Machine Head - Unto The Locust
When Machine Head began their musical career in 1994 with "Burn My Eyes" they won the hearts of many metal fans with their lyrical power, heavy guitar, diversity, and distinctiveness. However, when they jumped on the bandwagon with nu-metal they dropped off the radar of many fans. Fans missed the diversity and individuality which made Machine Head unique. Fans didn't need another nu-metal band, they wanted Machine Head. But thankfully, Machine Head amped it up and won a Grammy nomination for one of their greatest albums, "The Blackening" in 2007. What made that release so fantastic is Machine Head got back to their true sound and individuality which is what won the hearts of so many fans to begin with.
Machine Head further examines themselves on their seventh studio release entitled "Unto the Locust", released via Roadrunner Records. Introducing the album is an eight minute venture into an array of musical dimension. "I Am Hell (Sonata in C#)" begins with a beautifully orchestrated symphony of a cappella being sung in Latin by Robb Flynn (formerly of Vio-lence and Forbidden) which then transitions into a headbanging thrashing inferno. The song "Locust" is infused with heavy groove and great tempo changes from the fiery speeding guitars to slower melodic harmonies and then heavy crunching bass. Another gem on this album is "Darkness Within". This song is lyrically deep and thought provoking yet it still carries with it the heaviness and massive guitar licks we all so enjoy.
This brutally complex and multidimensional album is nothing short of spectacular. It's melodic, groovy, and intensely heavy. Most songs on the album are quite lengthy at approximately 7 minutes each. Which is nice considering the complexity and individuality of the songs. The guitar solos are groovy and have a fierce intensity to them. Furthermore, the lyrics are deep and the vocals switch nicely between clean and raspy thrash.
There is great experimentation with this release. Throughout this album you will find intermingling of cello with guitar, stringed instruments, wonderful seamless transitions, emotional intensity, and great songwriting. The use of stringed instruments on a metal album is a really fantastic technique that only a few musicians can successfully pull off, and Machine Head is one of them. This release raises the bar for other metal acts to combine the use of instruments and progressive elements into their music and still make a hardcore sound rather than purely a Symphonic Metal sound or a purely Progessive Metal sound.
They really cover it all on this album from the acoustic intro on "This is the End" which transitions into an in-your-face blast of speed to the orchestrated a capella mentioned previously. This is definitely one of the best releases to come out since the great era of 80s thrash. They go back to their roots with this release while adding fantastic complexity and experimental elements to it. Machine Head is constantly evolving and what a fantastic evolution this release is.
Machine Head further examines themselves on their seventh studio release entitled "Unto the Locust", released via Roadrunner Records. Introducing the album is an eight minute venture into an array of musical dimension. "I Am Hell (Sonata in C#)" begins with a beautifully orchestrated symphony of a cappella being sung in Latin by Robb Flynn (formerly of Vio-lence and Forbidden) which then transitions into a headbanging thrashing inferno. The song "Locust" is infused with heavy groove and great tempo changes from the fiery speeding guitars to slower melodic harmonies and then heavy crunching bass. Another gem on this album is "Darkness Within". This song is lyrically deep and thought provoking yet it still carries with it the heaviness and massive guitar licks we all so enjoy.
This brutally complex and multidimensional album is nothing short of spectacular. It's melodic, groovy, and intensely heavy. Most songs on the album are quite lengthy at approximately 7 minutes each. Which is nice considering the complexity and individuality of the songs. The guitar solos are groovy and have a fierce intensity to them. Furthermore, the lyrics are deep and the vocals switch nicely between clean and raspy thrash.
There is great experimentation with this release. Throughout this album you will find intermingling of cello with guitar, stringed instruments, wonderful seamless transitions, emotional intensity, and great songwriting. The use of stringed instruments on a metal album is a really fantastic technique that only a few musicians can successfully pull off, and Machine Head is one of them. This release raises the bar for other metal acts to combine the use of instruments and progressive elements into their music and still make a hardcore sound rather than purely a Symphonic Metal sound or a purely Progessive Metal sound.
They really cover it all on this album from the acoustic intro on "This is the End" which transitions into an in-your-face blast of speed to the orchestrated a capella mentioned previously. This is definitely one of the best releases to come out since the great era of 80s thrash. They go back to their roots with this release while adding fantastic complexity and experimental elements to it. Machine Head is constantly evolving and what a fantastic evolution this release is.
1. I Am Hell (Sonata In C#)
2. Be Still And Know
3. Locust
4. This Is The End
5. Darkness Within
6. Pearls Before The Swine
7. Who We Are
2. Be Still And Know
3. Locust
4. This Is The End
5. Darkness Within
6. Pearls Before The Swine
7. Who We Are
Reviewer: SweetSinz
Nov 30, 2011
Nov 30, 2011
Next review:
Disharmonic - The Creature-Artificial Ignorance
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