on the new Mastodon album? No. Brann Dailor confirmed that the record features zero contributions or riffs from Hinds, as the guitarist was not coming to the practice space during the writing sessions prior to his death.

What happened to Brent Hinds? Following a split from Mastodon in early 2025, Brent Hinds was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in Atlanta in August 2025.

Who wrote the new Mastodon songs? The material was written by Brann Dailor, Bill Kelliher, and Troy Sanders over the past two years.

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TL;DR:

Brann Dailor confirms Mastodon’s ninth album is finished for a 2026 release. The record was shaped by the loss of Dailor’s mother and the death of Brent Hinds, though Hinds does not appear on the album.

The post MASTODON UPDATE: Brann Dailor Confirms Completion of “Emotional” Ninth Album, Reveals Record Features Zero Brent Hinds Contributions appeared first on Loaded Radio.

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