Well lads and lasses… this one hurts. Brent Hinds – the mad-eyed, riff-slinging, banjo-picking, Harley-riding co-founder of Mastodon – has tragically passed away at just 51 years old.
The news dropped like a sledgehammer on August 20th when reports confirmed Brent died in a motorcycle crash in Atlanta, after a BMW SUV failed to yield at an intersection. He was pronounced dead at the scene. 💔
Mastodon themselves described it as a state of “unfathomable sadness and grief” – and honestly, same. For over two decades Brent wasn’t just a guitarist, he was the soulful chaos inside Mastodon’s thunder.
The Crash & The Aftermath 🚨
According to Fulton County medical examiners, Brent’s Harley collided with the SUV late Wednesday night. Police are still investigating, but the facts are grim: heavy metal just lost one of its most colourful characters.
Though Brent had left Mastodon earlier this year (March 2025) – with some messy back-and-forth over whether he was “kicked out” or left mutually – the bond with his brothers in riffs was undeniable.
Only days after his passing, Mastodon hit the stage at the Alaska State Fair. It wasn’t just a gig; it was a wake set to power chords.
Brann Dailor, normally hidden behind the kit, stepped out front and fought through tears to say:
“We lost somebody very special to us… Brent Hinds, 25 years with us as our guitar player… one of the most creative, beautiful people… we loved him so, so, so very much… we were brothers to the end… we made a lot of very beautiful music together… that’s gonna stand the test of time.”
Fans in the crowd said it was like the air left the fairground for a minute. Proper lump-in-the-throat stuff. 🥺
The Legacy of a Riff Monster 🎸🐊
Brent wasn’t your typical guitar hero. He didn’t chase shiny scales or robotic perfection. Nah, he channelled chaos through his fingers. From jagged sludge riffs to psych-tinged solos, to literally whipping out a banjo on stage, he made Mastodon one of the most unpredictable beasts in modern metal.
Here’s the mountain of music he helped build:
- Remission (2002) – the swamp-born sludge punch that announced Mastodon’s arrival.
- Leviathan (2004) – the Moby Dick-inspired masterpiece, with “Blood and Thunder” becoming a modern metal anthem.
- Crack the Skye (2009) – a sprawling prog-metal journey soaked in psychedelia and grief.
- Emperor of Sand (2017) – Grammy-winning riffs about mortality, inspired by loved ones battling cancer.
- Hushed and Grim (2021) – a sprawling double-album dripping with sorrow and atmosphere, arguably Brent at his most raw.
Add countless sweaty gigs, festival chaos, and Brent’s knack for saying the most outrageous things in interviews… and you had a proper rock’n’roll character.
The Wild Card 🃏
Brent Hinds wasn’t polished. He was unpredictable. One night he’d melt your face with an 8-minute solo, the next he’d be telling the crowd a filthy joke or storming off stage because the monitor mix was “shit.” He was pure rock’n’roll.
He once said his riffs came from a mix of metal, country, and old-timey folk – “I just make it up and see if it sticks.” And bloody hell, did it stick.
Fans React 😢
The metal community has erupted with tributes. Socials are filled with riffs, tattoos, and stories of how Brent’s playing cracked their skulls open and poured molten creativity inside.
One fan wrote: “Brent’s solos always sounded like they were fighting themselves – and somehow winning. No one else could do that.”
Another said: “He wasn’t just a guitarist. He was a character. Mastodon won’t ever be the same.”
Raise a Pint, C’mon Butt 🍻
So what do we do now? Same as we always do when we lose a rock titan – crank the volume, crack a cold one, and let the riffs roar.
Put on “Iron Tusk.” Let “Oblivion” rip your chest open. Dive into “The Czar” and get lost in the madness. Because Brent’s gone, but his riffs? They’re immortal.
Brent Hinds – 1974 to 2025.
YESS, mun. You did a proper job. Rest easy, brother. 🤘
👉 What’s your favourite Brent Hinds riff or Mastodon memory? Drop it in the comments – let’s build a proper noisy tribute wall together.
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
Comments