For Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor, the 1986 cult classic River’s Edge is more than just a movie; it is a cornerstone of his personal history and a defining element of his deep friendship with the late Slipknot percussionist Joey Jordison. The bond between the two musicians was so intense that Dailor once famously racked up an $800 phone bill, largely fueled by a marathon of exchanging quotes from the film.
The tradition began while the two bands were touring together. After spotting a group of police cars with their lights flashing, Jordison dropped a line from the movie, and Dailor immediately fired back with the follow-up. The connection was instantaneous. "I got home at the end of that tour and I had an $800 phone bill," Dailor recalls. "My wife at the time asked, ‘Is this because you were texting River’s Edge quotes back and forth with Joey?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah. I’m sorry. But I can’t let Joey think that I don’t know what the next line is.’"
This shared love for the film has even influenced Mastodon’s latest creative output. On their new album, Marrow Deep, the band incorporated dialogue from the character Feck, played by Dennis Hopper. For Dailor, the line "I feel so [expletive] alive" serves as a powerful statement for the band’s current chapter. "This is an emotionally powerful record for us, but it’s not a sad record," Dailor explains. "It’s a united front. It’s a beautiful thing that we’re all still here and still able to do this."
Navigating Loss and Rebirth
The creation of Marrow Deep was marked by profound personal challenges, including the passing of former bandmate Brent Hinds and the loss of Dailor’s mother. In a recent discussion with Full Metal Jackie, Dailor and bassist Troy Sanders opened up about the emotional weight of the project. Despite the grief, the band viewed the studio process as a therapeutic necessity.
"We went into the studio to start pre-production maybe six days after Brent had passed," Dailor says. "It was a big question mark in my mind, but it turned out to be the opposite of what I expected. It served as a memorial for both of those people. We didn’t want this record to be about that, but we have this platform, and music served as therapy to get through these tough situations."
A New Dynamic
The album also marks a significant shift in the band’s structure, with Nick Johnston and João Nogueira joining as full-fledged members. Sanders notes that this transition brought a much-needed surge of energy into the studio. "It was the most energetic studio experience I’ve felt in a long time," Sanders shares. "You bring in these two guys who want to be there. They’re fans of the band. It was very refreshing to look around the studio and see this energy."
As Mastodon prepares to hit the road in 2026, the focus remains on connection and gratitude. Whether through the lens of a cult classic film or the catharsis of a new record, the band continues to find ways to honor their past while pushing forward into an uncertain but promising future.
