|
|
|
|
| Buy this album |
Believe the hype, kiddies. Well, sorta. While Machine Head has indeed unleashed their finest slab of Metal ever it ain't as earth shattering as some might have you believe (here's to you, Scott Ian). Oh, sure, The Blackening is a killer record that absolutely challenges the band's debut in terms of appeal, but it ain't all MH throwback. Robb Flynn and company are in rare form and this sucker shreds as much as it stomps, easily sounding like a hybrid of the band's oldest and most recent recorded output (i.e., Burn My Eyes and Through the Ashes of Empires if you don't know your MH history). The album is populated by 8 killer and varied songs, including half of 'em that pass the 9 minute mark while two of those creep past 10....
Musically this thing is just what the band claims: Metal. Epic at times and abusive at others, The Blackening also offers some melody and beauty. If Flynn hasn't been completely forgiven for his tendency to hop on and off a bandwagon of what sounds popular or "kewl," that can be understood. This time around he conjures some Killswitch Engage and *gasp* even The Deftones at times. Overall this can be overlooked because the album simply destroys. If the band's back catalog in your collection also goes from 1994-1997 and then 2003-present you should enjoy this record. The Blackening is meant to be consumed as a whole and while challenging here and there, it is a distinctly rewarding listen that is new and familiar at once.
The tribute to Dimebag ("Aesthetics of Hate"), like much of this album, is brooding and punishing. Suffice to say that Machine Head have made a complete record in damn near every sense of the word. Simply great. Maybe covering Metallica's "Battery" stayed with the boys 'cause the once mighty M is invoked a few times, most notably in Adam Duce's Cliff Burton-invoking basswork.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Clenching The Fists Of Dissent |
| 2. Beautiful Mourning |
| 3. Aesthetics Of Hate |
| 4. Now I Lay Thee Down |
| 5. Slanderous |
| 6. Halo |
| 7. Wolves |
| 8. A Farewell To Arms |
: 61.13
| Buy other Machine Head albums |
