While there’s been rumblings of progressive sludge metal outfit Mastodon working on a “supernatural horror”-themed album for some time now, it has newly been confirmed that what eventually does emerge will not feature contributions from the group’s now former vocalist/lead guitarist Brent Hinds.
In a just published interview with Guitar World, guitarist Bill Kelliher was directly asked if Hinds‘ contributions will be present on the record, or if it will consist of material from himself and his bandmates in vocalist/drummer Brann Dailor, and vocalist/bassist Troy Sanders. Kelliher responded, “It’ll be the three of us. It’s stuff the three of us have written together.”
Asked later if the exit of Hinds will find Kelliher shifting into the lead guitarist role, he replied:
“We’ll have to see. My lead guitar skills are decent enough – but whoever we get is going to be light years ahead of me. So it depends on the part and the song and if there are certain leads that I write that I want to play.
If the other guitarist is like, ‘Hey, I wrote this,’ and I like it better than what I wrote, we’ll use his part. I definitely write for the best of the song and what’s best for the band.
I don’t get my feelings hurt when someone’s like, ‘That riff is not that great.’ It’s like, ‘Okay, I’ll just write another one or change it.’ That goes for leads as well. So, as long as it’s what’s best for the song, it doesn’t matter who plays it. As long as it fits, it’s awesome.”
Hinds‘ departure from the band after 25 years together was announced earlier this month. While a rush live replacement for the band’s sole show this month was found in YouTuber Ben Eller, his future status with the outfit remains undecided according to Kelliher.
However, despite the setback of losing Hinds, the band intend to honor their current live commitments, including the below co-headlining tour with Coheed And Cambria that will find Periphery opening.
05/10 Salem, VA – Salem Civic Center
05/11 Knoxville, TN – Knoxville Civic Coliseum
05/13 Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
05/15 Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park
05/16 Charleston, SC – Firefly Distillery
05/17 Augusta, GA – William B Bell Auditorium (no Mastodon)
05/19 Estero, FL – Hertz Arena
05/21 Huntsville, AL – Orion Amphitheater
05/22 Lexington, KY -Rupp Arena
05/24 Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome
05/25 Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
05/26 Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC
05/28 Portland, ME – Cross Insurance Arena
05/30 Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview
05/31 Scranton, PA – The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
06/01 Youngstown, OH – Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre
06/03 Fort Wayne, IN – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
06/04 Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center Arena
06/06 Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
06/07 Green Bay, WI – Resch Center
06/08 Waukee, IA – Vibrant Music Hall
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
