Machine Head preview

Machine Head
Pearl Room, Mokena
Friday, February 8, 2008

Machine Head had a pretty killer 2007, no thanks to us. By us, I mean me.

I more or less trashed The Blackening (Roadrunner) in a “Spins” review last summer, saying Machine Head “failed to write engaging material” and that none of the songs were memorable or worth the nine-plus minutes allotted to them. Basically, I thought the album was boring.

I revisited the record (Machine Head’s sixth) for this “Stage Buzz” and still stand by that review, but wowzee, did a lot of people disagree: The Blackening was a critical slam dunk. Good press overseas, where metal is still a way of life, wasn’t necessarily surprising, but the tidal wave of Machine Head support was impressive nonetheless. Besides winning a handful of trophies between the two publications’ awards ceremonies, MH were hailed by both Metal Hammer and Kerrang! in print, earning best album of the year status from Hammer and given the number-three spot from Kerrang!, whose editorial staff also deemed the group’s Download set one of the “100 Greatest Gigs Of All Time.” Even the Stateside press, who more or less wrote Machine Head’s obituary after 2001’s mediocre-at-best Supercharger, took notice. Revolver, Decibel, and Metal Maniacs included the record in their year-end best-of lists. The icing on the cake? “Aesthetics Of Hate” is nominated for a Best Metal Performance Grammy.

All this and Machine Head are inexplicably opening for Hellyeah on this tour. Somehow, not only did Hellyeah’s awful self-titled record also end up on Revolver‘s year-end list, it was one spot ahead of Skeletonwitch!

Nonpoint and Ankla also play.

– Trevor Fisher

Click here to download Machine Head’s “Days Turn Gray To Blue.”

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly