KingOfMetal

As for The Burning Red, ive gone back and listened and it's a fucking terrible album...well some of it is, some of the rap-metal stuff on there is abysmal. And whilst you mentioned that many people blame Luster for the shift in direction, it's well documented that Rob Flynn is a massive hip-hop fan so he's probably got as much to do with it as anyone.

I agree with what your, I didnt mewn to sound like I was pointing the finger at Luster. I think Luster was a victim of consequence more than anything. Him coming into the band, probably along with an unhealthy recomendation from the label, seemingly resulted in a sudden shift musically which left fans feeling the band had sold out by trying to sound like what was selling big at the time as rap-metal was the in-thing with likes of Limp Bizkit on the major labels and Dislocated Styles on Roadrunner Records

Currently rewatching The Shield from the start. Michael Chiklis plays Vic Mackey with such aplomb and gusto its inspired me (with the new Machine Head album as the soundtrack) to take up my training again. Who wouldnt want Mackey in their corner, the guy is the definition of badass

When ive seen them live I didnt think much to them, but it was in a supporting role, so you are restricted with the time you have. And I see exactly what your sayiny about Robb Flynn, but he has created a great album here. You'll be hard pressed to find a better album this year, which is saying alot as Opeth have just released their new album and the new Mastodon hits stores soon

My promo arrived at the weekend, and Ive had a couple of listens to digest it. If you look for it, it is up on the torrent sites also.

For a band who a little over 10 years ago were playing metal/rap crossover, or dare I give it the dreaded 'nu-metal' tag? it is hard to fathem that it was the same band who put out 2007's classic 'The Blackening'. But having said that, was it or is it still the same band? In name, it obviously is, but the personnel has had an overhaul since those rap-happy days. Long gone are the weak riff-a-rama 4 minute ditties of 'The Burning Red' and 'Supercharger', who many fans (and yours truely) put down to Ahrue Luster's diversion from the band's original direction. Luckily for this band, he is long gone and for the longtime fan a distant memory. Since Luster was replaced by Phil Demmel in 2001, Machine Head were out to prove their true-calling in the metal-world. This started on 2003's soul-redeeming 'Through The Ashes Of Empires' and continued on the last album, the already mentioned 'The Blackening' from 2007. And after pro-longed periods of supporting Metallica over the last couple of years, it is clear that the band have learnt a thing or nine from one of the true titans of the genre. But after the huge commercial and critical success of 'The Blackening', can Machine Head possibly top it? Simply put, it is a yes...and then some.

At the barebones of the album (take away anything included in special editions or 'fan-packs'), Machine Head have unleashed 7 tracks coming in at just under 49 minutes of pure metallic brilliance. Kicking off with the 3 stage 'I Am Hell (Sonata in C#)' with its monk-like chant in stage 1, the band build the tempo slowly in stage 2 with a hard drum beat and menacing, lurking guitar screech before launching into a Slayer-esque thrash on stage 3. The token ferosity of Robb Flynn's vocals are on show from the off and the track has echoes of Gojira and Slayer, as if to form what can only be described as a progressive-thrash sound, without sounding like Im making up genres. The 8 minute opener shows how,as a band, Machine Head have become a conceptual powerhouse since recruiting Phil Demmel on guitars. Robb Flynn may be the snarling front man (a role of which he is very good), but Phil Demmel is very much the brains behind the operation interms of peicing and constructing the songs. 'Be Still And Know' sounds like it will become the opening number for the band when they tour again with great fret-tapping and a lingering gallop on the drums from Dave McClain.

First single, 'Locust', was met with mixed responces when it was unvailed earlier this year, especially on blabbermouth.net. While some people who dismissed it at first, seemingly expecting perfection such was the expectations for whatever would be following 'The Blackening', its refreshing to see the band play at speed, but not at 100mph all the time and in the process show maturity in its writing all the while producing a music experience for the listener. 'Locust' itself has a gorgeous bridge section shades of Metallica's 'Master Of Puppets', which seems to be a sound that MH want to recreate, such is the influence of Metallica on the band (and any metal fan to have picked up an instrumment in the last 28 years).

