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MYSTERIOUS: 4 | Mind Blowing Facts

“Bill, Troy and I were rocking it – I took a step back, only to clip my heel on a monitor wedge. I went ass-over-teakettle”: How Ben Eller went from Mastodon super-fan to filling in for Brent Hinds – and taking it all in his stride

Despite an embarrassing stage fall and frustrating in-ear monitor problems, the YouTuber had a blast alongside his buddy Bill Kelliher. But he can’t discuss what might happen next…

Guitar World

“We embrace the spirit of early 70s prog as being the way that you should always approach music." Mastodon and their prog epic Crack The Skye

In 2009 US prog metallers Mastodon released their conceptual opus Crack The Skye. It proved to be the step up to the big time the band deserved...

Metal Hammer

“My lead skills are decent enough – but whoever we get is going to be light years ahead of me”: Brent Hinds’ exit left Mastodon at a crossroads. But for Bill Kelliher, it’s an opportunity for a fresh start with a new guitar wingman

After 25 years, the metal heroes are without a lead guitarist. In his first interview since the split, Kelliher reveals what went down – and what he’s looking for from a new six-string partner in crime

Guitar World

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“I went into this looking at it as one of the coolest things I could ever be part of, but knowing the backlash could be brutal”: Ben Eller was wary of the reaction he’d get for stepping in for Brent Hinds in Mastodon – but that didn’t stop him saying yes

The Youtuber and Mastodon mega-fan stepped in at the last minute for the band’s Tool Live in the Sand set, even if it risked dividing the fanbase

Guitar World

“I’m as serious as a heart attack”: Mastodon are looking for their next guitar player – and they have a very specific list of requirements

Longtime guitarist Brent Hinds left the sludge/prog metal favourites earlier this month

Metal Hammer

“I’m as serious as a heart attack with Mastodon. I’m not ready to give it up yet. So, we’re going to keep looking”: Bill Kelliher is searching far and wide for Mastodon's next guitarist – here's what the band are looking for

Esteemed YouTuber and Mastodon mega-fan Ben Eller was drafted in last minute following Brent Hinds' surprise exit, but the search for a permanent successor is far from over

Guitar World

“Playing the parts of one of my favorite guitarists ever is no easy task, but it was a joy”: YouTuber Ben Eller thanks fans and his Mastodon bandmates after stepping in to replace the departed Brent Hinds at the last minute

Will it turn into a full-time gig, though?

MusicRadar

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Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher explains Brent Hinds exit: “Like a marriage, sometimes people grow apart, and they get interested in other things”

Hinds parted ways with the pioneering progressive/sludge metal act last week, ending his 25 years of service

Metal Hammer

“It’s amazing that we made it 25 years with the four of us”: Bill Kelliher opens up on Brent Hinds’ surprise Mastodon departure

News of Hinds’ shock exit was shared just days before the band’s set at the Tool in the Sand festival

Guitar World

“Can you learn 17 Mastodon songs immediately? Please give some love, stage right, say hello to Mr Ben Eller”: YouTuber makes Mastodon live debut following Brent Hinds’ shock exit – but what’s next for the prog-metal behemoths?

Hinds is out. Eller is in for now. Brann Dailor has a black eye. Palace intrigue notwithstanding, “all 2025 touring plans will remain intact,” says the band

MusicRadar

“Can you learn 17 Mastodon songs immediately?” Mastodon recruit YouTuber for first show following Brent Hinds’ shock departure

The band mutually parted ways with their founding guitarist just days before they were due to play at the Tool in the Sand festival – and it seems the YouTuber wasn’t given much time to learn the material

Guitar World

“White whale! Holy Grail!”: How the epic tale of Moby-Dick inspired Mastodon’s greatest album

“The story paralleled the lives of the four dudes in Mastodon"

MusicRadar

“We’re deeply proud of and beyond grateful for the music and history we’ve shared, and we wish him nothing but success and happiness in his future endeavors”: Mastodon part ways with Brent Hinds

Hinds co-founded the band with guitarist Bill Kelliher, bassist Troy Sanders, and drummer Brann Dailor in 2000

Guitar World

"After 25 monumental years together, Mastodon and Brent Hinds have mutually decided to part ways." Mastodon announce shock departure of guitarist Brent Hinds

By mutual consent, Brent Hinds leaves Mastodon

Metal Hammer

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Metal Hammer

Slayer announce two monster UK shows with Amon Amarth, Anthrax, Mastodon and more

The thrashers have scheduled headliners in Cardiff and London around their appearance at Black Sabbath’s Back To The Beginning event in July

Guitar World

“Exactly the kind of thing the Instagram algorithm won’t be injecting into your eyeballs every time you log on”: February 2025 Guitar World Editors’ Picks

A round-up of the best new guitar releases from the month of Feb, with new cuts from Sam Fender, Tash Sultana, Los Pirañas, and... Buddy Guy and Switchfoot?

Metal Hammer

“Death happens to everyone and if it hasn’t happened yet it’s going to happen. So what better way to deal with it?”: How Mastodon found light in darkness with The Hunter

With 2011’s The Hunter, Mastodon ditched the concepts and came up with something different

The Conversation

Decentralised social media offers an alternative to big tech platforms like X and Meta. How does it work? Podcast

When Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, many users looked for alternatives, fuelling a wave of online migration from the social media platform. Musk says he’s using Twitter, now named X, to champion free speech and that “cancel culture has been cancelled”. But his closeness to Donald Trump and his…

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Metal Hammer

I used to feel like a geek for loving prog metal. In 2025, it’s taking over the world – and I couldn’t be happier!

Sleep Token headlining Download! A long-awaited Mastodon album! Polyphia x Babymetal?! This is why forward-thinking metal will have a banner year in 2025

The Conversation

Online platforms risk becoming ideological echo chambers that undermine meaningful dialogue

There has recently been a shift online from centralized platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to decentralized alternatives like Bluesky. In particular, many users unhappy with the politics and antics of X owner Elon Musk are moving to Bluesky.

International Business Times

Numbers Using 'QuitX' Service Swell Before Trump Inauguration

"Millions of connections" from social network X will be re-established on rivals BlueSky or Mastodon from Monday, a French researcher said, in a campaign timed to coincide with Donald Trump's inauguration.

Creative Bloq

How to use the new social networks effectively as a creative

Creatives share their tips on using BlueSky and Threads

Metal Hammer

"He said, 'The last thing I want is you guys going on David Letterman and the freakin’ drummer’s singing." How Mastodon left sludge metal behind for cosmic prog metal on Oblivion

A drunken fist-fight, childhood tragedy and an all-star producer all helped Mastodon channel their melodic tendencies on Oblivion

International Business Times

French Researchers Aim To Ease X Refugees' Path With 'HelloQuitX'

French researchers have developed an application to help users migrate their whole online community from Elon Musk's X to rival social platforms such as Bluesky or Mastodon.

Metal Hammer

The 50 best metal songs of 2024

Ghost, Judas Priest, Babymetal, Gojira, Knocked Loose... 2024 was a massive year for metal songs. But which song did you vote as the very best?

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