Ok, here we go with Machine Head’s first release Burn my Eyes. Main man Rob Flynn had been kicking around the LA \/ San Francisco metal scene for a while in the band Vio-lence so would have already had some level of street cred but for whatever reason left the band and created his own outfit. <\/p>\n\n
Machine Head I have to say filled a void in the metal scene of what I call street level metal which could appeal to the average metal punter. In a way I feel like this was the transition of traditional metal being into new metal (not necessarily NU-METAL but I will explore the difference in a later article)<\/i>. Not sure how you guys feel about that statement but It’s my opinion. <\/p>\n\n
Machine Head’s first album is an absolute ripper. There was no better way to come out of the gates than punching with this one. The guitar tone is perfect. The riffs are heavy and easy to follow and rock along to and Rob Flynn’s vocals were deep and semi-gutteral without treading into death metal territory. <\/p>\n\n
From the second this one comes on you know you’re in for a wild ride. Chris Kontos’ drumming is spectacular and fits the music perfectly. I remember this one from when it came out and listening to this again after all these years just brings back those feelings of being blown away. <\/p>\n\n
“Davidian” hit the spot and “Old” does it again. Machine Head took what bands like Pantera and others were hinting at the time and delivered a crushing metal release. <\/p>\n\n
Machine Head and Pantera (At the time)<\/i> also provided an alternative to having to grow your hair past your shoulders and wear skin tight jeans. The metal scene at the time was in decline, people were loosing interest in glam \/ traditional metal but for many the extremities of metal like black metal and death metal were too much this filled the void that was left by bands like Metallica going for a more commercial sound. Heavy but not alienating.<\/p>\n\n
Song after song assaults the senses in the best possible way. I can appreciate new \/ American metal but to be honest I’m more a fan of traditional or the extreme forms of metal but even as someone who wouldn’t choose this as their genre of choice I can sit back and appreciate this is a a pearler of an album and game changer for the metal world. This is an album for not just the fans of the genre but an important milestone in heavy metal history.<\/p>\n\n