View Full Version : Machine Head - The Blackening!
I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for Thomasd, or anyone for that matter, to start a thread but i can't wait any more. :D
I've got to get it out my system as to how awesome this album is. I had bad 'St. Anger' vibes when i heard they were going in a heavier, longer songs direction but at only 8 tracks long (or 9 with the bonus track) it doesn't outstay its welcome.
I'm not a huge screamy-grunt-RAAWWR!! kinda guy but Rob's vocals strike a mean balance between all out bleeding through the eyeballs venom to gently, gently softly, softly 'singing'. It's the guitar work on this album that impresses me the most with so many different variations, techniques and ideas. They put so much into each song that they could have easily trimmed each track and probably doubled the number of songs on here but i think then it would have been an album that seemed a little self indulgent.
They've restrained themselves well and the final product has, i think, put the final nail in the coffin of 'Supercharger' - they had a bit of an experimental blip with that one but from the output of their last two albums i think they are one of the better, and at the same time approachable, metal acts of our time.
Probably not everyone's cup of tea, especially on a lazy Sunday afternoon, but like a good session of Guitar Hero, it's got that 'one more play' factor which'll probably mean it'll be high on my best of 2007 list come December.
LE: £11.99 @ Play (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://playcom.at/thedvdforums?DURL=http://www.play.com/Music/CD/RGNCS/3-/3308712/The_Blackening/Product.html)
Definitely be buying this! :D
It's not a release i've been looking forward to tbh but after a few listens i think it's excellent :thumbs:
As Robby said the vocals are a good mix of loud screamy-grunt-RAAWWRs and soft subtle singing. The guitars just blew me away though, highly recommended album even to non Machine Head fans.
I'm really really enjoying this, it's perfect lazy Sunday afternoon listening :D
Sorry dude! Was waiting for you! :D Its bleeping fantastic. An almighty kick in the balls of an album :D
meat puppet
19-02-2007, 12:48
Sorry dude! Was waiting for you! :D Its bleeping fantastic. An almighty kick in the balls of an album :D
How does it rate against Burn my Eyes ?
soberion
20-02-2007, 09:12
Well, had a brief listen last night, and I'd say it's a cross between Burn.. and Ashes. Very good, complex and heavy.
Trivium should be forced to listen to Machine Head as an example of how to do metal properly ;)
meat puppet
20-02-2007, 11:44
Well, had a brief listen last night, and I'd say it's a cross between Burn.. and Ashes. Very good, complex and heavy.
Trivium should be forced to listen to Machine Head as an example of how to do metal properly ;)
I would also suggest that people who like Machine Head should take a listen to High On Fire - Blessed Black Wings album, another juggernaut of sound with riffs to die for, eclipses Burn my Eyes IMO.
soberion
13-03-2007, 01:40
Well, listened to this a few times now (trying not to burn out before the release proper). **** me what an album. The Head truly deserve some major sucess with this album as it is a metal masterpiece. Crunching, soaring guitars. Vicious, melodic vocals. This album really has everything a hard rock/metal fan could wish for.
Roll on the 27th to own a proper copy. I want that CD in my hands.
I rate a lot of my music in iTunes, to make various smart playlists and the like, and this is the first album i've rated all songs 5 stars bar one (Wolves).
Has anyone got their 'Elegies' DVD they released a year or so back? Is it any good?
meat puppet
30-03-2007, 21:36
On first listen.........:shrug: Tedious comes to mind, gone is the simplistic all out brutal assault with solid hooks that dominated Burn My Eyes, instead it seems they have just chucked everything into the blender and taken cues from the likes of Sikth, System of A Down, In Flames and Trivium.
Yes there is still some pure MH in there, still grinding along with hugely down tuned guitars and some excellent drum work, but each track just groans on for far too long. The twin guitar work is ferocious at times, but its just re-treaded Iron Maiden and sometimes its just too Van Halen 80s hair guitar for its own good.
I think they tried with this one.........they really pushed their respective skills to the limit, but it comes across as if they are trying too hard, its not relaxed.
Many people have commented that it is MCs Master of Puppets :oh-hum: not really, not by a long way. It's disappointing after reading the reviews to find myself saying these things, but thats how it goes. Metal album of the year ?? I hope there is better :suspect:
ghost.ottercrab
30-03-2007, 22:15
Agreed on all counts. On some of the lengthier tracks, they just didn't feel to be a cohesive thread through them, the opener went on for far too long and some parts felt kind of tacked together. Did 'Dissent' really need to fade out for a whole minute? (At least it seemed to when I listened to it).
deftone666
30-03-2007, 22:30
Metal album of the year ??
Nah, that'll be Watain's latest Sworn to the dark IMO.
MH's effort aint half bad though, stick it on the headphones and switch off to the outside world and it works really well as an album. And I've not really shown an interest since Burn My Eyes.
meat puppet I've merged your thread with this one.
Having played it for several weeks now I still like it, perhaps not metal album of the year but very enjoyable. I agree what you say about them throwing everything into a blender but I think MH have done that a few times in recent years.
mattwhite1
02-04-2007, 22:19
First time I heard this I thought it was just growly growly, but after a few listens it has really grown on me, especially the magnificent Now I Lay Thee Down.
I have a feeling that this will be spending a lot of time on my Ipod over the next few weeks.
SIMON ADEBISI
02-04-2007, 22:20
Listening to this now. Very good. Better than their last 2 anyway :gag:
Tom Whitaker
12-04-2007, 14:14
Loved Burn My Eyes when I was 14. Went to a gig and was terrified. Not listened to them since but BME still gets the odd play, and what with my current Guitar Hero 2 obsession, I might get this.
How's the drumming? That's what made me fall for BME.
Loved Burn My Eyes when I was 14. Went to a gig and was terrified. Not listened to them since but BME still gets the odd play, and what with my current Guitar Hero 2 obsession, I might get this.
How's the drumming? That's what made me fall for BME.
The original drummer was booted out after BME and ever since Dave McClane has played for them. On their next three albums I felt that he was very competent but quite uninspiring. However, with Through the Ashes of Empires and The Blackening he has really stood up to be counted and has produced some exceptional drumming that can be held in the same regard as BME.
Jimmyboy
12-04-2007, 17:34
Wasn't the original drummer booted out because he dared to reveal they were all middle class well adjusted rich kids and not the hardcore thugs from the ghetto streets like they spent their career proclaiming?
Wasn't the original drummer booted out because he dared to reveal they were all middle class well adjusted rich kids and not the hardcore thugs from the ghetto streets like they spent their career proclaiming?
I honestly can't remember but I do know he and Flynn didn't see eye to eye on a lot of things and while the rest of the band were happy for Flynn to lead them he felt that Machine Head was a dictatorship which I think it was and still is to some extent.
I've always felt that Flynn tends to follow trends rather that start them and some criticism of the Blackening is that he has jumped on the back of the recent success of bands like Trivium, which is hard to deny when you listen to it.
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