12-28-2009, 05:38 AM
Machine Head probably needs no elaborate run-down on their career for some of you here. Again, one of my earliest metal idols from California, I gotta say how Machine Head has basically been a band that's blown my mind and broken my heart, in the 15 years they've been around.
Burn My Eyes and The More Things Change still wow me the same way they did about a dozen years ago, when I first bought and heard both those landmark heavy metal records. Sure, there were many comparatively 'better' thrash/hm albums before these twin releases by MC, but I don't care what critics call it, all that mumbo-jumbo of 'post-thrash', I honestly found BME and TMTC devastatingly intense and cool. The grinding guitars, the groovy, layered, crushing sonic atmosphere and the visceral anger and menacing edge to the music (and the lyrics) sounded rather cool and catchy, in a sense. Vio-lence were awesome, but then I ain't complaining about Flynn, and later, Phil Demmel, contributing to MC's marauding metal music.
Though, I thought Demmel was, overall, way better with Vio-lence. Now, after these two swell discs had set the tone and made me a fan, came the lame, sad misadventures with The Burning Red and Supercharger. Those were shocking let-downs I could never get over. Miraculously, MC mended their ways somewhat, with the rollicking return to heavy, punishing groove-thrash form, with Through the Ashes of Empires, in 2004. It wasn't anything sensational, but I still like the record for its lost-n-found intensity and thrash metallic chops I had hoped Flynn and mates would never abandon after what I heard and loved about both BME and TMTC. However, I never bought all the incredible hype, but yea as a fan, I still bought their next album, The Blackening (2007). Sadly, this was another suck-fest that dragged (with over-lengthy songs) and disappointed me hugely.
Overall, for three albums alone, I love Machine Head, and always will.
What do you guys feel about this band that many of us have a love-hate relationship with?
http://www.myspace.com/machinehead
http://www.youtube.com/user/machinehead
Burn My Eyes and The More Things Change still wow me the same way they did about a dozen years ago, when I first bought and heard both those landmark heavy metal records. Sure, there were many comparatively 'better' thrash/hm albums before these twin releases by MC, but I don't care what critics call it, all that mumbo-jumbo of 'post-thrash', I honestly found BME and TMTC devastatingly intense and cool. The grinding guitars, the groovy, layered, crushing sonic atmosphere and the visceral anger and menacing edge to the music (and the lyrics) sounded rather cool and catchy, in a sense. Vio-lence were awesome, but then I ain't complaining about Flynn, and later, Phil Demmel, contributing to MC's marauding metal music.
Though, I thought Demmel was, overall, way better with Vio-lence. Now, after these two swell discs had set the tone and made me a fan, came the lame, sad misadventures with The Burning Red and Supercharger. Those were shocking let-downs I could never get over. Miraculously, MC mended their ways somewhat, with the rollicking return to heavy, punishing groove-thrash form, with Through the Ashes of Empires, in 2004. It wasn't anything sensational, but I still like the record for its lost-n-found intensity and thrash metallic chops I had hoped Flynn and mates would never abandon after what I heard and loved about both BME and TMTC. However, I never bought all the incredible hype, but yea as a fan, I still bought their next album, The Blackening (2007). Sadly, this was another suck-fest that dragged (with over-lengthy songs) and disappointed me hugely.Overall, for three albums alone, I love Machine Head, and always will.
What do you guys feel about this band that many of us have a love-hate relationship with?
http://www.myspace.com/machinehead
http://www.youtube.com/user/machinehead