'This is The End' features great guitar work from Flynn and Demmel, but here and throughout the album, the true power of the band comes from Dave McClain on drums and Adam Duce on bass, two men who as important to the continued success of the band as its two guitar players. The tempo and mood shifts completely on 'Darkness Within' with Flynn plucking away on an acoustic guitar seemingly building the atmosphere for when the band will launch in...only for them not to, at least not straight away. This was so suprising to hear, but also exactly the right thing to do from a song-writing standpoint. Rather than doing exactly what, in the past, would have been expected of them, the band has shown real progression in song-writing structure, which is further evident on 'Pearls Before the Swine' and the album closer 'Who We Are' which features a child choir of all things in a slight reprise on the opening of the album, Robb Flynn doing a James Hetfield-like vocal and once again sounds akin to thrash metal of days-gone-by with elements of Slayer and Pantera, all the while throwing the kind of guitar virtuosity associated with modern bands such as Between The Buried And Me, and closes with a cello and violin combo complementing the aggressiveness of the album with a sombre mood to finish.

All in all, 'Unto The Locust' lives up to the incredibly high standards that 'The Blackening' laid the foundations for. With this release, Machine Head have really grown into one of the best bands around. After being in music as a band for nearly 20 years (the band was formed in 1992), MH now have 4 top musicans in place who, if any were to leave, would be difficult to replace with someone of the same standard. in my opinion, this is a better album than 'The Blackening' not just in being a kick ass, loud, fast metal album, but in terms of the production that has gone into it. Robb Flynn produced the album himself (with Juan Urteaga handling mixing duties) and the album plays as a real labour of love. Everything has been done for a reason, the songs have been meticulously crafted to create and the pacing of the album is second to none. I described it to my friend this moring as 'a tour de force of metal's past and it's present'

Some self-important fans on the internet, especially blabbermouth.net (can you tell I dont like the people who post on there?) will find fault just for the sake of finding fault, believe me when I tell you this will be a contender for album of the year. Machine Head have proven that they are so far removed from the 'nu-metal' phase of their career that only ultra-hardcore fans will even remember it ever happened. And Sonisphere lineup placing-hissyfit aside, the band have shown that they truely are a force in metal, and will be festival headliners in the right own right soon enough

Best moment of that at 2.40 gets the biggest reaction as well

 

and also shoudn't dave penzer have been champion?

Im suprised he wasn't. It wasnt beyond the realms of possibility in Russo-era WCW

Jeff Jarrett vs. Booker T - San Fransico 49ers Match

seriously, how this didn't make it onto the best of Nitro DVD is beyond me. Truely Russo-riffic

nah, according to Volbeat's website Clutch are playing the UK too.

That is fucking ace, I have tickets to London and Dublin. More people need to listen to Volbeat.

turns out I did misinform you guys, and Clutch are just playing the minland Europe shows, no the UK. Clutch are still heading over here next year for the Thin Lizzy tour though. Sorry to have gotten your hopes up (

Last night got 5 out of 6 of my Euro 2012 Qualifers right:

Scotland, Holland, Denmark, Bosnia, Estonia

got a Push result in the Russia/Ireland game as it ended in a draw

If that is the case then great. Tickets for Sheffield were only

I think it's just the mainland European shows they are supporting. Not the UK.

My bad, sorry to get you excited Ebb. Could still catch Clutch on the Thin Lizzy tour in the new year

Only heard bits & bobs of Black Spiders. We'll be at the Sheffield Corporation show on october 26th if your planning on attending. Its going be great, first I got Clutch & Volbeat then Manowar a week later

Clutch have added to support Volbeat on their European tour in October & November

Game of Thrones season 1 as a 16-bit RPG

 

Absolutly outstanding

that was more entertaining than the series was

in an update to the latest ticket fleecing job that Manowar have got going on, you can now buy the 'Ticket n' Track Pack' from www.metalhammer.co.uk/manowar . Ticket to the gig and the download of the track from the new album. Seriously, this is getting a fucking joke now. I ended up forking out for the 'Warrior Pack' (ticket, magazine, CD and download). Manowar are a band I've always wanted to see, but this whole clusterfuck of seeling tickets to the tour has fucked me right off.

