Former Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds has made controversial statements about his former bandmates. He criticized their vocal abilities and personal conduct in comments shared on Hard Rock Files.
Hinds made the comments in response to a video posted by Hard Rock Files featuring Mastodon’s 2012 performance of “Crack The Skye.” He used the opportunity to express his frustrations with the band’s vocal performance and his departure from the group.
“My Guitar sounds great, but Troy and prawn sound absolutely horrible,” Hinds said. “They are way out of key. It’s embarrassing and they kicked me out of the band for embarrassing them for being who I am, but what about who they are?”
Hinds continued his criticism by addressing the band’s studio recording process and vocal capabilities.
“They are two people that can’t sing together live or anywhere else in the world,” he continued. “Everything they try to sing in the studio is manipulated by autotune because they’re incapable of singing in key. F*ck these guys.”
The guitarist also made personal attacks against his former bandmates, particularly targeting Troy Sanders.
“Only I know who they really are,” Hinds said. “They are the biggest fans of themselves. I’ve never seen anyone in my life look in the mirror more than Troy Sanders. He thinks he’s God’s gift to anything. I’ve never met three people that were so full of themselves. It’s disgusting.”
These harsh comments come months after Hinds’ departure from the Atlanta-based metal band. The split marked the end of a 25-year partnership that helped define progressive metal.
Metal Injection reported that Hinds’ departure from Mastodon was announced earlier in 2025 as a mutual decision after 25 years together. The band expressed pride in their shared history and wished Hinds success in his future endeavors, presenting the split as amicable at the time.
However, the reality behind the scenes appears far more contentious. MetalSucks revealed that Hinds has publicly expressed strong resentment toward Mastodon since leaving. He called them “a shit band with horrible humans” in social media comments responding to fan messages. This public fallout underscores the serious and unresolved tensions behind his sudden exit.
Despite the internal turmoil, Mastodon quickly moved forward with their planned activities. Guitar World noted that the band continued with their scheduled 2025 tours by enlisting YouTube guitarist Ben Eller as a replacement for live performances. This swift transition suggests the band was prepared for Hinds’ departure.
The current public dispute reveals deep personal conflicts that extend beyond musical differences. Hinds’ latest comments about vocal manipulation and personal character attacks indicate that the split involved fundamental disagreements about the band’s direction and interpersonal relationships that had been building for years.
