Machine Head have had ups and downs and lineup changes over the years but still remains the brainchild of Robb Flynn: a distinctive vocalist, talented guitarist and experimental songwriter at his core. Machine Head’s latest record, Unatoned, sees the band opt for a more accessible yet still sonically punishing approach as they introduce guitarist Reece Scruggs and drummer Matt Alston to the mix.
The first thing you’re likely to notice about this album is the average song length is three minutes. There are less attempts at the gigantic progressive suites with the exception of ‘Bleeding Me Dry’ which still features some impressive guitar work and interesting song structure. The emphasis is clearly on writing direct and aggressive songs full of hooks, which is arguably Machine Head’s greatest strength.
The singles: ‘These Scars Won’t Define Us,’ ‘Bonescraper’ and ‘Unbound’ work so much better in context as the listener won’t have to go in comparing it to the rest of the band’s discography. It may distress some to learn that this album shares some DNA with Supercharger and The Burning Red, albeit without the over the top nu-metal influence. Robb Flynn does rap in this album, but it’s actually fairly tasteful and sparse so you can put those fears to rest.
The slower and less aggressive moments of the album are actually the highlights with tracks like ‘Not Long for this World’ and the gigantic dramatic strings of ‘Scorn,’ which would actually work really well as a concert opener. These tracks have the same moody atmosphere that is present throughout ‘Through the Ashes of Empires’ and speaks to how well Machine Head can commit to creating a mood with the use of Robb’s strong clean vocal performance and without relying on the top edgy lyrics and wild guitar work. Sometimes, less is more and Robb has clearly put in the work to recognise that.
There’s still some wild flailing guitar work and intense drumming on ‘Addicted to Pain’ and ‘Atomic Revelations’ which break up the dower moments of the record and create a better sense of pacing. The whole album may not be for everyone as there’s pieces of different eras of Machine Head peppered throughout but as a collection of singles, it’s a solid effort with something for everyone.
Overall there’s a lot of variety in these new radio friendly songs that will fit in well in their live show and hopefully they’ll have some surprises as they headline Bloodstock 2025 in August.
Unatoned is available April 25th via Nuclear Blast Records.
