Machine Head have regained their metal bearings
PRESS/TRAVIS SHINN
ON ONE HAND, it’s absolutely to Machine Head’s credit that you go into their 10th studio album with no idea what you’re going to get. On the other, there’s the sense that their various musical experiments and continually rolling cast of members have resulted in a fairly lopsided musical output in the last decade. Robb Flynn and co have proved they can dip their toes into other genres, and while they can be a decent rap metal band, an adequate radio rock outfit and a reasonable folk punk collective, it’s fair to say the only thing they are world-class at is groovy, tightly wound, tornadoes of riffs and fury, and classic, thrashing, heavy metal majesty.
“THE FURIOUS OPENING FEELS LIKE THE WORK OF A BAND WITH A POINT TO PROVE”