West End Motel release new single “Return of the Kid” featuring Matt Pike (High On Fire)

“Return Of The Kid” is a new song released by West End Motel, as per theprp. Before his tragic death in a motorbike accident on August 20th of last year, the late Brent Hinds (of Mastodon) was a part of that group. Matt Pike (High On Fire), one of Hinds’ closest pals, appears on this recently released song.

In a year that saw the light of innumerable metal and hard rock icons extinguished, the untimely death of former Mastodon guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds in a motorbike accident in August 2025 was just another devastating blow. Hinds’ untimely death at the age of 51 was especially devastating because it happened not just a month after Osbourne‘s passing but also about six months after his acrimonious breakup with Mastodon in the first few months of 2025. Although some fans hoped that the progressive sludge band would eventually make amends with Hinds and come back stronger as a result, fate had other ideas. 

Though his most well-known project was undoubtedly Mastodon, Hinds had a number of other projects under his belt, such as Fiend Without A Face and West End Motel. Before his death, Hinds also had an unreleased solo record in the works, according to the latter’s drummer, Duane Trucks.

Many musicians, including Zakk Wylde, Alex Skolnick, Scott Ian, Shirley Manson, Matt Heafy, and many more, posted tributes on social media when Hinds passed away. Mastodon, Hinds’ former bandmates, also released a statement. Hinds initially picked up his “signature style” of quick hybrid picking while playing the banjo by imitating banjo fingerings on a guitar. Along with numerous hammer-ons, pull-offs, and legato slides, he regularly used the minor pentatonic, natural minor, and harmonic minor scales in his playing. Hinds listened to country music as a child, but in his late teens, he began to listen to bands that had a significant impact on him: Neurosis and Melvins. He claimed to be a huge admirer of psychedelic and progressive music, particularly from the 1970s.