Late Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds\u2019 candid thoughts about heavy metal and his former bandmates have resurfaced from a 2015 interview. The comments reveal his complicated relationship with the genre that made his band famous. The original interview was published in Guitar Player.<\/p>\n
Hinds openly discussed his distaste for heavy metal in the interview. He explained how it affected Mastodon\u2019s musical direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can barely stomach listening to heavy metal. It makes me ill to hear it,\u201d Hinds said. \u201cI never really liked it in the first place. I came from Alabama playing country music, surf rock, rockabilly, and stuff like that. I just went through a phase in my 20s where I thought it was rebellious to play heavy metal.\u201d<\/p>\n
The guitarist explained how meeting his bandmates changed the band\u2019s trajectory. This happened despite his personal preferences.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then I met Brann and Bill, and they were really, really, really into heavy metal,\u201d he continued. \u201cAnd ever since then, I\u2019ve been trying to get Mastodon to not be such a heavy metal band, because I fucking hate heavy metal, and I don\u2019t want to be in a heavy metal band.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hinds emphasized the collaborative nature of the band\u2019s approach to resolving conflicts despite these creative differences.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, but listen \u2014 if there was creative tension, we would just part ways. We don\u2019t thrive on that. We are friends,\u201d he explained. \u201cFriends understand each other. If you have a friend who has a problem, and you\u2019re in an internal situation with him at your job, aren\u2019t you going to try to help your friend work through the problem, and all come to an agreement where everyone can be happy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Hinds described how the band found a compromise that satisfied all members\u2019 musical preferences.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what Mastodon has done with my hatred of heavy metal. We just came to a happy medium where we\u2019re all happy with our music,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m happy because it\u2019s not a real heavy metal band, Bill and Brann are happy because it\u2019s heavy enough, and Troy likes all kinds of music, so he was never an issue in that matter.\u201d<\/p>\n
The guitarist concluded by praising his former bandmates and their collaborative approach to music-making.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur music didn\u2019t cause tension \u2014 it solved problems. I\u2019m a very lucky man to have three other really talented men who are understanding, compassionate, loving, funny, enduring, and super kind,\u201d Hinds said.<\/p>\n
Hinds\u2019 comments reflect a broader evolution in Mastodon\u2019s sound that has been evident throughout their career. The band\u2019s musical journey demonstrates how creative compromise can lead to innovation rather than conflict. Unfortunately, Hinds was fired from Mastodon before his passing due to the motorcycle accident.<\/p>\n
Premier Guitar reported that Mastodon\u2019s sound evolution reflects this compromise. The band moved from their early speed and sludge metal roots towards a more layered and melodic style. Albums like Blood Mountain (2006) have been praised for blending aggressive riffs with intricate harmonies. They strike a balance between heaviness and musicality through Brent\u2019s melodic 12-string guitar work alongside Bill Kelliher\u2019s heavier rhythm parts.<\/p>\n
The band\u2019s ability to navigate these creative differences has been crucial to their longevity and success. Simply Stick noted that Mastodon has become masters of metal evolution. They continuously adapt their sound while maintaining their core identity. This adaptability has allowed them to remain relevant in an ever-changing musical landscape.<\/p>\n
Hinds\u2019 background in country music, surf rock, and rockabilly has significantly influenced Mastodon\u2019s unique approach to heavy music. Q94.5 All Rock described Hinds as an innovative mind behind heavy music. His diverse musical influences have helped shape Mastodon\u2019s distinctive sound that transcends traditional metal boundaries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Late Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds\u2019 candid thoughts about heavy metal and his former bandmates have resurfaced from a 2015 interview. The comments reveal his complicated … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2706,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"yoast_head":"\n