MYSTERIOUS: Nick johnston - You Need To See This

Mastodon fans! Get a t-shirt unavailable in the shops and an exclusive Metal Hammer cover, only through Louder

Celebrate the release of the metal masters’ album Marrow Deep in style

Metal Hammer · Sep 1

Mastodon masterclass: Nick Johnston reveals his insane soloing techniques

Luscious legato, hot hybrid picking, busy blues bends and creative chromaticism are the trademarks of Nick Johnston. Here are five of his favorite lead approaches

Guitar World · Aug 31

“Nick said, ‘I’m not here to fill Brent’s shoes. I want to help write the future of Mastodon’”: Troy Sanders on rebuilding Mastodon and why new guitarist Nick Johnston was an instant fit

Mastodon’s biggest line-up change could have derailed them. Instead, it inspired one of the most ambitious albums of their career

Guitar World · Aug 20

Mastodon’s Brent Hinds had an “entire album” of unreleased solo songs, according to former bandmate

“He sent me the whole album of tunes,” says Duane Trucks, who drummed in Hinds’ psychobilly side-project Fiend Without A Face

Metal Hammer · Oct 27, 2025

“He’s gonna be on the new record, for sure. He’s writing like crazy”: Mastodon have seemingly confirmed their new guitar player – revealing Nick Johnston is writing and recording for their next albums

The guitarist had been drafted in as a touring guitarist following Brent Hinds’ departure, but it seems he’s part of the band’s long-term planning

Guitar World · Oct 24, 2025

“They kicked me out of the band for embarrassing them for being who I am”: Brent Hinds says he was forced out of Mastodon – despite claims his departure was amicable

Hinds has seemingly shed more light on his surprise Mastodon departure in a recent comment on social media

Guitar World · Aug 13, 2025

“I know I’m being judged right now. I read comments saying, ‘You’ve got nothing on Brent.’ I’m not worrying. I feel free”: How Nick Johnston went from instrumental virtuoso du jour to joining Mastodon and playing Ozzy Osbourne’s final show

The Canadian instrumentalist has taken the leap from small clinics to festival stages in his stride, and thanks to his 10-year relationship with Schecter, he’s got a custom Silverburst to match his new bandmates

Guitar World · Aug 6, 2025

“It’s a team of terrifying quality – but the result is no face-melting noodle-fest. Everything stems from musical ideas”: Gavin Harrison and Nick Johnston’s Early Mercy

King Crimson and Porcupine Tree drummer and new Mastodon guitarist deliver strange, beautiful music with help from Allan Holdsworth bassist Evan Marien

Louder · Aug 6, 2025

“Brann told me I’d be the first person he’d call if anything ever came up. That’s what he did”: How prog fusion ace Nick Johnston ended up replacing Brent Hinds in Mastodon on tour – after a casual coffee hang

Johnston has replaced Hinds on the band’s current tour

Guitar World · Jul 18, 2025

Mastodon recruit prog fusion virtuoso Nick Johnston as surprise new stand-in guitarist following Brent Hinds’ departure

The Canadian instrumentalist – known for his rock and fusion chops – has linked up with Bill Kelliher and co for the start of Mastodon's 2025 Infinite Arc tour

Guitar World · May 12, 2025