"We are in a state of unfathomable sadness and grief," Hinds' former bandmates wrote in an emotional tribute to the late heavy metal rocker.

"We are heartbroken, shocked and still trying to process the loss of this creative force," the band said in a statement.

Former lead guitarist and co-founder of the heavy metal band Mastodon, Brent Hinds, died in a tragic motorcycle accident in Atlanta. He was 51 years old.