MASTODON Details Limited 'Marrow Deep' Vinyl Containing Actual Mastodon Fossils

Atlanta progressive metallers MASTODON have just unveiled what may go down as one of the most distinctive vinyl variants in the history of the medium — a pressing of their acclaimed new album, "Marrow Deep", that contains actual fossilized mastodon teeth that have been ground into dust.

The band was gifted the non-display worthy fossils by a fan some 20 years ago and had long pondered what to do with them. Given the title and theme of the new album, MASTODON bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders began to envision somehow pressing them into an actual record. After weeks of enquiries to pressing plants across the globe, Loma Vista Recordings found a willing partner in Waxworks Records and enlisted the help of the geology department at University Of Georgia to grind the bones into particles fine enough to not affect sound quality of playability. The band visited the vinyl plant to personally hand sprinkle the bone dust and press each copy, as detailed in a "making of" video that they shared on their socials today.

Due to the finite quantity of bone dust available, the pressing is strictly limited to 170 copies. To give fans and collectors an equal shot at getting one, some copies are being released through an exclusive draw format. Register here for a chance to purchase.

MASTODON is currently out on "The Poisonous Weapons" tour, a nationwide run of dates with support from DEAFHEAVEN and ALCEST, which hits the Hollywood Palladium tomorrow, then winds its way east before closing out on October 24 at Sick New World Dallas.

"Marrow Deep" arrived on August 28 via Loma Vista Recordings. The LP marks MASTODON's first full-length effort without guitarist Brent Hinds, who was fired from the band in March 2025 and died five months later in a motorcycle accident. "Marrow Deep" was co-produced by MASTODON at the band's own West End Sound in Atlanta with Patrik Berger (Lana Del Rey, Charli XCX) and Kurt Ballou (HIGH ON FIRE, CONVERGE) and was mixed by Andrew Scheps (Adele, BLACK SABBATH, METALLICA). "Marrow Deep" is also notably the group's first full-length to feature new guitarist Nick Johnston alongside significant contributions from keyboardist João Nogueira.

The second single from "Marrow Deep" was a song called "Snakes For Dinner", which features QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's Josh Homme, who previously joined MASTODON on the band's classic 2006 song "Colony Of Birchmen".

Sanders, MASTODON drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor and guitarist Bill Kelliher remembered Hinds in a recently released documentary titled "The Mastodon In The Room". In the emotional feature, the three musicians addressed Brent's passing directly, saying they wanted fans to hear their story after seeing the speculation and headlines surrounding his death.

Photo by William Lacalmontie