Part of the thrash/groove metal establishment, Machine Head have had plenty of ups and downs throughout their lengthy career. The Oakland natives started off with a blockbuster debut album back when heavy metal was suppressed by the early 90s grunge boom. However things got very rocky for period before re-establishing themselves atop the metal tree with an all time greatest album contender.
Frontman and vocalist/guitarist Rob Flynn has been the only constant member throughout. Ignoring the drumming rodeo early on, they have been remarkably stable for long periods of time. Founding members, bassist Adam Duce and guitarist Logan Mader saw through the first 2 albums. However it is the guitar combination of Flynn and former Vio-lence teammate Phil Demmel that saw through their greatest period.
So ranking all Machine Head albums is going to be interesting. Do these ‘rocky period’ albums actually have qualities that were otherwise looked over? Or were they really just as forgettable as on first impression? There is no doubt that the overall quality of the body work is terrific, so lets get into it.
8. Catharsis
Honestly, I don’t really know what Catharsis is. Actually scratch that, it’s pretty clear what it is – an outpouring of emotion from Rob Flynn over 74 minutes. There are so many twists and turns in style, aggression and feel throughout that there is really no time to settle down. Alas one feels hugely disappointed by this release. Drummer Dave McClain and guitarist Phil Demmel left after this release – Demmel commenting after that Machine Head had effectively become a Rob Flynn solo project. Provides a big hint as to why this release turned out to be a bit of mess.
9. Supercharger
With well publicised record label and band issues, Supercharger was left backpedaling from the start. However is it really the train wreck it is universally judged of being? After The Burning Red made no attempt to hide its hip-hop connection, Supercharger merged back in the groove metal style, and kind of sits in no mans land somewhere between. There is plenty of filler on the album, but there are some very good tracks. Bulldozer has plenty aggression and bite, and Machine Head even have a little fun on American High. So no, it’s not as bad as everyone says, but unfortunately can’t hold up with most of their work.
7. Unto The Locust
When you follow up an album of the all time great quality of The Blackening, you start off on the back foot. Unto The Locust is still a very good album. Opening track I Am Hell (Sonata in C#) and This Is The End pick up exactly where The Blackening left off. At only 7 tracks and less than 49 minutes it is short by Machine Head‘s standards. Whilst it can’t match the previous or following album, it has probably the widest dynamic range of all their albums, and definitely the most complex and engaging structure overall. Darkness Within showcasing an emotional side not previously seen outside of brutally angry emotion.
6. Through The Ashes Of Empires
After the miss of Supercharger, and stepping away from Roadrunner Records in the US, Machine Head could have been over. However, the introduction of guitarist Phil Demmel coincided with a return to the pre-The Burning Red style of up tempo thrash and groove mix that made Machine Head originally break through. Through The Ashes Of Empires was such a success internationally, that Roadrunner resigned Machine Head to distribute the album in the US. Opening track Imperium is now a MH classic, and possibly saved the band as a result.
5. The More Things Change…
With The More Things Change…, did Machine Head play it safe sticking to the Burn My Eyes style? It’s very easy to view it this way. It certainly wasn’t an easy process, with the master recordings going walkabout amongst other issues. There isn’t really a huge amount to differentiate it from their debut album – an often criticised point. But what’s wrong with sticking with a good thing? The groove and thrash combination is still present all through this album. If you are one of those that routinely skip this album, don’t. Go back and appreciate the mighty blow of Ten Ton Hammer, you will thank me!
4. Bloodstone & Diamonds
Marking the first time with new bassist Jared MacEachern following the departure of founding member Adam Duce. Bloodstone & Diamonds became Machine Head‘s highest charting album to date – at #21 on the Billboard 200. In my opinion this is the closest Machine Head have gotten to the overall accomplishment of The Blackening. The opening 1-2 punch of Now We Die and Killers & Kings is as good as anything in their catalogue.
At 12 songs of typical Machine Head length (whilst not as epically long as on The Blackening), it’s quite a long album. Maybe a touch too long. Is that why this album seems to have been passed over by fans? I suppose it’s easy to when you have some blockbuster prior albums. But it’s time for you to give Bloodstone & Diamonds another crack.
3. The Burning Red
I have previously written about this misunderstood album. The Burning Red took a sharp change in style from their opening two records. But write this off as just a ‘nu-metal album’ at your peril. Where Supercharger tried to mix the groove metal in with nu-metal (and failing) the full force, no messing around change in musical style works brilliantly here. You can pretend to hate nu-metal, and write it off as simply rap metal, but there is so much more to it, and The Burning Red overall.
Only From This Day and Desire To Fire you can classify as rap metal, the rest just a hard hitting mid tempo blast. A lesson to be learned, if you are going to change up your style, throw everything into it and you are significantly more likely to make it a success than going half arsed. The hardcore fans will hate you anyway! If you want a reminder of exactly what nu-metal looked like in the late 1990s (in sickening detail) then check out the video for From This Day below.
2. Burn My Eyes
Back in 1994, heavy metal was not in a great place. Glam metal had run its course and the big hair was done. The titans of thrash metal had turned away from the style they had created – culminating with Metallica‘s eponymous album in 1991, which simultaneously thrust heavy music to new heights, and pushed heavy metal back underground. Pantera were pushing the headlines with Cowboys from Hell (1990) and Vulgar Display of Power (1992), but the rise of grunge took the spotlight.
However, the realise of Burn My Eyes shook the stage back in 1994. Mixing the aggression and pace of thrash, with the mid tempo groove taking over 90s metal, Burn My Eyes thrust Machine Head to the forefront of the metal scene. Davidian and Old are still classic amongst their catalogue – Davidian setting up the natural harmonic riffs Machine Head have made their own. One of the 90s greatest metal albums.
1. The Blackening
Was there ever going to be another album at number one? Yes I know Burn My Eyes was groundbreaking and stands the test of time. But put away your emotions, get your head in the game and you know that The Blackening is number one. It is one of heavy metal’s all time greatest albums. With only a single song under 5 minutes, and four over 9 minutes, that is an especially grand achievement.
The way the tracks are composed often feel like multiple songs in a single track. It all gels perfectly. Aesthetics of Hate (written about a tasteless criticism of Dimebag‘s death) is one of the all time angry AF records. The harmonised guitar interlude in Halo is legendary. There isn’t a single moment of fluff or filler on The Blackening, and will stand the test of time for decades to come.
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