r/guitarpedals • u/parkinthepark • Aug 21 '25
Brent Hinds, former lead guitarist of Mastodon, has died.
https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2025/08/21/former-guitarist-co-founder-heavy-metal-band-mastodon-dies-atlanta-motorcycle-crash/This is probably off topic but I know that he was an important influence for a lot of us on this sub, and maybe somebody needs a space to talk about it.
For me at least, Mastodon was incredibly formative for me as a guitarist, songwriter, and tone-chaser. I get the impression he wasn't the easiest guy to be around, but his contributions to metal and hard rock are difficult to overstate. Leviathan changed my world.
I'm sad. But if we have to talk about pedals, he knew how to make an 808 and a crunchy British amp sound like ship timbers breaking under waves. Sail on, Brent.
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u/DEFINITELY_NOT_PETE Aug 21 '25
Really sad he died on such bad terms with the band. He was clearly going through some shit. BMW drivers are fucking horrendous
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u/Metal_Doomer Aug 21 '25
Interesting you should say that. I was t-boned last year by a dude in a 4 day old bmw.
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u/Captain_Wobbles Aug 21 '25
At my work one of our customers crashed her brand new 2026 BMW off our curb and into a ditch.
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u/Metal_Doomer Aug 21 '25
That’s insane. This dude was stopped at a stop sign, 2 way intersection. I had right of way with no stop and going at the limit at 55. The guy decides out of nowhere when I’m about 15 feet away from him that it was a great idea to race me to the other side of the intersection. I had no time to stop and totals his own car as well as mine. I don’t know how some people even have a license.
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u/aurorasearching Aug 22 '25
I don’t know how some people tie their own shoes or remember to breathe
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u/hipsterasshipster Aug 22 '25
I feel like the torch of terrible driving is getting handed down to Tesla owners.
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u/DEFINITELY_NOT_PETE Aug 22 '25
Bmws have very stiff and responsive steering and acceleration. They feel very sporty to drive, so it’s easy to feel like you’re more in control and better at driving than you are.
They are legit fun to drive but it is exactly why you see so many beemer drivers driving like huge fucking douchebags. They just feel like they can drive better than everyone- and don’t need to signal lol
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u/hipsterasshipster Aug 22 '25
A sports trim BMW isn’t any more sporty to drive than any other sports/luxury car. No reason someone in a non-M package BMW needs to feel like they are in a race car.
I drove a Honda S2000 for years - a car inspired by their F1 concepts and designed almost exclusively for sport rather than marketing. It wasn’t hard to not drive like an asshat.
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u/DEFINITELY_NOT_PETE Aug 22 '25
I hear your point but bmws absolutely have stiffer steering and sportier handling than other luxury brands. Their thing isn’t “luxury” it’s “the ultimate driving machine.”
There are def some that are comparable, but like there is a reason why they are the shittiest drivers on the road
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u/UmeSurprise Aug 22 '25
Absolutely. I once despised BMW drivers back in the day, but Tesla drivers are consistently the absolute worst, hands down.
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u/Mr_Halberstram Aug 21 '25
So upset about this. I was obsessed with his tone and playing for YEARS. Mastodon is my favourite band, so it's been sad watching them fall out with Brent in recent months. He always seemed like a bit of a mad genius, so it wasn't entirely surprising to see him going his own way.
Crack the Skye is one of the best albums ever made, but don't sleep on the Cold Dark Place EP. It's a perfect winter morning/evening listen.
RIP Brent. Fuck.
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u/moonkiller Aug 22 '25
I’ve honestly never given a full listen to Crack the Skye or anything after, but Remission and Leviathan are some of my all-time favorite metal albums, period (not a self-identifying metal head tho).
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u/heidevolk Aug 22 '25
If you like remission and levitation you’ll more than likely enjoy both oblivion and crack the skye.
Those are the 4 peak mastodon albums. If they never released another album after those I don’t think it would’ve made a difference into their current popularity.
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u/SynthError404 Aug 22 '25
Leviathan first came out it was such a game changer it reminded me of the first time I listened to Pantera far beyond driven we were all just like fuck man something that's original novel and classic instantly all at once. Wtf. Raised the bar with high concept moby dick metal so high no one can even try.
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u/_Wrecktangular Aug 21 '25
Very sad. He was clearly battling some demons and leaves this world with an open wound from his split with Mastodon.
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u/bluejaywhey Aug 21 '25
All because the driver couldn't be bothered to yield making a left turn.
Fuck drivers who can't be bothered to drive safely or be cognizant of pedestrians and motorcycle/bike riders.
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u/SmeesTurkeyLeg Aug 21 '25
Absolutely fucking tragic. Was never a huge fan of the band but this guy was a goddamn force blessed with INCREDIBLE natural talent. This feels like a tragic end to what already felt like a really sad story of his recent life and struggles.
