Machine Head - The Blackening review
| Band: | Machine Head |
| Album: | The Blackening |
| Style: | Groove thrash metal, Progressive thrash metal |
| Release date: | March 2007 |
Disc I
01. Clenching The Fists Of Dissent
02. Beautiful Mourning
03. Aesthetics Of Hate
04. Now I Lay Thee Down
05. Slanderous
06. Halo
07. Wolves
08. A Farewell To Arms
09. Hallowed Be Thy Name [Iron Maiden cover] [bonus]
10. Battery [Metallica cover] [bonus]
Disc II [Special Edition Bonus CD - B-Sides/Rarities 1994-2008]
01. Hallowed Be Thy Name [Iron Maiden cover]
02. Alan's On Fire [Poison Idea cover]
03. Negative Creep [Nirvana cover]
04. Seasons Wither
05. My Misery
06. House Of Suffering [Bad Brains cover]
07. The Possibility Of Life's Destruction [Discharge cover]
08. Ten Ton Hammer (Extended Original Mix)
09. Hole In The Sky [Black Sabbath cover]
10. Colors [Ice-T cover]
11. Hard Times [Cro-Mags cover] [live]
12. Halo (I Want Your Soul) [demo 2005 version]
13. Aesthetics Of Hate (Thrash-terpiece) [demo 2005 version]
Disc III [Special Edition DVD]
01. Clenching The Fists Of Dissent [Live With Full Force 2008]
02. Now I Lay Thee Down [Live With Full Force 2008]
03. Halo [Live With Full Force 2008]
04. Aesthetics Of Hate [Live Rock In Rio 2008]
05. Davidian [Live Rock In Rio 2008]
06. Imperium [Live Download 2007]
07. Old [Live Download 2007]
08. A Thousand Lies [Live Burn My Eyes 10th Anniversary 2004]
09. The Rage To Overcome [Live Burn My Eyes 10th Anniversary 2004]
10. Death Church [Live Burn My Eyes 10th Anniversary 2004]
11. Blood For Blood [Live Burn My Eyes 10th Anniversary 2004]
+ Halo [video]
+ Now I Lay Thee Down [video]
+ Aesthetics Of Hate [video]
+ Making Of Feature For Each Video
Who said Thrash was on its way out? From the first listen, the first riff of 'Clenching The Fists Of Dissent', you could tell that this was not so. Since Machine Head's début, 'Burn My Eyes' in 1994, they have done what they do best. Playing top-notch Thrash Metal. And their latest effort 'The Blackening' is definitely their best release so far.
The Blackening has all the elements for a great record; awesome thrash-orientated riffs, brilliant solos, catchy melodies, choruses that will stick in your mind for days (no, it's not a bad thing), diversity, and Rob Flynn's brilliant vocals. The album has eight perfectly written songs, with several clocking in at almost 10 minutes. However, these ten minutes are filled with diversity; from acoustic interludes to mid tempo metal to all out thrash. 'The Blackening' has it all. The guitar work on the album is first-class. The riffs are heavy and fast, and never stop for the entirety of the album. The only thing that stops this Machine Head monstrosity is the acoustic interludes, which are chucked in here and there to add to the diversity of the album. The solos in the album are brilliant, melodic, fast, catchy, and will make you air guitar like you never have before.
Rob Flynn's job on vocals is filled with anger aimed at politics, including Bush and Iraq, as we can see in 'Clenching The Fists of Dissent', "Sing revolution's song, when they say die, die for America". His thrash vocals, as well as the change to clean vocals on certain tracks, are absolutely spot on the mark, and add to the total ferociousness of the album.
The Blackening is quite complex, and listeners will appreciate the depth that Machine Head has created in the album more and more with each listen. This is a must have album in any good metal collection.
