Machine Head's The Blackening is an over-the-top rage and pummelfest with all the qualities that earned the group its enormous fan base by touring and recording. The record starts out unlikely enough, and gladly enough, with a left-of-center call to arms to the youth of this nation to not accept blindly the words (and threats) of "patriotic brutes." It calls for rage with triple-timed slamming beats and blistering lead guitar breaks, as the piece alternates between death metal, industrial metal, hrash and prog. It blends seamlessly. At ten-and-half minutes for an opening cut, one can tell this is no original heavy metal record. "Beautiful Mourning" is anything but gothic heavy metal; it begins with a taut, explosive riff matched by the drum kit, and then Robb Flynn is off and running, celebrating being "taken under" by her, and the seductive power of both women and death. The hrash element here rivals Slayer at their very best, and breaks new ground within the realm of composition for aggressive music. The intense dual arpeggios between both guitarists -- Flynn and Phil Demmel on "Aesthetics of Hate" (as just one example) are among the tightest ever. The drama produced by Dave McClain's blastbeats and the steady guidance of Adam Duce's basslines comprise a deeply intuitive rhythm section for the six-stringers to fly from. They don't so much fly as fight, though. Other standouts include "Halo," and "Now I Lay Thee Down." Recommended.
Bay Area metal masters Machine Head are back with The Blackening, a glorious follow up to the critically acclaimed Through The Ashes of Empires. An evolutionary album, The Blackening features Machine Head staying true to their roots with some of the heaviest riffs ever recorded while incorporating many beautiful, [...]Related posts:Hurt - Goodbye to the Machine ReviewsHow Can I Sing Higher ...
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They're back!Machine Head's newest release is definitely a force to be reckoned with in this, the age of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal. They've gone to their roots with this album, and it shows. Judging from the first song, 'Clenching the Fists of Dissent,' it's clear that they were thinking, 'let's make a heavy fucking record.' They have accomplished this. The guitar work can be a bit o...
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I bought the new Machine Head album today. "The Blackening" is their best album in years. The first two albums were incredible, then they started slipping into suckdom with "The Burning Red". I had to get their new album after hearing "Now I Lay Thee Down". The whole album kicks ass, but I think my favorite track is "Wolves". Here's the video for "Now I Lay Thee Down":
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Why have I started to listen to Machine Head? They share their name with a "Deep Purple album":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_Head_%28album%29 for example, who I may have liked if I was born 30 years earlier than what I was. I checked out their back catalogue and Supercharger, was rubbish. Hmm, I don't know .. I'll mull this one over.
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Bay Area metal masters Machine Head are back with The Blackening, a glorious follow up to the critically acclaimed Through The Ashes of Empires. An evolutionary album, The Blackening features Machine Head staying true to their roots with some of the heaviest riffs ever recorded while incorporating many beautiful, [...]Related posts:Hurt - Goodbye to the Machine ReviewsHow Can I Sing Higher ...
More >
They're back!Machine Head's newest release is definitely a force to be reckoned with in this, the age of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal. They've gone to their roots with this album, and it shows. Judging from the first song, 'Clenching the Fists of Dissent,' it's clear that they were thinking, 'let's make a heavy fucking record.' They have accomplished this. The guitar work can be a bit o...
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Yes, as the title suggests, Machine Head's newest studio release is quite stupendous. The vocals are very clear and great, the guitar work is amazing. The give and take between the guitarists in some of the solo are in perfect taste. If you like, go and grab yourself a copy.
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Clenching the Fists of Dissent |
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| 2 Beautiful Mourning |
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| 3 Aesthetics of Hate |
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| 4 Now I Lay Thee Down |
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| 5 Slanderous |
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| 6 Halo |
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| 7 Wolves |
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| 8 A Farewell to Arms |
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 "The Blackening")