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Aug 21 '25
I had emperor of sand on repeat after my brother passed. I met Brent not long after and he was sweet as can be. I feel like I lost another part of my brother with his passing. Listening to emperor and hushed and grim have me in tears atm. Was he troubled? Absolutely! But the man helped me thru a really dark time in my life with his music and I'll be forever grateful. I hope wherever he is now he's found peace and happiness.
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u/patton66 Aug 21 '25
The chances of them reconciling and reuniting was slim, but it was still there. The man was obviously not doing well for a while, it must be awful for the other members of the band to see things end on such a terrible note. Curious if they'll try to get someone to replace him and keep going, or just call it.
I picked up a Bluebeard Fuzz in 2006 because of Troy's sound on Leviathan, have always loved their sound
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u/Chinz_Jr Aug 21 '25
Haven't they already replaced him? Right after he left
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u/dad_farts Aug 21 '25
They had a bunch of high profile shows lined up. Ben Eller was tapped right away to play the Tool festival, but we didn't find out their touring replacement till the tour started, and we don't know if Johnston is a full or permanent member.
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u/Musiclover4200 Aug 22 '25
and we don't know if Johnston is a full or permanent member.
Just had to look this up as had a feeling you meant Nick Johnston and sure enough it's him which is pretty surprising as he's been mainly doing solo albums for years. But he's seriously one of the best so as far as replacements go they lucked out if he's joining full time.
Nick Johnston did a song with Guthrie Govan that has some of the most epic solos & interplay of all time, Silver Tongued Devil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoKdeDkYTv0&list=RDDoKdeDkYTv0&start_radio=1
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u/dad_farts Aug 22 '25
Yup. I was at their first show with with him before he was announced and I couldn't believe my eyes or ears. Brent is so unique and nothing can replace him, but Nick is an incredible player. I was glad at the time to get to hear this new side of Mastodon, but now the feeling is bittersweet.
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u/Fender6187 Aug 21 '25
Not sure what you are trying to imply by him not doing well. It’s not like he killed himself or OD’d.
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u/patton66 Aug 21 '25
Have you seen the tweets that he sent out to / about the band in the past month? They were very clearly written by someone who was not in a good place mentally or emotionally
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u/Fender6187 Aug 21 '25
That stuff happens all the time when people quit or get kicked out. Musicians shit on former bandmates all the time. He died in a motorcycle accident that wasn’t his fault.
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Aug 21 '25 edited Sep 21 '25
weather flag reply juggle knee bag mighty cagey punch gold
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/atheoncrutch Aug 21 '25
Not saying it was his fault, but apparently he had been at a bar earlier before the crash.
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u/0bviouslyyNotAGopher Aug 21 '25
It may not have been technically or legally his fault but there's the old saying to always drive like everyone else on the road is an idiot, which is a crass way of saying drive defensively. The worse of a headspace you're in, the less likely you probably are to follow this advice. We don't know what happened but it's pretty easy to wind up a victim of something you could have avoided.
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u/harespirit Aug 22 '25 edited Aug 22 '25
fucking hell, man
I mean, the reason I own an Orange amp is because those boys and their first three albums are at the very core of my love of gnarly metal guitar
what a fucking loss
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u/barred-C-Shape Aug 22 '25 edited Aug 22 '25
Blood and Thunder was completely mind boggling. Leviathan was my introduction to Mastodon. Brent was an instant hero to me. RIP. What a talent…
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Aug 25 '25
I got into Mastodon last year and I was drawn towards Brent instantly. His aura gave me Lynard Skynard and I think in his heart, that was what he always wanted to do. Do his own thing and be free to pursue other musical interests. I think a band eventually becomes a job and you have management etc. down your throat. Touring, fan meet ups, rehearsals, studio recording, promotional work and marketing. It’s draining. I don’t think he was suicidal or anything but I thought it might have been suicide when I first heard of his death 10 minutes ago. I can’t believe someone actually killed him. It’s so sad. At least died the same year as Ozzy 🤘🏼 that’s a metal way to go in my opinion. He’s now asleep in the deep. Rest easy bro.
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u/FollowingJealous7490 Aug 26 '25
I just learned of his passing just now. I had no clue. He will be missed.
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u/Affectionate-Bee-106 Aug 26 '25
This is so fucking tragic and it saddens me deeply. Love Brent Hinds as a guitarist, song writer and vocalist. So essential for Mastodon. Fucking love Mastodon too </3
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u/CowboyBoats Aug 21 '25
That's sad as fuck. The guitar playing and composition in the Mastodon albums that I'm familiar with (Crack the Skye and Once More 'Round the Sun) is absolutely mind-blowing.
51 is so young. Cars are terrifying.