Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 07:48 PM by Lilliana Tseka
One of the most historical bands in the metal scene will visit our country again to cause delirium to the hundreds of their fans. This highly emblematic presence in over 20 years, returns to Greece for two performances, one in Thessaloniki on 25th and one in Athens on 26th of September with an awesome set and elevated mood. Here’s where we intervene with a flashback, preparing you for what is actually the concert that kick – starts this year’s winter season. Take a deep breath, grab a beer and let’s get fired up until we see them live on stage…
As it is well known, Machine Head come from Oakland, California, where they were formed in October 1991 by its lead singer and guitarist Robb Flynn and bassist Adam Duce. Robb Flynn, known for his collaborations with Forbidden and Vio – Lence, felt at some point that he wasn’t satisfied by his musical choices and the path that he was following. Flynn wanted to start a side project, but that was prevented from happening by various obstacles. These obstacles disappeared when he decided to walk out from Vio – Lence, paving the way for Machine Head. Despite the general opinion that Machine Head’s name comes from Deep Purple, the truth is that the name occurred to them completely by chance, simply because it “sounded cool”.
The band’s first steps included rehearsing in a studio, which they used to share with other punk bands while recording their first demo with their own money at a friend’s room. In a stroke of luck, a record exclusive representing Roadrunners Records listened to their demo and approached them, leading into signing a contract with the label.
Their first record “Burn My Eyes” was released in 1994, having a tremendous success especially in Europe and in America through Headbangers Ball. Despite the fact that Flynn had to deal with his struggle with illegal drugs, the record caused frenzy, selling over 40,000 copies, making it the best debut album amidst Roadrunner’s roster. Later, the band hit the road with Slayer. Could it be better than that? Musically speaking, it was an album – revelation, gaining immediately fans from all over the world. Judging it with a nowadays perspective, it was natural for it to be embraced by a huge number of fans of the metal community, since it’s a much more aggressive record than their subsequent releases. Lyrically speaking now, various social phenomena of that era served as an inspiration well, such as the Los Angeles Riots in 1992 (see “Real Eyes, Realize Real Lies”) and the Waco Siege of 1993 (see “Davidian”). Organized religion, political intrigues and deceptions, the will to revolt, the pain in which you dwell and the general decay of a rotten society were the general issues addressed by Machine Head in “Burn My Eyes”. The greatest success of the record was “Davidian” which is still played in bars and metal clubs, sounding fresher than ever.
Three years later, Machine Head strike back with “The More Things Change”. Dave McClain makes his first appearance in the band, replacing Chris Kontos, who left because he couldn’t keep up with the band’s tours. Meanwhile, “The More Things Change” was the last album guitarist Logan Mader was featured in.
Up until then Machine Head’s compositions were characterized by groove elements and many heavy thrash outbursts. From here on and for the next two albums, the band will follow a different path, combining the nu metal genre with the aggression of the first two records.
So, in August 1999, Machine Head released their very different “The Burning Red” record. Machine Head added new elements to their music, experimenting on guitars and vocals, renewing their sound and changing their identity. As a result, the reception by the press and the fans was unexpected and caustic. Many felt that Machine Head were “sell outs”, yet at the time they themselves stated that they just “wanted to sound different.” Despite the flack and the bad feedback “The Burning Red” with the odd cover received, it became one of the band’s strongest cards, becoming one of the band’ top – selling albums for many years and holding the position of their second most successful release after their last album.
In October 2001, shortly after the fall of the Twin Towers on September 11th, Machine Head released “Supercharger”, which generally received the same flack as its predecessor, especially focused on Flynn’s diverse vocals. This period treated Machine Head unfairly. The band nearly disbanded due to several disputes with their label, Roadrunner Records. In “Supercharger” a song called “Crashing Around You” was included, for which a video clip was filmed. In this clip, part of the script was buildings on fire and ashes thrown everywhere, so to prevent causing a riot, the clip was withdrawn. Roadrunner stopped funding the band, resulting into Machine Head leaving the label.
Up to 2002, despite the difficulties the band faced and “Supergharger“ hitting rock bottom as a huge commercial failure, Machine Head managed to sell 1.3 million albums and toured where imaginable.
