Paul Gray, bassist with masked heavy metal band Slipknot, has been found dead in a hotel in a suburban area of Des Moines, Iowa. He was 38.

His body was found by an employee at the TownePlace Suites in the early hours of Monday, May 24. Local police have ruled out foul play but they will still carry out an autopsy to ascertain the precise nature of the musician's death.

Most of Slipknot's line-up hailed from the Des Moines area. Famed for their grotesque masks and grinding brand of metal, Slipknot's eponymous debut album was released in 1999 and went on to sell more than 1 million copies while their second album, 2001's 'Iowa,' topped the UK charts. Slipknot released a further two studio albums, 2004's 'Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses) and 'All Hope Is Gone' -- which gave them their first US No. 1 -- in 2008.

Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy -- the body that hands out the Grammys -- said in a statement, "The heavy metal world has lost an immense talent, and Slipknot's loyal following will ensure he and his music are remembered for years to come."

It is understood the bassist was expecting his first child with his wife, Brenna.