MastodonAmerican heavy metal icons Mastodon have unveiled a riveting song about grief, paying tribute to their fallen bandmate, Brent Hinds, and drummer Brann Dailor’s mother, who also passed away.
The song, Your Ghost Again, is sonically massive and richly melodic and offers a sneak preview of the band’s forthcoming album – their first since 2021 – as they put the finishing touches on it.
Like all the band’s finest tracks, Your Ghost Again features bassist Troy Sanders and Dailor trading vocals, while Bill Kelliher and new guitarist Nick Johnston share bombastic riffs and keyboardist João Nogueira provides atmospheric flourishes.
Produced by Patrik Berger and Kurt Ballou and mixed by Andrew Scheps, Mastodon channel grief for an emotionally charged performance fans won’t forget anytime soon. Check out the single below.
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“For me, ‘Your Ghost Again’ is about when you lose somebody that’s close to you that you existed with for most of your life—or your whole life,” Dailor commented on a statement.
He continued, “It’s those moments when you’re in those familiar places that you’ve always been with that person, and then, after they’re gone, you see them out of the corner of your eye, and it makes you sad because they’re not there.
“When we were in the studio recording, I kept seeing Brent. I’d see him on my right holding the guitar because that’s where he’d usually be. It’s the same with my mom: I keep seeing her. And you get a little jolt of excitement because you think you’re actually seeing them, but then you remember they’re not here, and it takes you down a notch.
“So, it’s these big relationships for me that became the subject matter of the song. I was just singing about what I was seeing, and I was seeing ghosts.”
In addition to the single’s release, Mastodon have announced The Poisonous Weapons Tour, a North American run with special guests Deafheaven and Alcest. The tour begins in September and concludes at the Sick New World festival in Dallas, Texas, in late October.
Upon Hinds’ passing last August, Mastodon said they were experiencing “unfathomable sadness and grief.”
“We are in a state of unfathomable sadness and grief… last night Brent Hinds passed away as a result of a tragic accident,” the band said.
“We are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom we’ve shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many. Our hearts are with Brent’s family, friends, and fans. At this time, we please ask that you respect everyone’s privacy during this difficult time.”
In March 2025, NME reported that Hinds had amicably parted ways with Mastodon 25 years after co-founding the influential metal band.
However, just a week before his passing, Hinds claimed that his departure from the band was not mutual and said that he’d been “kicked out.”
