Mastodon’s next album is officially going ahead without founding guitarist Brent Hinds.
After Hinds quietly exited the band earlier this month, fans were left wondering if he’d laid down any parts for the upcoming release. Now, guitarist Bill Kelliher has confirmed: he didn’t.
Speaking to Guitar World, Kelliher revealed the new record is being made by just three members, Namely himself, bassist Troy Sanders, and drummer Brann Dailor. “It’ll be the three of us,” he said. “It’s stuff the three of us have written together.” In translation, that means that Hinds is out, completely.
The news follows Mastodon’s first Hinds-less show on March 9, where YouTube guitarist Ben Eller filled in at Tool’s Live In The Sand event. Whether Eller becomes a permanent fixture is still up in the air, but the band clearly isn’t slowing down.
As for who’s handling lead guitar on the album, Kelliher didn’t say outright—but hinted he’s picking up the slack, at least for now. “My lead guitar skills are decent enough,” he said, before adding that whoever joins the band long-term will need to be “light years ahead” of him.
In the same breath, Kelliher stressed that ego isn’t a factor. If someone else writes a better part, they’ll use it. “I definitely write for the best of the song,” he said. “As long as it fits, it’s awesome.” It’s the kind of mindset that’s helped Mastodon stay sharp two decades in, even through major changes like this.
The band is also gearing up for a co-headline tour with Coheed And Cambria, joined by Periphery. The run kicks off May 10 in Salem, Virginia, and wraps up June 8 in Waukee, Iowa. So fans won’t be waiting long to see what the new iteration of Mastodon sounds like live.
While the next record might not feature Hinds, there is certainly no drama here. Mastodon is just another band moving forward with the future. But, it is safe to say that the next record will mark a very different chapter for Mastodon.
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