The New "Black"(-ening) Album
By Yahoo! Shopping User Mar 29, 2007
Pros: The songs are just as brutal as brutal. They combine the sound of "Burn My Eyes", "Through The Ashes of Empires' and the sound of real 80's thrash metal.
Cons: The length of the song may prevent them from getting large amounts of airplay, along with record sales since the average listener's attention span only lasts about 3-5 minutes. For longtime fans, though, the song length won't matter.
When Machine Head first hit the music scene with their debut record, "Burn My Eyes"(1994), they were one of this biggest underground bands in the industry. That one album, automatically gave them a slot on the now famous Ozzfest. Their soph...omore relase, "The More Things Change..." only added to that reputation. But then they began to fall off with the next two albums, "The Burning Red" and "Supercharger." The rather tepid response to these two albums all but did in the metal titans. The band temporarily left Roadrunner records before returning and blowing away their legions of fans with the stunning, "Through The Ashes of Empires (2005)" The release of that album, restored the hope of countless fans. At the same time, "Through The Ashes....." was such a powerful release that it left many fans wondering how Machine Head would top it, or if they even could. The answer to those qustions is: They definitely topped it. They topped it by putting together an album that harkens back to the days of "Burn My Eyes" and combines that sound with a little of "Through The Ashes", and also the sound of true late 80's thrash metal. Perhaps part of that is thanks to the band's work on the Metallica classic, "Battery" that they worked on as part of a tribute record to one of metael's most famous and infamous bands. "The Blackening" opens as if it were a continuation of "Through The Ashes....."; with a soft guitar intro and slight march sound played by drummer Dave McClain. That soft sound is how the closer from "Through The Ashes......." ended somewhat. But then that soft, reflecting sound is completely destroyed by a full on aural assault. The assault continues almost nonstop through the entire album, up until the end, when it closes just as "Through The Ashes......"ended. The album's closer, "A Farewell to Arms" sounds very similar (only in sound) to "Descend The Shades of Night" from "Through The Ashes....." It has that same power throughout both in softer and harder sections, yet it sounds nothing like "Descend The Shades of Night." The music is not the only positive to this album. One thing that Machine Head has always been known for is writing songs that are truly contemplative. Whether it is "The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears" from their album, "The Burning Red", or "Kick You When You're Down", "Only The Names" and "Blank Generation" from the album, "Supercharger" or even "Imperium", "Elegy", Seasons Wither" and "Wipe The Tears" from "Through The Ashes.........", Machine Head has always had songs that truly make fans think, and even inspires them. That tradition continues on this new album with the politically charged track, "Clinching The Fists of Dissent", and the pounding sounds of "Slander". Even in the songs that do not send that message of determination inner strength, and contemplation, Machine Head still impresses with their music throughout this record, just as with its predecessors. Metallica had their black album, and now Machine Head has made theirs. Read more Less
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