MACHINE HEAD: The Blackening (THRASH): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Sixth album of the American band Machine Head, "The Blackening" is released four years after "Through the ages of empire", a record of rebirth for a band with a chaotic past. Indeed, it is good to remember that Machine Head was part of the revival of the American thrash metal scene in the mid-90s and that after a dazzling start with "Burn my eyes" in 1994, the band had slowly declined thereafter by letting themselves be caught up by passing fashions, from neo metal to rap phrasing and thus losing a good part of its thrash identity. On the verge of splitting, Machine Head knew how to get back up with a " Through ..." coming back to the thrash of the beginnings presenting a more progressive, technical and melodic facet for a very convincing result.

It is thus a very motivated band that returned to the studios with the same line-up - a rare thing for Machine Head - and with the enormous desire to regain the ground lost to the young formations. To do so, the band took the bases of their previous record by pressing particularly on the technical and progressive aspect to give birth to this "Blackening" which, even if it only contains eight tracks, still offers four of them approaching or exceeding 10 minutes.

Undeniably, the band knew how to evolve like its singer-guitarist, Rob Flynn, who has never been so gifted on the guitar and who vocally has progressed even more than on the previous album. His duet with Phil Demmel on guitar reminds us of the great hours of Heavy-Metal in the 80's, from Mercyful Fate to Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.

The album opens with a track of more than 10 minutes, "Clenching the fists of dissent" which, after a long acoustic guitar intro, turns into a whirlwind of aggressiveness, between old school Thrash and progressive and melodic influences, alternating throaty vocals and clear vocals, all sublimated by huge solos that give you the shivers... Maybe one of the best tracks of the genre ever recorded in the last few years. Then follows "Beautiful Morning", very direct and effective with a good melodic chorus, then "Asthetics of hate" colossal power and complexity, between Hardcore and Thrash, with very inspired soli.

Softened by a nuanced vocal, "Now I lay thee down" will allow you to catch your breath before starting again with three tracks of almost 10 minutes each. Between "Halo", epic with its chorus in reinforced concrete, "Wolves" all in power and in changes of rhythm and "A farewell to arms", carried by an excellent clear vocal and rising slowly in power before bursting in a sound wave, there is no respite for the listener!

This "Blackening" is therefore a major release of the year 2007 for any fan of Heavy Thrash metal but it should also seduce the fans of complex tracks and why not the progressive fans as long as they manage to overcome the guttural vocals and the deluge of riff. Machine Head is back at the top of the metal galaxy and, considering the potential shown, should be able to keep its new place in the sun for a while. - Official website

MACHINE HEAD

THE BLACKENING

ROADRUNNER RECORDS

THRASH