Setting aside the disputes and the termination of their cooperation with Roadrunner, Machine Head decided to record their fifth album “Through The Ashes of Empires”. The album wass released in October 2003 in Europe, while in America things were still fluid. Finally, due to the looming success of the album, Roadrunner reconsidered and offered to release the album in April 2004 across America, which actually happened, selling over 80,000 copies. The album was characterized by a return to the “primitive” groove / thrash roots of the band, combining them elaborately with the experimentation of their subsequent releases. In this record the lyrics concerning social inequality and everyone’s personal battles were back. Generally, a veil of darkness unfolds. “Imperium”, “Bite The Bullet” and “Days Turn Blue to Gray” stand out immediately and became instant hits.
The huge leap towards success came with the release of the album “The Blackening” in March 2007. Its success is huge and the acclaims dithyrambic. Both press and the internet considered it as the best album of 2007. In the United Kingdom the record sold over 60,000 copies; a certified “silver” record. Musically the band externalized their most violent character, the one they had in the first two albums. The compositions became more complex and acquired more technique. Flynn had once stated to our surprise that the album was influenced by Rush’s “A Farewell to the Kings”. Machine Head have now entered the pantheon of metal groups. They toured with Lamb of God and Gojira and served as opening acts for Megadeth and Heaven And Hell at that time. Indeed, the icing on the cake was Robb Flynn winning the “Golden God” award. The hugely successful track “Aesthetics of Hate” is included in this record. As Flynn stated the track is essentially an effective way in giving “the finger” to William Grim and his inexplicable article in Iconoclast in which he praised Dimebag Darrell’s murder. Ultimately, this song gave to Machine Head the Grammy for “Best Metal Performance”. Despite “Aesthetics of Hate”, the album included the ten minute epics: “Clenching The Fists of Dissent” and “A Farewell to Arms” which caused surprise to both fans and critics. As Machine Head stated, they didn’t think this was a bad choice, concerning radio and general promotion. Besides they didn’t want to become radio material or gain airplays anyway.
Machine Head’s crowd was on frenzy and the band’s success increased with the release of “Unto the Locust” in September 2011. Even more intricate guitars, even faster riffs and complex drums raised the stakes (in fact we have the first blast beats). Massive tours throughout the world led to the release of the live album “Machine Fuckin ‘Head Live”, the first after 2003’s “Helllive”. The production and mixing of the album was made by Robb Flynn himself. “Unto the Locust” was the album that climbed higher than any other record on the charts before “Bloodstone and Diamonds” was released.
In February 2013 Adam Duce, the band’s long-term bassist and founding member decided to leave for personal reasons, which turned into “musical differences” some time later. His vacant position was covered in June by Jared MacEachern, after the band’s YouTube contest.
The changes of Machine Head’s roster were followed by a change in their label. After so many years, so many albums and many tours, Machine Head decided to become a member of the Nuclear Blast family, on October of same year.
Machine Head’s latest album and the first with Nuclear Blast was “Bloodstone and Diamonds”, which was released in November 2014. The presence of MacEachern seems to had brought freshness to the band. New cool compositions, groove combinations with thrash and heavy metal elements, verses concerning social inequality, violence and brutality of everyday life and influences which extend from Metallica, Exodus, Slayer and Exhorder to Alice in Chains, Judas Priest, Rush and Black Sabbath. It is perhaps the album on which Machine Head experimented the most and yet did not backfire.
After this thorough flashback, I think we are ready to welcome Machine Head. By making an elaborate journey throughout their excessive career it’s evident that Machine Head came to stay and their stigma will remain indelible for the years to come. Whatever genre is of your preference, I don’t think you can belittle their historical presence. If anything, it is certainly enviable. Machine Head are now considered as one of the most influential bands in the scene. The band has even been characterized as the “Pioneer of the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal” and probably for a good reason. After nearly three million sales worldwide, I don’t think that they are simple bystanders.
Whoever has attended their shows, knows; those who haven’t, will learn in a few days. It’s a gig worth going and I’m sure you’ll have a great time. Their set includes tracks from their entire carrier. Two and a half hours full of groovy tunes, thrash that breaks necks, melodies that will travel us many years back. Machine Head’s Greek fanbase is huge, so one way or another everyone is expected to live something special. Catch them live on September 25th in Thessaloniki at Fix Factory of Sound and on September 26th in Athens at Votanikos Live Stage.
