Releasd by: Nuclear Blast
Release Date: August 26th 2022
Genre: Metal
Links: https://www.machinehead1.com/
Line-Up
Robb Flynn | Vocals, Guitar
Waclaw “Vogg” Kieltyka | Guitar
Jared MacEachern | Bass
Matt Alston | Drums
Tracklist:
1. Slaughter The Martyr
2. ChØKe ØN The Ashes ØF YØUr Hate
3. BecØMe The FirestØRm
4. ØVerdØSe
5. My Hands Are Empty
6. UnhallØWed
7. Assimilate
8. Kill Thy Enemies
9. NØ GØDs, NØ Masters
10. BlØØDshØT
11. RØTten
12. Terminus
13. ArrØWs In WØRds FrØM The Sky
The last couple of years have been a bit of a roller coaster for Machine Head with members leaving but this right here is what Robb Flynn and his cohorts is all about – crushing, brutal thrash metal. Flynn has devised a concept loosely inspired by the Japanese anime series ‘Attack On Titan’ and explained as – ‘Set in futuristic wasteland where the sky is always crimson red. It tells the tale of two characters who are both faced with incalculable trauma and whose stories become bloodily entwined. Both believe they are doing the right thing, but both are committing evil atrocities.’
Opening with the epic ‘Slaughter The Martyr’, Robb Flynn croons showing what a beautiful clean voice he has, he is joined by Jared MacEachearn on a dual vocal that tingles the spine as the tension builds – you know what’s coming – and here it is Vogg rips a spidery riff and we’re off on a brutal thrash attack with Flynn at is roaring best and some more blinding guitar work from Vogg. Machine Head are back! This is phenomenal with one of those catchy refrains that only Machine Head produce. ‘Choke On The Ashes Of Your Hate’ brings some old school Bay area thrash – uncompromising, brutal and intense then the brutality intensifies, if that’s possible, on ‘Become The Firestorm’ which has an another melodic shared vocal between Flynn and MacEachrean. ‘Overdose’ leads into ‘My Hands Are Empty’ which starts with a doomy chant as you already know it won’t last long because the aural assault is on its way and it comes with a shed load of aggression but its back to the chants on the chorus it also features former guitarist Phil Demmell doing what he does best. ‘Unhallowed’ is some modern metal which bounces around the genres before link piece ‘Assimilate’ gets us to the groove metal of ‘Kill The Enemies’. More melodic vocals open ‘No Gods No Masters’ before we get totally obliterated with an angry anthem that’s sure to whip up the crowd, as will ‘Bloodshot’ which is proper old school thrash. ‘Rotten’ is another groove monster with some razor sharp riffage then ‘Terminus’ leads to previous single ‘Arrows In Words From The Sky’ which is utterly superb.
Holy shit! This is relentless, brutal, aggressive with a shed load of melody too. The playing is superb Vogg’s leads are sublime and the rhythms provided by MacEachren and drummer Naverne Koperweis (Animals As Leaders) are huge. Robb Flynn shows many facets of his voice plus the production literally rips your face off. For me this is the best thing Machine Head have ever produced.
Score: 10/10
Reviewed by: Smudge
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