Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor has delivered a tearful public apology to fans for the band’s inability to properly address the tragic death of founding guitarist Brent Hinds. Their new single “Your Ghost Again” was born from the agonizing experience of seeing Hinds’ “ghost” in the studio during recording sessions.
In an emotional statement, Dailor explained the deeply personal nature of the song: “‘Your Ghost Again’ is about being in familiar places where you used to be with people all the time. For us, that was in the studio. I just kept seeing him out of the corner of my eye, like where I would normally see him, where he would normally be with his guitar. It just kept catching me off guard. ‘Your Ghost Again’ is basically about that—how your mind plays tricks on you, especially soon after someone dies and you’re in the places where they always were.”
Dailor emphasized the significance of the track and his hope that it would resonate with grieving fans: “This song means a lot to me. I hope that it is able to translate to the fans and to the people that like our band. I hope it speaks to the people that are grieving too, grieving Brent. From a fan’s perspective, we never really addressed it. We just couldn’t, you know, it just was too much.”
The drummer also offered a heartfelt apology to the fanbase for the band’s silence following Hinds’ passing: “I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to be more for them when that happened because I couldn’t for myself. I’m still unpacking it. Hopefully this album helps everybody. Hopefully they can find some piece of it that speaks to them about it.”
Acknowledging the complexity of moving forward without their founding member, Dailor addressed fans who may struggle with the band’s continuation: “I know Brent’s not there and I know it’s weird and it’s hard. Some people might be like, well, I don’t wanna listen to it because Brent’s not there and I’m hurting about that. But we are too.”
The grief expressed in “Your Ghost Again” stems from a profound loss that shook the metal community. Revolver Magazine reported that Brent Hinds, the acclaimed co-founding guitarist and vocalist of Mastodon, died in a tragic motorcycle accident in Atlanta, Georgia on August 20, 2025. He was 51 years old. Hinds had been an integral part of the band’s identity since its inception, helping to shape the progressive metal sound that defined Mastodon’s legacy.
According to his Wikipedia biography, William Brent Hinds was born on January 16, 1974. He spent approximately 25 years as one of Mastodon’s driving creative forces before his departure in March 2025. His contributions to the band extended far beyond technical guitar work; Hinds was also one of the band’s vocalists, making his absence felt across multiple dimensions of Mastodon’s sound.
The impact of Hinds’ death reverberated through the metal community and among devoted fans who had followed Mastodon’s evolution over decades. Music news outlets noted that Hinds was widely recognized for his incredible riffs and unique playing style. These qualities became synonymous with Mastodon’s signature sound. His departure from the band in March 2025, just months before his fatal accident, had already marked a significant transition for the group.
The surviving members of Mastodon publicly mourned Hinds following his death. The emotional weight of that loss is now evident in their new material. The decision to address his passing through “Your Ghost Again” represents the band’s attempt to process their grief while honoring the legacy of their fallen bandmate.
With the release of “Your Ghost Again,” Mastodon is attempting to bridge the gap between their past with Hinds and their future without him. Dailor’s candid reflections suggest that the new album serves as both a memorial and a therapeutic outlet for the band members as they navigate their collective mourning. The song’s exploration of phantom presence—seeing Hinds in the spaces where he once stood—captures the disorienting nature of grief in familiar environments.
By sharing their pain through music, Mastodon is inviting fans to join them in their grieving process. They acknowledge that the loss extends beyond the band to the broader community that supported them throughout their 25-year journey with Hinds at the helm.
