Machine Head is a band that is synonymous with dividing opinion, but one thing is 100% guaranteed, every metal fan has heard of them. Like them or not, Robb Flynn and co have been a flagbearer and held on for dear like riding front and center on the roller coaster of a scene in quite possibly its most challenging of eras. Fans from each decade of Headcases existence have those that are not fans of an iteration of Machine Head to another, early 90’s fans have those that don’t like the thrashier, post ‘Through the Ashes’ change, and those of the 00’s fans have those that don’t appreciate the earlier stuff as much…Then there was the near destruction and then rebirth of Machine Head which again, caused disturbances among fanbases with the release of Catharsis. (Remember the days when if you didn’t like something you just got on with life rather than bleat on about it for eternity?! Those were the days!) Well, 2022 has come around and like a Phoenix rising from the flames, Machine Head has been reborn from the ashes with a new lineup and the release of ‘ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN’, there’s no messing about here, I for one fucking love it!
Sheer aggression just oozes out of the album, the beastly ten-minute opener teases you with its softly, softly beginnings. The bar is set high for the rest to follow, doubling down on keeping the pyres burning, ‘CHØKE ØN THE ASHES ØF YØUR HATE’ is a thrashing bastard that just continues the onslaught, despite its thrashy elements, it finishes sub five minutes, much like the majority of the album, no lengthy drawn out opuses to worry over sitting through here after the opener. Following on comes another released as a single from the album, ‘BECØME THE FIRESTØRM’ before one of several small moments on the album to catch a breath. ‘ØVERDØSE’, ‘ASSIMILATE’, and ‘TERMINUS’ break the album up with some interludes around a minute long, otherwise, it is chocked with track after track of grit and a new look without the loss of the old feeling. ‘UNHALLØWED’ sounds like a fresh take of something that would slip into The Locust or Bloodstone and Diamonds, whilst ‘BLØØDSHØT’ is quick to remind me of earlier Machine Head, the album hits on all bases and it marks a serious home run for the band. The fresh blood in Vogg (of Decapitated) on guitar shows somewhat a new side to him, recent albums whilst still technical have had more of a groove feel, and this side really gets to be shown off with Machine Head, add the addition of Matt Alston to round out the band and you are set for something explosive, Matt deserving the attention he is getting and fitting the bill nicely.
All in you can’t really get much better than this, reborn, revitalized, most definitely beating the war drums and making a statement, Machine Head are back!