Highlights: 'Clenching The Fists Of Dissent', 'Aesthetics Of Hate', 'Now I Lay Thee Down', and 'Halo'.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 10 |
| Originality: | 9 |
| Production: | 10 |
Written by BurbotsRevenge | 27.11.2007
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
Rating:
10
10
|
Rating: 10 |
I absolutely hate hearing people say that whenever they hear an awesome album, they think it's the greatest thing ever to come since sliced bread, and the fact the people consider something perfect is complete crap. This is what bothers me the most about Machine Head and The Blackening: it may very well be the greatest thrash album ever created in this generation (meaning the 2000s only of course). Read more ›› |
Rating:
9.5
9.5
|
Rating: 9.5 |
Finally... Machine Head released an album in 2007 after four years of absence. Although not one of the biggest metal bands of the last 20 years (at that time), The Blackening was one of the most expected albums by all the fans or non-fans of the band. In my opinion, most of the fans wanted to see the direction the band was going to take. Machine Head had different styles through the years since their formation. In the entire album, one thing I have to say and honor is the outstanding performance of the band but mainly by Rob Flynn, finally he got a grip on his life, learned how to play guitar really well (before he almost never made a solo, in this album he makes solos in most of the songs), changed his life and that reflects in the entire album and his performance. Read more ›› |
Comments
- 1
- 2
Comments: 43
Visited by: 303 users
| Bash' :) Posts: 531  |
Nice review! I am not into Machine Head, but seems like you'll make me try them, the review is so enthusiastic really  Hope I like it like you.. Thank you!
---- I saw her standing by the crimson sea... Isolated by the silent thoughts... Her gazing was intense but so dead... The teardrops corroded the soil.. She couldn't say a word to me...
Loading...
|
| Syk myspace/bonerama Posts: 1504  |
Lol, good luck EverDreaM, I wouldn't put any money on it. I'm sorry to say this review reads like a typical "well-written" magazine hype machine - take that as a good thing or a bad thing. I hate the band and feel this album is overrated as fuck, "these ten minutes are filled with diversity" makes me turn in my above-ground grave
---- death ? thrash ? death/doom/prog ? Hail Zoldon! he's not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays
Loading...
|
| Dangerboner Lactation Cnslt Posts: 7262  |
I agree with Syk. This album sounds like the record label wrote it.
Loading...
|
| Baz Anderson Staff Posts: 13237  |
indeed, this album is not interesting, not engaging, just generally not good the songs are so typical, it is so manufactured to be a popular "thrash" album with all them stupid clean vocal choruses and cringeworthy acoustic type moments this band just writes the music that is popular of the time - you saw it with "The Burning Red" and you saw it here as well, just obviously what is commercial and sells has changed a little since then very average, if that
Loading...
|
| BurbotsRevenge Foetal Butchery Posts: 1602  |
@last three posters: really? i thought it was a great record, but that is my opinion, and ur entitled to have yours  but i generally loved the album  ah well, people have different tastes...
---- Dark death metal from Sydney: https://www.facebook.com/GolgothanRemains
Loading...
|
| Bash' :) Posts: 531 |
Okay I am back, spent last somedays lsning to this album [downloaded not bought, here there is no selling originals.. nevermind..], I can say Halo was my fav. song, specially after the main riff ends and calm down, I won't pray for you I won't pray for you I won't pray for you... you close your eyes & they start with a plural clean vocals singing, that is just amazing & moving.. Also, I liked Aesthetics Of Hate, those were my top fav. tracks & I see it is indeed a great release, I am going to try their other stuff [BurbotsRevenge thanks you introduced the band to me at by the shoutbox]
---- I saw her standing by the crimson sea... Isolated by the silent thoughts... Her gazing was intense but so dead... The teardrops corroded the soil.. She couldn't say a word to me...
Loading...
|
| suberatu Posts: 3 |
|
| dunkin91 Account deleted |
|
| BloodTears ANA-thema Elite Posts: 11835  |
Maybe I should get this.
