Mastodon have a new way to hear Marrow Deep: a vinyl edition pressed with dust from actual mastodon fossils. Consequence and Rolling Stone both reported the release, which is capped at 170 copies.
The material comes from fossilized mastodon teeth that the band was given roughly 20 years ago. Rolling Stone, citing a press release, said a fan gave them the teeth. Consequence described the haul as a bag of teeth not suited for display.
How the Fossils Became Vinyl
According to Rolling Stone, the band spent years weighing what to do with the teeth before bassist and vocalist Troy Sanders suggested pressing them into a record. Their label, Loma Vista, then connected them with Waxwork Records, which Consequence spells Waxworks. The two companies worked with the University of Georgia's geology department to make it happen.
A behind-the-scenes video shows the process, per Rolling Stone. A geologist from the university grinds the teeth into powder, which the video calls bone dust, using a spex mill, then runs it through a sieve. At the pressing plant, the band members sprinkled the dust onto the wax themselves. Consequence likewise said the members added the usable fossil dust to the records by hand.
Sanders put the appeal in his own terms in the video. "How cool is it to juxtapose something with 11,000 year old fossils with a modern 2026 Mastodon record?" he said, as quoted by Rolling Stone.
Who Gets One
Rolling Stone reported that the 170-copy limit reflects how little bone dust there was to work with. Instead of a first-come sale, Mastodon opened a random draw through their Loma Vista artist storefront. Both outlets said the aim is to give fans a fair shot. Rolling Stone added that registration was due to close about two days after its report.
Marrow Deep came out in August. Rolling Stone's review called it the band's ninth album and tied it to the death of former bandmate Brent Hinds, noting that it was recorded afterward. Consequence also reviewed the record favorably.
On the Road
Mastodon are touring now. Consequence said the "Poisonous Weapons" run features Deafheaven and Alcest, and that John Baizley of Baroness is part of the band's touring lineup. Rolling Stone said the dates continue through the end of October, with a show at the Fox Theater on Oct. 9.
The fossil pressing is a small, deliberate object tied to a record the band made after losing a member. The sources do not say whether more will be made, and the supply of dust appears to set the limit.
Reporting sources: Consequence, “Mastodon Announce Marrow Deep Vinyl Pressed with Real Mastodon Fossils” · Music News, “Mastodon Are Releasing Vinyl Containing Actual Mastodon Fossils”.