Machine Head (band)
Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Robb Flynn, who remains the only original member of the band. Machine Head's aggressive musicianship made it one of the pioneering bands in the new wave of American heavy metal. Its current lineup comprises Flynn, bassist Jared MacEachern and drummer Matt Alston. Bassist Adam Duce, lead guitarists Logan Mader, Ahrue Luster and Phil Demmel, and drummers Tony Costanza, Chris Kontos and Dave McClain are former members of the band; Mader and Kontos toured with the band in 2019 and 2020 as part of the 25th anniversary tour for its first album, Burn My Eyes (1994).
This article is about the band. For the tuning machine, see Machine head. For the Deep Purple album, see Machine Head (album). For the song by Bush, see Machinehead (song).
Machine Head
Machine Head's first four albums earned the band a growing fan base in Europe, however the band would not have success in the United States until later releases. The band drew controversy with its fourth album, Supercharger (2001), which was released three weeks after the September 11 attacks; its only single, "Crashing Around You", and its music video (which featured burning buildings) was pulled from all media outlets. The band nearly disbanded in 2002 after negotiating off its label Roadrunner Records as a result of the controversy, however the band would eventually re-sign with the label.
Having experimented with elements of groove metal and nu metal in its early releases, Machine Head changed to a more traditional thrash metal sound and longer songs with its sixth album, The Blackening (2007), which drew critical acclaim and was chosen as Album of the Decade by Metal Hammer in 2010; the album's first single, "Aesthetics of Hate", also earned a Grammy Award nomination. The band achieved similar success with its next two albums, Unto the Locust (2011) and Bloodstone & Diamonds (2014), before again experimenting with nu metal on its ninth album, Catharsis (2018). Machine Head reverted to its groove and thrash metal roots with its tenth and most recent album, Of Kingdom and Crown (2022), which was its first concept album.
Machine Head has released ten studio albums, two live albums, one video album, 13 singles and 15 music videos. Four of the band's studio albums have been certified silver in the United Kingdom, and the band's highest peak on the Billboard 200 came with Bloodstone & Diamonds at number 21. As of 2013, the band has sold over three million records worldwide.[1]
History[edit]
Formation and Burn My Eyes (1991–1995)[edit]
Machine Head was formed on October 12, 1991, in Oakland, California by vocalist/guitarist Robb Flynn. Flynn had recently parted ways with Vio-lence after a physical fight between the band members and a local gang, but still had a desire to write music, and recruited bassist Adam Duce, guitarist Logan Mader and drummer Tony Costanza to form his own band.[2] Despite the popular belief that it came from the Deep Purple album of the same name, Flynn settled on the name Machine Head purely because he thought it "sounded cool".[3] The band started jamming in a local warehouse shared with four punk rock bands.[4] Machine Head recorded a demo in a friend's bedroom, funded with US$800.[2][4] A record executive representing Roadrunner Records listened to the demo and signed the band.[2]
Machine Head entered Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California to record its debut album Burn My Eyes.[5] Not long into production, Constanza left the band and was replaced by Chris Kontos. Most of the songs on the album were songs written by Flynn and Duce during the time Flynn was not in a band, about "being pissed off" from his previous struggles in Vio-lence, as well as both of their battles with illegal drugs.[2] Produced by Colin Richardson, the album was released on August 9, 1994. The album shipped nearly 400,000 copies worldwide, becoming Roadrunner Records' best selling debut album.[2] Allmusic reviewer John Franck stated "Burn My Eyes is a bone-shattering exercise in brutality".[6]
Not long after Burn My Eyes's release Machine Head started touring heavily in support of the album, opening for Slayer in Europe in the latter half of 1994, a tour which ended with their own headline show at the London Astoria. Following the success of the support tour, the band returned to Europe for a headline tour in early 1995, performing in the same venues they opened for Slayer.[7] The band would return to Europe for the summer festival season but Kontos refused to tour and the band drafted Walter Ryan for the festival dates.[8] On the band's return to the US, Kontos was fired because he was not keeping to touring commitments. Kontos went on to play drums with Testament, and was replaced by Dave McClain.
