West End Motel and Matt Pike Honor Mastodon’s Brent Hinds with New Song “Return of the Kid”: Stream

West End Motel, the soul, gospel, and heartland rock outfit founded by the late Brent Hinds, released the new song “Return of the Kid,” on Thursday, August 20th, the one-year anniversary of the Mastodon guitarist’s tragic passing last year in a motorcycle accident. The track features High on Fire frontman Matt Pike.

“Return of the Kid” sits somewhere between Bruce Springsteen and The Band, fusing a country rock and gospel feel against a rock ‘n’ roll backbone. There are flashes of harmonized guitar and solos that live in that prime spot between southern rock flash and heavy metal zing.

The sax on the track is pure Clarence Clemens while the drums are active and vigorous, using the superb guitarwork as the backbone while the other instruments elaborate on top in a way that feels genuinely joyful. The guitar solo is provided by Pike, who clearly pours his heart out for his lost friend.

Vocalist and co-founder Tom Chesire confirmed the song’s dedication to Brent Hinds with an Instagram post depicting a psychedelic version of the late guitarist as well as a touching “Long Live B Hinds!”

Pike had previously teamed up with Hinds, with the latter providing a guitar solo on Pike’s solo album Pike vs. the Automation. Stream “Return of the Kid” and see the dedication below.