Review MACHINE HEAD “UNATØNED”

Machine Head is one of the bands I have followed from the very beginning and their debut album ‘Burn My Eyes’ is one of the best thrash metal has ever seen. Songs like ‘Davidian’ and ‘Old’ are unbeatable gems of this metal genre and paved the way for the band to have an impressive career in metal.
More than 30 years after the release of their legendary first album, Machine Head are set to release their latest album, ‘UNATØNED’, their eleventh full-length.

The first song I heard from the new album was one of the lead singles – “BØNESCRAPER” and I was a bit surprised. Although it relies on a heavy riff and Robb Flynn’s hoarse vocals, it’s the melodic part of the song that might be confusing. The chorus is really catchy and has almost a pop appeal. Is this a new twist that brings Machine Head closer to the mainstream? After listening to the album I can say that we are looking forward to a Machine Head album with still all the trademarks being intact.

One thing that stands out from the beginning though is the length of the songs. Whereas the previous album started with a 10-minute opus, “Slaughter the Martyr”, the new album starts with a short intro, while the other songs, with two exceptions, are all under the four-minute mark. Machine Head deliver straight to the point metal tracks. Instead of getting lost in epic compositions, the new songs are wrecking ball moments that hit you with full force.

“ATØMIC REVELATIØNS” is the first song that follows the intro and it is the massive Machine Head riffing that sets the tone. Although the song starts with a few piano notes, it quickly develops into a brutal Machine Head blast that has some melodic moments in the chorus, but still relies on heaviness. “UNBØUND” is the other lead single and is a powerful thrash metal stomper with Flynn’s signature guitar sound. The raging metal anthem is reminiscent of the early days, while the chorus reflects a more modern metal approach.

The new album features the brutal sound from the early days that drives songs like “ØUTSIDER” and “ADDICTED TØ PAIN”. The latter comes with a roaring riff and is a kind of contrast to “DUSTMAKER”, which is more of a 2-minute interlude. It is the moment to take a deep breath, as it is an atmospheric moment on the album, leading up to the previously mentioned “BØNESCRAPER”.

“BLEEDING ME DRY” picks up the atmospheric momentum in the beginning before the song transforms into a metal monolith that is more in line with recent Machine Head songs. Dark, melancholic and with a loud/calmer interplay, the track adds to the versatility of the album. It’s a thunderous piece of music before the up-tempo “SHARDS ØF SHATTERED DREAMS” takes over the metal baton.

“SCØRN” heralds the end of the album. The song is different in the sense that it is a calm and mellow tune. It is an atmospheric world of sounds that the band has created at the end of the album. You could call it a ballad, which is a term I wouldn’t use in the context of Machine Head. It is more of a dark and cinematic tune that gains a bit more intensity towards the end when the clean vocals turn into Flynn’s hoarse shouts. Still, it is an unusual way to end the album and a good one at that.

“UNATØNED” is an album that requires some time. On the one hand the songs are brutal and powerful, with very melodic moments as a counterpart. This setup is a kind of leitmotif for a record with cross-references to the early days, but also integrates more modern metal elements. Machine Head release an album that focuses on the essence of metal and marks a new chapter for the band.