Mastodon have released a new short film titled “The Mastodon in the Room” commemorating guitarist-vocalist Brent Hinds, who tragically died in a motorcycle crash last year at 51 years old.
The 35-minute film is comprised of numerous clips from Hinds’ life with the band, providing a complex and rich portrait of a flawed, full human being. “The Mastodon in the Room” is a hybrid of that footage plus the reactions of founding members Troy Sanders, Bill Kelliher, and Brann Dailor watching that same footage in a private Atlanta theater showing.
“The Mastodon in the Room” opens with footage of Brann Dailor that has already been released, featuring him saying, “But I also feel like doing all this [“The Mastodon in the Room” short film] will hopefully be really beneficial for a lot of the people that are kind of looking at us and being like, ‘Yo, you’re kind of leaving us hanging.’ And I totally understand that. And to the fans, I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to be more for them when that happened because I couldn’t for myself.” He paused to collect himself before saying, “I’m still unpacking it.”
In the archived footage, Hinds says, “I am a free spirit and I live it to the fullest,” a sentiment that has been mirrored by the numerous in memoriam statements and memories shared about him in the wake of his passing.
The short film showcases many instances of his lighthearted sense of humor and the brotherly bond the members of Mastodon shared, underscoring the depth of their loss. It also covers how his increasing drinking began to cause tension within the band that frequently needed to be defused and the band’s attempts to navigate the familial relationship they had with each other against these growing troubles. In all, it paints a complex, human portrait of Brent Hinds, neither saint nor sinner, which makes the gravity of their grief much more real.
Dailor says in the film, “There was a certain level that Brent would get to where I would just have to excuse myself. He wanted you to come. He wanted you to come with him into the abyss. You know how a lot of us have fears? For me, I’m like either I have to play tomorrow or I feel I might die if I go further. He didn’t have that switch that turned off and went, ‘You should turn around and go back.’ He was like, ‘No, I’m going in.'”
Hinds and Mastodon had parted ways in early 2025, just months before a motorcycle accident took his life.
Mastodon are currently preparing for their “Poisonous Weapons” fall tour featuring Deafheaven and Alcest as support. The tour comes in support of their as-yet untitled upcoming album, which was previewed with lead single “Your Ghost Again,” a tribute to Hinds that we named Heavy Song of the Week upon its release.
Get tickets for the “Poisonous Weapons” tour here, and watch the short film “The Mastodon in the Room” below.
