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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.”

Also: MASTODON ALBUMS RANKED: From Sludge Roots to Progressive Masterpieces

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.

We Also Recommend – Watch MASTODON Honor BRENT HINDS at First Concert Since Tragic Death

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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Here are the new releases for May 10th to 16th. Releases reflect proposed North American scheduling, if available.

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Upcoming Metal Releases: 5/9/26 – 5/16/26

Tyrannus — Mournhold | True Cult Records | Death Metal + Thrash Metal + Black Metal | United Kingdom (Scotland)

From Colin Dempsey’s track premiere of “Reignfall”:

Tyrannus inhabit the no man’s land between thrash metal, death metal, and black metal, packing a punch while eluding genre conventions. The miasma they cultivate is pungent, but on their new single “ Reignfall,” they cut through it for a more direct method. That’s usually the best one for offense.

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Junon — The Golden Citadel of the Astral Sphere | I, Voidhanger Records | Black Metal | Germany

The patented I, Voidhammer oddity is present on Junon’s debut album, crossing into avant-garde territory on occasion. That being said, The Golden Citadel of the Astral Sphere is just as much an art school experiment as it is a recognizable black metal record, replete with frosty, Finnish melodies. It’s an unsettling pairing for sure, with the experimental leanings giving the album its character.

–Colin Dempsey

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Ara — Hohe Tannen | Into Endless Chaos Records | Black Metal | Austria (Vienna)

What distinguishes Hohe Tannen are its brighter melodies and tones that, nonetheless, feel dangerous. It’s evident that Ara aren’t from Scandinavia. There’s too much heat and not enough loneliness here, designating Ara’s second record as distinct but not unfamiliar.

–Colin Dempsey

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Atavistia — Old Gods Awaken | Independent | Melodic Death Metal + Folk Metal | Canada (Vancouver, BC)

Folk metal’s heyday is long past, but Atavistia is one of the better newer bands trying to keep that sound alive. Armed with razor sharp vocals, galloping rhythms, and orchestrations that recall the best of Finnish melodic death metal, Old Gods Awaken is an absolute blast to listen to. It’s the band’s folkiest album yet, infusing their trademark melodic death metal sound with the kind of bouncy fun that you get with Ensiferum or Finntroll. The old gods are indeed awakening.

–Kevin Zecchel

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Crown Lands — Apocalypse | InsideOut Music | Progressive Rock + Progressive Metal | Canada (Oshawa, ON)

It’s pretty much impossible to talk about Crown Lands without comparing them to Rush. While they are definitely influenced by the godfathers of prog metal (all eras, not just the 70s albums), they also draw inspiration from a wide range of sources, blending them into a high-energy, science fiction-themed package. Apocalypse is the band’s third full-length album and it sees them at their most ambitious yet. Their arrangements are more complex and full of interesting ornamentations than in the past. Songs like “Through the Looking Glass” are heartfelt melodic pieces that come closer to Led Zeppelin at their proggiest, whereas “Blackstar” shows off some fantastic bassline flourishes. Meanwhile, the title track is a side-long epic that closes out the album fantastically. Apocalypse takes a few listens to get everything out of it, but is immensely rewarding once you start digging.

–Kevin Zecchel

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Jungle Rot — Cruel Face of War | Unique Leader Records | Death Metal | United States (Wisconsin)

Grizzled Midwestern death dealers Jungle Rot will soon reveal the Cruel Face of War to an eager global metal underground. This grimy new salvo, the band’s second on California’s brutal Unique Leader imprint, is built upon “crushing grooves and violent hooks,” according to the Rot’s head honcho, Dave Matrise. This neckwrecking blueprint is clearly evident on “Maniacal,” an old school M.O.D. style mosh tempo beatdown fed by a relentless cyclonic swirl of pummeling double bass courtesy of powerful sticksman Spenser Syphers, while “Apocalyptic Dawn” and “Cruel Face of War” are a double-shot of raging, guns-blazing 90-proof hardcore tinged American death metal, just the way the elders intended.

–Dennis J. Seese

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GOZU — VI | Metal Blade Records | Hard Rock | United States (Boston, MA)

VI is the latest slab of “heavy soulful rock” to emanate from veteran Bostonian riff merchants, GOZU. The stakes for this record are high, as the band sought to create “something that really moved and hit a nerve,” according to guitarist and vocalist Marc Gaffney, who in turn challenged himself to “write music differently.” The results can be heard on tracks like “Banacek,” a barnstorming hook-laden monster, which Gaffney says owes a debt to both Iron Maiden and cult 90’s power-pop crew, Jellyfish. Influences loom large upon GOZU, as the Allman Brothers, The Marshall Tucker Band, Pete Townsend, Queens of the Stone Age, Queen and “Motown harmonies” are all cited within the group’s commentary on VI’s aural lineage. The QOTSA influence is most apparent in the smothering desert rock guitar tone and overall Welcome to Sky Valley vibes manifested by album opener “Corinthian Leatherface.” Mere inspiration blurs into awkward imitation elsewhere as I don’t think neither Matt Pike nor Giorgio Moroder will appreciate how closely the main riff in “Midnight Express” echoes the pulse of High on Fire’s iconic “10,000 Years.” Ultimately, VI is comprised mostly of bruising, contagious FM radio ready (does this still exist?) hard rock songs saturated with buzzing Big Muff riffs, major hooks and massive production courtesy of Benny Grotto.

–Dennis J. Seese

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