Sinister Reviews

So up next on the chopping block is the band Machine Head. Now I haven’t really listened to these guys that much but from what I hear their albums are pretty good. I’ve seen them a few times live and they have always been pretty good. So here we go………

Burn My Eyes- so for this one they definitely came out the gate swinging. It’s not the heaviest debut album but it’s pretty heavy. What I like about this album is that a lot of the songs are consistently good. This is one I’ll probably end up revisiting in the future. I give this 10/10

Standouts: Old, Death Church, Real Eyes Realize Real Lies

The More Things Change….- I feel like you could listen to this right after Burn My Eyes and it would feel like a continuation. The difference with this album is that it’s not quite as strong as Burn. I don’t know it seems like with this one they lost a little of that aggression that made the last album so good. I give this one 9/10.

Standouts: Ten Ton Hammer, Bay Of Pigs, Blistering

The Burning Red- so I had heard this album name being mentioned a few times and I hadn’t listened to it. Like I knew about it but never listened. Anyway I was surprised when I started it. I was not expecting it to be a nü metal album. I guess it makes sense that it is a nü metal record given that it came out in 1999 which is when that music was popular. People give Slayer a hard time for Diabolus but I think that is a much better record than this (plus it’s not a nü metal album). Anyway, I really wanted to like this one a lot more. I don’t think it’s a bad record but just not what I was expecting. One of the negatives of this album is a cover Message In a Bottle. Like seriously what were they thinking? It’s one of the worst covers. Would I choose this over a Limp Bizkit record? Absolutely. Would I choose this over the first System of a Down or Slipknot record? Definitely not. I will say though give this album a listen. I give this 9/10

Standouts: Desire To Fire, Exhale The Vile, The Blood the sweat the tears

Supercharger- if I had to describe this album in a few words, I’d say it’s Burning Red Lite. You know just one calorie. Not sure what they were thinking on this one. I know they were trying to copy the success of the last album but it just didn’t land. Like there are moments but then it falls flat. I was kind of waiting for this one to end. Overall not the worst album I’ve heard but they can do better. I give it 4/10

Standouts: Bulldozer, All In Your Head, Nausea

Through The Ashes Of Empires- you know I’ve noticed something about Machine Head and that is they have these pinch harmonics that pop up in a good amount of their songs. It can get a little repetitive and this album has a good amount of them. Anyway, as far as the album itself goes, it’s definitely a step up from the last album and this is also the first album to have Phil Demmel on guitar. It’s not a complete return to the first couple albums but it kind of mixes Burn My Eyes with Burning Red. I give this one 9/10

Standouts: Elegy, Days Turn Blue To Grey, Wipe The Tears

The Blackening- ok here we are. This is probably the first actually album I heard songs from them. I also saw them live during this album cycle. I do remember when they played the song Aesthetics of Hate, Robb Flynn bringing out that transparent BC Rich warlock and thinking how badass it was. Anyway, as far as the album goes, I’d put it right up there with Burn My Eyes in terms of greatness. I feel like this has something for everyone. Like if you listen to this you won’t be let down. My biggest/only complaint is that the songs are kind of long. Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t like songs that are longer than 5 minutes. But regardless this is a great record and should be listened to. I give it 10/10

Standouts: Aesthetics of Hate, Slanderous, Halo

Unto The Locust- so I wouldn’t say this is Blackening part 2 but it’s a worthy follow up. Again though, the songs need to be shortened. Although they are shorter than on the previous album, they still could be shorter. Anyway, like I said it’s a decent follow up but some of it can get repetitive. I give it 8/10

Standouts: I Am Hell, Locust, Darkness Within

Bloodstone and Diamonds- the problem I have with this is that this one is a good album but it tends to drag. I found myself getting bored with it halfway in. I feel like they could have left out 3 or 4 songs and it would’ve been fine. Sometimes less is more. Overall, it’s not bad but nothing special just a boring album. I give it 6/10

Standouts: Eyes Of The Dead, Killers and Kings, Night Of Long Knives

Catharsis- if Robb Flynn wanted to do a solo album, this is probably what it would sound like. I will say the guitar work on here is pretty good. But like the last album, it’s just kind of boring. And maybe even more so on this one. I don’t know I just started to lose interest after awhile. One thing to note is that this is Phil Demmel’s last record (and I kinda see why). I mean if you’re gonn skip any of these albums, I’d skip this one. I give it 2/10.

Standouts: Kaleidoscope, Razorblade Smile

Arrows in Words From The Sky- this is either an EP or single. Not really sure but anyway, this is a 3 song EP and it’s not bad. It’s a step up from the last album. At least so far I didn’t find it boring. Anyway, I give this 8/10

Standouts: Become The Firestorm

Overall, this is a band with a pretty good discography. There are some hits and misses but definitely a band worth checking out. I will say that live, these guys definitely deliver. Hopefully they can go back fully to their original sound but I don’t see that happening. Regardless, definitely check them out. There are some great metal albums.

Final Grade: B+

Album Rankings:

1. Burn My Eyes
2. The Blackening
3. The More Things Change…
4. The Burning Red
5. Through The Ashes Of Empires
6. Unto The Locust
7. Arrows In Words From The Sky
8. Bloodstone And Diamonds
9. Catharsis
10. Supercharger