Machine Head

Undisputed masters of murderous riffs, pugnacious grooves and ferocious hooks since 1991, Machine Head are long established as one of the most influential and incendiary bands in metal.

From genre-expanding triumphs like 1994’s debut, Burn My Eyes, 1999’s The Burning Red to the planet-conquering might of 2007’s The Blackening, to the new life injected in 2014’s Bloodstone and Diamonds, Machine Head have carved a singular path across the globe for over three decades now with no end in sight. Whether it be marathon 3-hour live performances, or millions of albums sold worldwide, and accolades both big and small, there aren’t too many distractions clouding up the vision of guitarist/vocalist/founder Robb Flynn these days.

In 2022, Machine Head returned with their most crushing and complete album yet. ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN is an hour-long conceptual monolith, rich in color and dynamics but hell-bent on destruction. Set in a futuristic wasteland where the sky is always crimson red, ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN tells the tale of two characters, both faced with incalculable trauma, whose stories become bloodily entwined as this deep, dark record progresses.

“The album and concept was loosely inspired by the Japanese anime series Attack On Titan,” says Robb, “in the sense that in that series, there is no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ guy. Both sides believe they’re doing the right thing, but both are committing atrocities and evil.”

Album opener “SLAUGHTER THE MARTYR” sets the tone not only for the record, but for the aural and psychological exploration the listener is about to embark on. From the first dissonant note, it’s clear this is fresh territory, highlighted by Robb Flynn and bassist Jared MacEachern’s soaring vocal harmonies, while remaining as furious as anything the band has ever created. The track also begins the journey of the album’s protagonists.

Further exploration of the damaged psyche blasts forth on “CHØKE ØN THE ASHES ØF YØUR HATE,” a searing dose of thrash metal rooted firmly in the Bay Area sound. Unrelenting in its attack, the breakneck pace cements it as one of many standouts on ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN.

From the adrenaline rush of exorcising inner demons to the crushing feeling of solitude and regret comes “UNHALLØWED,” a dramatic introspection that questions one’s motives and examines the fallout when emotional debts come due. Hopeless, lost, and isolated, protagonist #2 begins the transformation from victim to victimizer over the melodic chaos courtesy of guitarist Vogg Kiełtyka. Radicalized, paranoid, and armed with a dead-end stare, the mental onslaught continues with “KILL THY ENEMIES,” pairing whiplash-inducing intensity with some of the thickest grooves on the album.

The album ends with arguably the finest song Machine Head have ever written: “ARRØWS IN WØRDS FRØM THE SKY,” a grandiose yet emotionally visceral climax to one of the most ferocious records of the band’s 30-year career.

A perennially vital force in heavy music, Machine Head have continued their exhilarating evolution while never losing the furious spirit of their old-school underground roots.