Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy has shared an emotional response to Mastodon’s newly released documentary. The 35-minute short film is titled The Mastodon In The Room. It was published on Mastodon’s YouTube channel and reflects on the band’s complex relationship with guitarist Brent Hinds. Hinds departed the group in March 2025 and passed away five months later in a motorcycle accident.
Portnoy took to social media to express his reaction to the documentary. He praised the surviving members’ honesty and emotional openness throughout the film.
“Wow…just watched ‘The Mastodon In The Room,’ the new half hour documentary that Mastodon just released on their YouTube channel. What an emotional film…wow.”
He went on to commend the band for their candid storytelling about their 25-year journey with Hinds.
“The 3 surviving members telling the story of the ups and downs of their 25 years with Brent Hinds is both beautiful (the good times) and tragic (the bad times)…their honesty throughout is so admirable. I can’t imagine how difficult it must’ve been for them to put this out there…I really have so much respect for them.”
Portnoy also reflected on his own limited personal connection with Hinds. He noted that his interactions were primarily with a more troubled side of the guitarist.
“While I’ve been friends with Bill and especially with my brothers Brann and Troy for so many years now, honestly I never had the chance to become friends with Brent. All of my interactions with him through the years were always with ‘the other Brent’ that they talk so openly and honestly about in this doc. So I can’t say I ever got to know the Brent that so many people loved…but I always appreciated his incredible talent and empathized that he was such a tortured soul.”
Portnoy closed his statement by acknowledging the documentary’s potential impact on those closest to Hinds and the band.
“I really appreciate that they put this out there as I’m certain it will help with some much-needed closure for the band as well as their crew, fans & friends. RIP Brent Hinds and here’s to the next era and future chapters for the guys.”
The documentary marks one of the first major public reflections from Mastodon since Hinds’ passing. Portnoy’s heartfelt response underscores the deep bonds that exist within the heavy metal community, even across band lines. It also highlights the weight of losing a figure as singular and complex as Hinds.
Brent Hinds was widely regarded as one of the most distinctive guitarists in modern metal. He was known for his unconventional playing style and the raw, unpredictable energy he brought to Mastodon’s sound. His contributions were central to the band’s identity across more than two decades. They helped shape albums that defined the progressive metal landscape of the 2000s and beyond.
His departure from Mastodon in March 2025 marked the end of a long and turbulent chapter for the band. His death just months later in a motorcycle accident added a profound layer of tragedy to an already difficult period for those who knew and worked with him.
The Mastodon In The Room stands as the band’s most direct and personal statement on that era. By releasing the documentary publicly, the surviving members — Bill Kelliher, Brann Dailor, and Troy Sanders — opened a window into the private struggles and enduring bonds that defined their years alongside Hinds. The film offers fans and peers alike a rare and honest account of life inside one of metal’s most celebrated bands.
Source: instagram.com
