Mastodon releases Your Ghost Again tribute single, US tour

The Atlanta-based progressive metal band Mastodon has released a new single, "Your Ghost Again," marking their first new music since the departure and subsequent death of founding guitarist Brent Hinds and the passing of drummer Brann Dailor's mother. The song serves as a tribute to Hinds and is the lead single from the band's forthcoming ninth studio album, expected later this year.

The track was produced by Patrik Berger and Kurt Ballou and mixed by Andrew Scheps. It features the band's expanded five-piece lineup, including new guitarist Nick Johnston and keyboardist João Nogueira as full-time members. Band members described the song as a direct reflection on personal loss and grief.

Dailor explained that the song is about the experience of seeing a lost loved one in familiar places. He said he repeatedly saw Hinds in the studio during recording, standing where the guitarist would normally be. Dailor said the phenomenon is the same with his mother, describing a "jolt of excitement" followed by the sad realization of their absence. He summarized the theme by saying he was "singing about what I was seeing, and I was seeing ghosts."

Bassist Troy Sanders said his lyrical portion is...