The More Things Change... and The Burning Red (1996–2000)[edit]
After touring for Burn My Eyes, Machine Head entered the studio in 1996 to record its second studio album, The More Things Change..., with Richardson producing and mixing for a second time. The album was released on March 26, 1997, and debuted at number 138 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.[9] Machine Head toured in Europe with Napalm Death, Coal Chamber and Skinlab, then went on the first Ozzfest for the first tours in support of the album.[10] Mader showed up to a practice session late, high on methamphetamine, cursing at and insulting the band members; and quit the band later that day. Ahrue Luster replaced him and finished touring,[2][11] while Mader toured with Soulfly in support of their self-titled debut album.
After three years of touring and working with producer Ross Robinson, Machine Head released its third studio album, The Burning Red, on July 27, 1999. The band added new elements to its music, including rapping vocals, a move which some believe to have been influenced by Ahrue Luster.[2] This album, along with the band's change in image and musical direction was highly criticized, with critics and fans alike accusing the band of "selling out".[2] Nevertheless, McClain stated they weren't trying to sound like popular bands but "wanted to sound different".[2] Rick Anderson of Allmusic stated Machine Head was "sounding a bit looser and less constricted musically than they have in the past".[12] The Burning Red became Machine Head's top selling album for a number of years, and debuted at number 88 on the Billboard 200.[9][13]
Supercharger and Through the Ashes of Empires (2001–2005)[edit]
Machine Head finished touring for The Burning Red, and entered a studio with producer Johnny K to record Supercharger. Debuting at number 115 on the Billboard 200, the album was released on October 2, 2001.[9] The album met the same criticism as The Burning Red, especially for the ever-present rapping vocals. Blabbermouth.net reviewer Borivoj Krgin stated Supercharger "is likely to disappoint everyone who is expecting the Bay Area quartet to return to the ultra-testosterone-charged sounds of their first two albums".[14]
Musical style and influences[edit]
Machine Head has been mainly described as groove metal,[97][98][99] thrash metal,[97][100] heavy metal,[97][101][102] nu metal,[97][103][104][105] and alternative metal.[106] The band is influenced by Californian thrash metal bands such as Metallica, Exodus, Slayer and Testament, traditional heavy metal bands as Iron Maiden,[107] crossover thrash bands Suicidal Tendencies and Cro-Mags, groove metal bands Pantera, Exhorder and Fear Factory, and grunge bands Nirvana, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains.[108] Machine Head is considered to be one of the pioneering bands in the new wave of American heavy metal,[101][102] as well as part of the second wave of thrash metal bands from the 1990s.[109]
Their early albums Burn My Eyes and The More Things Change... show a groove metal and thrash metal approach, similar to bands like Pantera and Exhorder. The albums also featured technical drumming by Chris Kontos and Dave McClain.[110][111] The band changed their musical direction for the albums The Burning Red (1999) and Supercharger (2001), which have been described as displaying a nu metal sound.[112] These albums featured rapping by Robb Flynn and simpler guitar riffs, but retaining part of their aggressive sound. This change in direction resulted in criticism from many fans because of the popularity of nu metal at the time.[113][114][115][116] Machine Head returned to the groove metal and thrash metal sound of the first two albums with Through the Ashes of Empires (2003).
Machine Head increased the complexity and technicality in their sound for the next album, The Blackening, which partially changes the sound of their first 5 albums in favor of a more classic heavy metal and thrash metal oriented sound, with fully complex song structures and guitar riffs.[117][118] Unto the Locust features heavier, faster and more complex riffs by both Flynn and Phil Demmel, influenced by classical music, and supported by fast and complex drum patterns by McClain. This is also the first Machine Head's record to include blast beats.[119]
Flynn makes use of different vocal styles including yelling, raspy singing, clean vocals, screams and death growls;[120] Flynn himself has jokingly called his own singing style "barking in key".[121]