Undisputed masters of murderous riffs, pugnacious grooves and ferocious hooks since 1991, Machine Head are long established as one of the most influential and incendiary bands in the metalworld. From genre-expanding triumphs like 1994’s debut, Burn My Eyes, 1999’s The Burning Red to theplanet-conquering might of 2007’s The Blackening, to the new life injected in 2014’s Bloodstone and Diamonds, Machine Head have carved a singular path across the globe for over three decades nowwith no end in sight. Whether it be marathon 3 hour live performances, or millions of albums soldworldwide, and accolades both big and small, there aren’t too many “distractions” clouding up thevision of guitarist/vocalist/founder Robb Flynn these days. In 2022, Machine Head are back with their most crushing and complete album yet.
Øf Kingdøm AndCrøwn is an hour-long conceptual monolith, rich in colour and dynamics but hell-bent on destruction. Set in a futuristic wasteland where the sky is always crimson red, Of Kingdom & Crown tells the taleof two characters, both faced with incalculable trauma, whose stories become bloodily entwined asthis deep, dark record progresses.“The album and concept was loosely inspired by the Japanese anime series Attack On Titan,” saysRobb, “in the sense that in that series, there is no “good” or “bad” guy... both sides believe they’redoing the right thing, but both are committing atrocities and evil.”Album opener, “Slaughter the Martyr,”sets the tone for not only the record, but the aural andpsychological exploration the listener is about to embark on. From the first dissonant note, itscertain this is not only fresh canvas spelled out with lead vocalist Robb Flynn and bassist JaredMacEachern’s soaring vocal harmonies, but its intent is as furious as anything the band has evercome up with. This track also begins the journey of our protagonists.
Further exploration of the damaged psyche blasts forth on “Choke on the Ashes of Your Hate,” asearing back and forth dose of Thrash Metal that could only come from the roots of the BayArea.Unrelenting in its attack, the breakneck pace only solidifies this as one of many standouts on Øf Kingdøm And Crøwn. From the adrenaline rush of exorcising their inner demons to the innate feeling of solitude and regret comes “Unhallowed.”A dramatic introspective of questioning one’s motives and the fallout when thedebts our expended emotions come to collect. Hopeless, lost, and isolated, protagonist#2 begins the transformation from victim to victimizer over the melodic chaos courtesy of guitarist Vogg Kiełtyka. Radicalized, paranoid, and armed with a dead-end stare, the mental onslaught ignites withthe song, “Kill Thy Enemies.”
The whiplash inducing thoughts pair up nicely with some of thethickest grooves on the album.
1. SLAUGHTER THE MARTYR
2. CHØKE ØN THE ASHES ØF YØUR HATE
3. BECØME THE FIRESTØRM
4. ØVERDØSE
5. MY HANDS ARE EMPTY
6. UNHALLØWED
7. ASSIMILATE
8. KILL THY ENEMIES
9. NØ GØDS, NØ MASTERS
10. BLØØDSHØT
11. RØTTEN
12. TERMINUS
13. ARRØWS IN WØRDS FRØM THE SKY
