AN AMERICAN heavy metal group has confirmed they are locked in a legal battle with the estate of their late bandmate.
The Blood and Thunder hitmakers have been forced to release a statement to their Instagram page addressing the previously-unearthed feud and how they will proceed.
Oblivion singers Mastodon, a Grammy-nominated band formed in Atlanta, told how what they deem a “meritless lawsuit” is centred on their late Brent Hinds.
The band’s guitarist Brent quit the group in March 2025 after 25 years together, prior to his death in a motorcycle crash in the August.
The group’s founding member passed aged 51, after his Harley-Davidson collided with a BMW SUV.
Prior to his death it appeared there were frictions between the musician and the band, and this only seems to have developed a year since the tragedy.
Mastodon have now told of the fresh legal woe and uploaded a statement which read: “Sadly, a private business dispute with the estate of our dear departed friend Brent Hinds was made public.
“We strongly deny allegations of ill intent on our part and intend to vigorously defend what we believe is a meritless lawsuit.
“We don’t intend to speak publicly on this going forward, as we feel this wouldn’t honour Brent’s memory or the legacy of his musical gifts”.
Fans were quick to respond to support the group, who now are formed of Troy Sanders, Bill Kelliher, Brann Dailor, Nick Johnston and João Nogueira.
One wrote: “Nobody’s business but yours. The fans are here for the music my guys. Congrats on the excellent new album”.
A second put: “We love Brent, we love Mastodon”.
A third posted: “This is really disheartening. Hoping things can be resolved”.
Last year, Brent told Billboard that his departure from the group was not mutual.
He then said the remaining members “kicked me out”.
This came after the band said they had “mutually decided to part ways”.
The new lawsuit has seen a civil complaint filed by the Hind estate, against the band’s members, on behalf of the late musician on September 3 according to loudwire.com.
As per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the lawsuit claims Mastodon failed to pay Brent for his share of the business after his exit.
It claims although the wheels were in motion for the group to buy him out of his share in “band related business” he had not in fact signed the paperwork prior to his passing.
As such, it claims his stake remains valid.
Representatives for his estate also suggest Brent’s image was also used to present the band’s Marrow Deep album, in the same legal challenge.
The lawsuit claimed: “Defendants selected and placed a recognizable image of Brent on the album cover of Marrow Deep and disseminated that cover to advertise, market, distribute and sell physical albums, digital downloads and streams, merchandise and related goods or services”.