Loading...
|
| Syk myspace/bonerama Posts: 1504 |
Written by Guest on 22.12.2007 at 13:23Exodus' 2004 release was a million times better than this, as was Mastery's album from last year and Municipal Waste from the year before
---- death ? thrash ? death/doom/prog ? Hail Zoldon! he's not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays
Loading...
|
| Sonic MrSumo Posts: 447  |
This is by far and away Machine Head's best offering. It's like they're a different band...songs are a lot more complex and well structured.
---- All the bridges in the world won't save you, if there's no other side to cross to. - Rock poetry from Silverchair.
Loading...
|
| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071  |
Written by Guest on 22.12.2007 at 13:23 Death Angel - The Art Of Dying Exodus - Tempo Of The Damned Onslaught - Killing Peace Municipal Waste - The Art Of Partying Need I go on?
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
Loading...
|
| BloodTears ANA-thema Elite Posts: 11835 |
Well this a very melodic album, some riffs are even Arch Enemy-like just take "Clenching The Fists Of Dissent" as an example. I see that they took a lot from whats being done in metal melodic wise. I love the lyrics on this album and the variations within the songs, it has a lot to offer, I think the songs are tight. Its a fun album and I'm excited to know how they work it live later this year when they play here.
Loading...
|
| cockpuncher Account deleted |
|
| RockeRoy Posts: 641  |
this album is so fucking good!!
---- You found god? If nobody claims him in thirty days, he's yours Walk with me in hell
Loading...
|
| Paradox0 Unasuming Madnes Posts: 592 |
|
| jaeger Account deleted |
|
| Doc G. Full Grown Hoser Staff Posts: 9718  |
Written by Syk on 24.12.2007 at 01:50 Anything The Waste touches is better than this. I think it was Pyro who said, sounds like the record label wrote it. That was the first thing I thought too. The magazine have been over hyping this too unfortunately.
---- "I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck." - George Carlin
Loading...
|
| Sulvrot Posts: 22 |
|
| BornOfWilderness Account deleted |
|
| Morphis Posts: 80  |
This review is definitely overrating, for me this one sounded like an average trash/heavy metal album similar to the last one but a little bit worse (6.4).
Loading...
|
| Uirapuru Liver Failure Posts: 2955  |
Normal album. Can't understand the 9.3, it's not that complex, for me it was a bit of a dissappointment. And the 9 or 10 minutes songs didn't help at all.
----  ---- member of the true crusade against old school heavy metal, early 80s thrash, NWOBHM, traditional doom, first and second wave black metal, old school death metal, US power metal, 70s prog rock and atmospheric doomsludgestoner. o/
Loading...
|
| terrorist Posts: 358  |
I think this album is their best.I liked long songs,sound is great and of course solos are amazing.They did a lot of progress on this one.
---- Will the ones who live after our end Worship the goddamn cross again? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnlG0h7YN_8&feature=related
Loading...
|
| brapp32 Posts: 294 |
|
| terrorist Posts: 358 |
Best album definitely.They made such a progress on this one.10 for me.
---- Will the ones who live after our end Worship the goddamn cross again? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnlG0h7YN_8&feature=related
Loading...
|
| Novas Posts: 227  |
Loading...
|
| Kwis Posts: 133  |
Loading...
|
| Maxx666 Meshuggahian Posts: 376  |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 26.12.2007 at 12:56 Kreator-Enemy of God Sodom-Sodom Revocation-Empire Of the Obscene
Loading...
|
| thewall30 Posts: 338  |
Loading...
|
| JohnWayneGacy666 Posts: 86  |
Awesome? really the review is a little bit over the top, probably 8.3 out of 10 but giving this album 9.3 seriously is this better then headbanging classics like Kreator Pleasure to kill, Slayer show no mercy, Celtic frost to Mega therion, Overkill Under the influence i don't think so but i do have this album and yes its worth buying. Machine head are one of the leading bands around at the moment
Loading...
|
- 1
- 2
Hits total: 9116 | This month: 18