jakob_187's Full Review: Through the Ashes of Empires [PA] by Machine Head
With determination, a band can get a record deal. With recognition, a band can gain a following. With realization, a band can make a masterpiece. This is the story of Machine Head. A band who first appeared during the hay day of bands like Pantera, Fear Factory, and many other, Machine Head was known for producing some of the hardest riffs, most bashing drums, and true-to-life metal you could ever experience. With their first two releases, ‘Burn My Eyes’ and ‘The More Things Change…’, the band secured their location in the annals of metal history as the greatest underground success of the 㣾s. With ‘The Burning Red’ and ‘Supercharger’, the band went on a decline of massive proportions. Having a new guitarist, Ahrue Luster (now with Ill Nino), the music Machine Head made during this period was very experimental and, well, sounded exactly like everything that everyone else was playing.
Therefore, when it was announced that Machine Head was FINALLY releasing a new album and they had a new guitarist, fans came creeping out of their solitary confinement called their room to spread the news. However, the downside was the fact that it would ONLY be released in Europe and overseas. This is where you see a tear rolling down our faces. Now, having released the effort in America, Machine Head fans no longer have to feel lonely and angry. Now, we have gotten our band back; we have gotten our masterpiece; we have gotten pure Machine Head power in one disc, and ladies and gents, it is good.
“You never could love me, and I’m glad that you never did. My parents that raised me had plenty of that to give, and for that, I’ll love them forever with all my heart. For you, don’t let their be no mistake about it." - “Left Unfinished”
Working again with the producer of their first two albums, Colin Richardson, Robb Flynn and the boys have put together a monster that can’t be destroyed. With the beginning track, “Imperium” (also the first single), we are kicked in the face by how we remember Machine Head. The band has gone back under and found their roots. Just hearing the semi-death metal breakdown in this song made me cry, literally. Never in my life have I ever been more proud of a band. The band that once told us “Let freedom ring with a shotgun blast” is now telling us that they are back in full working order.
“Ask me how it feels to feel like you’re a failure, when everything that’s real burns in flaming anger. I’ve heard it all before. I’ve felt some pain and more.” - “Wipe The Tears”
Moving away from the experimental ways of the recent past, especially a horrid album like ‘Supercharger’, Robb has forgotten about rap-metal, nu-metal, and all of their subsidiaries. The band is tighter than ever, delivering heavy distortion, double-bassing galore, and a larger-than-life sound that could only be best described as a train running on the tracks at full throttle, and you are tied down to them by Snidley Whiplash. If the rapid fire guitars don’t get you, their trademark harmonic squeals will. Dissonance and mayhem have never sounded so sweet. Of course, this all comes with a bit of consequence.
“Release the fear of my pain. It’s so much pain. Give me the will to fight every obstacle that I have in sight. Release my fear and hear me now; words I vow; no f***ing regrets.” - “Imperium”
Looking at the album, it’s half “Bay of Pigs”, half “The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears”. There is a mix of texture on this album collected from all of their albums, including the horrid one. Take a song like “Elegy”. The song starts out sounding like what Black Sabbath should be writing, then it moves to classic Machine Head, but the breakdown has a touch of ‘The Burning Red’ with a part of “Bulldozer”. If you don’t know Machine Head, this is all German to you. If you do, it’s a bit odd. It has a fantastic ending though. However, then we move onto a song like “In The Presence Of My Enemies”. This song starts with a normal rock intro of squealing distortion and drum riffing, but quickly turns into a recognizable song that Machine Head would construct. It is very reminiscent of their early days. It’s a very hard album to describe, but that’s a great thing.
“Walk. Crawl. I’m the fear you become. Free all before it’s your downfall. It all falls down.” - “All Falls Down”
There are definitely a lot of noticeable differences in the formula, as well as new additions to the structure. Robb’s vocals soar above a field of dismay. Working on his capabilities is very noticeable. Even the lyrics are improved. Just listen to the way he talks about the love for his adopted parents and the hatred for his biological ones on “Left Unfinished”. Now THAT’S hate. The heaviness from their first two albums is ever present. The hard drumming, possibly the greatest trademark of Machine Head, is fully intact, and the bass work is still well maintained. Two songs on this album introduce the way Machine Head should move in the future. One is “Wipe The Tears”, which is the best, and I mean BEST, song on the album. Quite frankly, it could be the best song they’ve ever written. With a smooth intro, a brooding aura, and a chorus you’ll scream at the top of your lungs, they create a symphonic beauty without an orchestra. The other fantastic song on this album is “Descend The Shades Of Night”, the last track on the album. MY GOD!!! This is just the most beautiful song ever written. Metallica, even in their glory days, is put to shame. No song in the metal catalogs could rival this almost 8 minute long opus. Every part of this song, from its acoustic beginnings to its hurtful lyrics, is memorable and fascinating. The “marching drum” sounds great too.
“There she comes in with a thread. Upon me ties a mask for dead. Tears of blood begin to seep. Bathe the sky the shades of night. Descend the shades of night. Death shines a golden light across the blackened sky. All our hate is a product of the world we’ve created.” - “Descend The Shades Of Night”
As for standout tracks, this amazing album does actually carry them. At the top of the list is definitely “Wipe The Tears”, followed by “Descend The Shades Of Night”, “In The Presence Of My Enemies”, “Imperium”, and “Left Unfinished”. Since that is half the album, you can guess that the rest is just as great.
With only four songs that come in under 5 minutes, an excellent tracklisting, and an exclusive new song called “Seasons Wither” for the American release, it looks like Machine Head will be sticking around for a much longer time. There is a reason why this album has made many metal maniacs’ Top 5 list, so just get up and get it already.
If you dig this album, I would also recommend:
Machine Head – Burn My Eyes
Diecast – Day of Reckoning
Fear Factory - Archetype
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