Manowar: Battle Hymns 2011 Tour- brought to you by Joey DiMaio/Gene Simmons

anyone see that Metal Hammer are releasing Machine Head's new album as some kind of special edition fan pack. 15 bucks will get you the album, a Machine Head magazine and some other guff like a patch, stickers and a poster.

 

Pretty cool move though, obviously following on from Classic Rock selling Slash's album in similar fashion. Times are a changing and this is the kind of shit that needs to be done to get people to buy a record. I'm still a buyer of music (always will be) but i'll be honest when an album just comes bare-bones these days it doesn't really appeal to me, i like to see the extra dvd's and shit they give away.

 

I'll buy it.

Was looking at this last night. I think you also get the 'special edition' of the album with a few bonus tracks & dvd. My only concern is ordering this & it not coming til' a week or so after the album's released?

I fucking love 'Locust' though. It took a couple of listens but now I've come to terms that this record isn't going to be The Blackening pt.2 I'm super-hyped for it.

Was reading about this also. IIRC, everyone who pre-orders by August 15th gets their names printed on some kind of special edition poster that comes with the new album, which is pretty groovey I think. I'm looking forward to the new Machine Head album, since Phil Demmel came into the band, they've hardly put a foot wrong and have made good progress with each passing release. Only setback in my book was the hissyfit that Rob Flynn threw the other year about being below Limp Bizkit at Sonisphere (cancelled their appearance, only to then show up as the special guests, thus looking like a total bell-end).

Anyone heard the new Opeth track (The Devil's Orchid). Thoughts?

not sure if this has been posted already, but I saw this yesterday and it blew my mind

Ottawa Bluesfest Stage Collapses during Cheap Trick's set -

Manowar Confirm Tour

Found out last night that Opeth are over here in November (Newcastle 9th o2 Academy , Manchester 11th o2 Academy , Birmingham 12th o2 Academy , London 13th Brixton o2 Academy). Depending on when the dates for Manowar fall, might have to get to see Opeth. When I saw them support Dream Theater in 09, they were absolute perfection

I remember buying Decapitateds 1st album for like

* Former Motorhead guitarist Wurzel has died at the age of 61. A member of the band from 1984 to 1995, he appeared on six studio albums as well as the 1984 compilation 'No Remorse'.

* Megadeth - Public Enemy #1 - New Song at Sonisphere

got my tickets booked for Rammstein in Nottingham, and also booked my tickets for Volbeat in Sheffield in October. muchos excited about both of them, and then just need Manowar to confirm their November dates

 

Pretty classy stuff.

Very classy stuff.

Im going to miss Punk if/when he goes

posted this in the upcoming gigs thread, but figured it might as well go in here too

'RAMMSTEIN: MADE IN GERMANY 1995-2011'ARENA TOUR for 2012'Rammstein are to play:

London O2 Arena February 24

Birmingham LG Arena 25

Dublin O2 Arena 27

Newcastle Metro Arena 29

Manchester MEN Arena March 1

Nottingham Capital FM Arena 2

 

source: totalrock.com

 

tickets on sale 9am Friday 8th July

I went to the last arena tour in Manchester, and Rammstein put on one of the best shows Ive ever seen, both in terms of he set and the whole staging show they put on. Can not recommend them enough

Am loving the Bill Bailey version of Enter Sandman on Youtube!

but who the fuck put him above Opeth?

VDOP

Trendkill (An amazing achievment as the band didn't get on so much they recorded this in different studios in separate states!)

Driven (Drags a bit after the first four tracks, I think. Slaughtered and Shedding Skin are very good, 25 Years is utterly tedious.)

CFH

101 (A very good arrangement, but the AQ lets it down a lot)

 

I've not listened to Steel properly after owning it all this time.

 

 

Seriously? Part of the reason this is my favourite album of theirs is because it's so cohesive as a whole album..

 

 

Whoever the producer was did an excellent job because the pace is just perfect (as you say, Far Beyond Driven is a bit of a drag in places - I still think it's good but it could have really done with trimming the fat a bit).

As with all Pantera releases, with the exception of Reinventing The Steel, production was handled by Terry Date and Vinnie Paul