Band: Machine Head
Album title: Unto The Locust
Label: Roadrunner Records
Distributor: CNR – Concreteweb Promotion Office
Release date: 23/09/2011
Release: CD

Machine Head is an American trash metal band from Oakland, California (Bay area). The band was formed in 1992, and was founded by Adam Duce and Robb Flynn. The band came to life when Flynn felt musically unfulfilled in previous band Vio-lence and requested to start a side project. When his request was denied, he left the band and formed Machine Head in 1992 with Adam Duce, Logan Mader and Tony Constanza. Though the band’s first album named Burn My Eyes was a huge success.

It got quiet for the band in 2001 as the band nearly disbanded after negotiating off its label, when controversy surrounding Machine Head’s fourth album. The album got released not so long after the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and contained a song called “Crashing Around You”. Making itself unpopular with the mainstream. But that same record even wasn’t welcome in the underground with the true fans of the band. According to them the band had changed to much and wasn’t true to itself. After that lesser period, the band gained their fans (and new ones as well) back with the release of 2 more albums called: Through The Ashes Of Empires and of course the album of the decade The Blackening.

After a wait of 3 or 4 years since that album of the decade, the band is back with their latest record called Unto The Locust. The first thing I would like to say is that when you buy the normal edition, you only get 7 songs worth of 48 minutes. Personally I find this a very low number of songs, but when you get the limited edition you get 3 bonus songs and a DVD covering the recording session. But after a 4-year wait, I would expect more songs to be honest. The album itself is a collection of the bands best trademarks. You have fast trash riffs, but even more groove metal songs. Lots of melodies and even the bands trademark harmonics can be found quite a lot on the record making up for memorable songs.

This is an awesome album, but still I was a little disappointed as I expected more, not only in the number of songs, but it just doesn’t have the same impact as “The Blackening” had.

89/100

Jeroen.

Band : Machine Head
Album title : Unto The Locust
Label : Roadrunner Records
Distributor : CNR – Concreteweb Promotion Office
Release date : 26/09/2011
Release : CD

It must have been quite difficult for Machine Head. With their latest album The Blackening they surprised everybody, even themselves. Never before a MH record had such a success as this one. When you as a band than can go on the road for about 4 years and again rise above everything you’ve ever done it must be a hell of a job to start writing new material. That’s Probably one of the reasons why it took so long for their 7th album to get to the shops. But waiting is over. The 7th album, Unto the locust is ready to be unleashed upon humanity. 

The first thing that comes across is that it only holds 7 songs. Thinking about The Blackening you’ll think that you’re in for a ride of lost of songs that so 10 minutes plus. Luckily that’s not the case. The openings track ‘’I Am hell (Sonata in C#)" kicks off the album and goes on for 8.26 minutes, being the longest track on the cd while the other songs have an average of 7 minutes. In other word, Robb Flynn and his mates cut the bullshit and stick to the essence of it all. Not one guitar solo, drumbeat or lyric is too much. It all fits nicely together. Just listen to the beginning. Flynn’s singing a sort of mantra in Latin after all hell breaks loose once "I Am Hell" kicks off. After a heavy guitar intro you hear Flynn screaming "I Am Death!". You will be scared shitless. That’s the way the new MH CD continuous. Earlier this year we already got an alternative mix of the title track. Little ahs changed but it stays a very strong song that’s 100% Machine Head. It’s becoming clear by now that Robb and guitarist Phill Demmel have a thing for classical guitar playing. Just listen to the intro of "This Is The End" and what about the last one "This Is How We Are". Goosebumps!!! Robb also took some singing lessons and you can hear the result in "Darkness Within", without saying the strongest song on the album. Of course there is also an deluxe edition and that holds cover songs by Rush ("Witch hunt") an a phenomenal Judas Priest song ("The Sentinel").

It goes without saying that Machine Head again made a step forward. This will take them a few levels higher and make sure the arena’s will be packed. This is what we call …and justice for all.

91/100

Stef Maes.