The Blackening Marquette MI

The Blackening

Machine Head

Roadrunner, 2007

http://www.machinehead1.com

REVIEW BY: Paul Hanson

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 06/09/2007

I have never paid much attention to Mahine Head. It's not that I haven't been impressed by their music or by the information I've internalized over the years from reading about them in various Web sites and 'zines - they just fell off my radar.

That may be changing, as The Blackening is an amazing slice of metal. For 60 minutes, this band grabs you by the throat and refuses to relinquish control of your body. The vocals/guitar riffs of Robb Flynn are confrontational and satisfying.

As with most metal bands, Machine Head is angry. Their world is full of betrayal and suffering. When Flynn sings in "Clenching the Fists of Dissent" to "Use your rage / it is a weapon / we now must engage," the tenacity of this band is evident. Backed up by licks and fills from guitarist Phil Demmel and furious rhythm patterns from drummer Dave McClain, this an impressive effort.

The second track, "Beautiful Mourning," is notable not because of the opening declaration "Fuck you all!" Rather, Flynn's delivery of the chorus "How do I close thine eyes of murder" is melodic and is sung in a different style than the rest of the song. The contrast serves the band well. "Aesthetics of Hate" begins with a pulsating pounding from McClain and sounds like Slayer or Testament - old school thrash metal at its finest. It's a welcome track and seems simpler as it pounds nonstop from the beginning to the end. The lyrics deal with the loss of the murdered Pantera guitarist Dimebag and the song ends with a heartbeat like drum beat over guitar distortion and random noises.