Machine Head - Bloodstone & Diamonds (Album Review)
Thursday, 13 November 2014
Written by Alec Chillingworth
Machine Head's 'The Blackening' is a modern masterpiece. A sprawling, hour-long epic, it threw down the gauntlet to other heavy metal bands back in 2007, and they have thus far largely failed to match its intensity. Neither have Machine Head, though, and 'Unto The Locust', that album's follow up, was peppered with mixed reviews.
It’s still up for debate whether Machine Head can top 'The Blackening'. It was a moment in history that will never be repeated, and any attempt to emulate it beat for beat would be a cop-out of monumental proportions. Instead, the Bay Area bruisers have delved into the depths of their back-catalogue for ‘Bloodstone & Diamonds’, stringing out all the best bits and mashing them together again alongside a healthy dose of experimentation.
Take Now We Die, a seven minute slog that – amid the trademark pinch harmonics and punishing kick-drum – heavily utilises a string section arranged by Jordan Fish of Bring Me The Horizon. Orchestration in metal is by no means a new thing, but for a band so heavily invested in the thrash genre to integrate these elements is a refreshing, ballsy move.
And it pays off. For every anthemicthrashgasm - Eyes Of The Dead or Killers & Kings - there's a ghastly number like Ghosts Will Haunt My Bones, which boasts an eerie pre-chorus reminiscent of Now I Lay Thee Down.
It is a perfect example of Machine Head acknowledging their past without resorting to retreads. Imaginal Cells, meanwhile, packs gut-punching, nasty samples that hark back to Real Eyes, Realize Real Eyes.
While Machine Head is a band made up of four – very talented – musicians, 'Bloodstone & Diamonds' is Robb Flynn's show. His vocals have always been a focal point of the band's sound, but this album sees the General pushing himself to the very edge. The build up and eventual crescendo to the bludgeoning Game Over features his most vulnerable performance since the days of 'The Burning Red' and Sail Into The Black showcases catchy melodies that bookend the most cinematic soundscape they've penned. For good measure, these hooks are juxtaposed with guttural, pant-shittingly deep roars during Eyes Of The Dead.
Many online goblins and trolls have labelled Machine Head 'generic'. Give 'Bloodstone & Diamonds' a thorough listen. This is no run-of-the-mill band. These are iron-clad, chest-thumping metal anthems backed up by talent and creativity. The metal scene in 2014 needs Machine Head.
Machine Head Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sat December 06 2014 - LONDON Roundhouse
Sun December 07 2014 - LONDON Roundhouse
Tue December 09 2014 - PORTSMOUTH Portsmouth Guildhall
Wed December 10 2014 - BRISTOL O2 Academy Bristol
Thu December 11 2014 - PLYMOUTH Pavilions
Sat December 13 2014 - GLASGOW O2 Academy Glasgow
Sun December 14 2014 - LEEDS O2 Academy Leeds
Tue December 16 2014 - MANCHESTER O2 Apollo
Wed December 17 2014 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Thu December 18 2014 - BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy Birmingham
Fri December 19 2014 - DUBLIN Academy
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