Brent Hinds, the fiery singer-guitarist who helped shape the sound of Grammy-winning metal band Mastodon, died Wednesday night in a motorcycle accident in Atlanta. He was 51.
Police said Hinds was riding his Harley-Davidson when a BMW SUV failed to yield while making a turn and collided with him. He was found unresponsive at the scene and later pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed that Hinds died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the crash, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Hinds, whose legal name was William Hinds, co-founded Mastodon in 2000 alongside Troy Sanders, Bill Kelliher, and Brann Dailor.Over the next 25 years, the band carved out a reputation as one of the most adventurous acts in heavy music, merging sludge, thrash, and progressive rock into a distinctive sound. Their third record, Blood Mountain (2006), cracked the Billboard Top 40 and launched them into the mainstream.
The group went on to earn six Grammy nominations, winning in 2017 for Best Metal Performance with “Sultan’s Curse” from their chart-topping album Emperor of Sand. Along the way, three of their albums reached the Billboard 200’s Top 10, while The Hunter (2011) was singled out by Rolling Stone as one of the year’s best releases.
Mastodon announced Hinds’ departure from the band in March 2025, describing it as a mutual decision, though Hinds later suggested tensions behind the scenes. At the time, the band expressed gratitude for his contributions, calling him a central force in their music and history.
Beyond Mastodon, Hinds explored side projects like Fiend Without a Face, blending his love of metal with eclectic influences ranging from surf rock to psychedelia. He had been preparing to tour Europe with the group later this year.
In a statement, Mastodon remembered Hinds as both a bandmate and a creative powerhouse: “We are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom we’ve shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many.”
Hinds leaves behind a towering legacy in modern metal — a restless innovator whose riffs, energy, and eccentric vision reshaped the genre for a generation of fans.
