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Contributor
Reviews 59
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Album Edits 125
Album Ratings 4643
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Last Active 06-09-22 4:02 pm
Joined 06-09-22
Review Comments 1,751
| Machine Head RANKED
Ranking the standard Machine Head studio album releases. | | 10 |  | Machine Head
Catharsis
History will not be kind to Catharsis. It’s about as blatant as I can get about this record. When it first came out, I defended it because it was a band trying a different direction but then all the backstory and members leaving left a sour taste in my mouth about this album. There’re some decent tracks but it’s absurdly long runtime is plagued with gross, stupid lyricism that feels immediately out of touch and I’m left leaning so you think I would find some sentiment to agree with. Don’t start here if you want to check this band out.
2.3/5
Best track: Beyond the Pale? Idk | | 9 |  | Machine Head
Supercharger
On the other hand, Supercharger has aged decently for me. Is it a bit cringe and does it suffer from the usual Robb Flynn treatment? Of course, but I won’t pretend like there aren’t some bangers on here. I mean Bulldozer, Crashing Around You, Brown Acid, All In Your Head all go hard! There’re good riffs, there’s good performances overall but it does suffer from the fact that this band went from respected groove metal pioneers to nu-metal weirdos.
3.2/5
Best Track: Bulldozer | | 8 |  | Machine Head
The Burning Red
Burning Red is like Superchargers slightly better written cousin but suffers from almost the same problems. The consistency of good tracks makes this more palatable especially considering that there are still remnants of what they brought with Burn My Eyes and More Things Change. If you want nu-metal Machine Head, this is the one to go for.
3.3/5
Best Track: The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears | | 7 |  | Machine Head
Of Kingdom And Crown
Machine Head’s most recent record reverts to their more technical groove metal roots. It’s miles better than Catharsis and sort of made me a believer again. The rollout of this record was extremely weird with like more than half the album being out before it’s release date but I’m just glad to hear some good riffs and solos and Robb not being so pretentious with his lyrics.
3.5/5
Best Track: Slaughter the Martyr | | 6 |  | Machine Head
The More Things Change...
The More Things Change is a beloved Machine Head record that continues the ferocity and pounding riffs of Burn My Eyes but in my humble opinion, does not reach the same heights and doesn’t have as consistently great songs. In fact, I think there’s a couple stinkers on here that really drag it down, hence being as low as it is here. But songs like Ten ton Hammer, Take My Scars and Bay of Pigs are just iconic and you gotta put respect towards this record.
3.6/5
Best Track: Bay of Pigs | | 5 |  | Machine Head
Through The Ashes Of Empires
Following up Supercharger was always gonna be a difficult task especially when your fanbase essentially felt completely abandoned but they managed to reel us back in with Through the Ashes. I mean, Imperium makes an argument for being their best song, it’s massive, crushing and features those essential Machine Head elements. The whole album is really good outside of a couple tracks but as a comeback record, I don’t think we could have asked for more.
3.7/5
Best Track: Imperium | | 4 |  | Machine Head
Bloodstone And Diamonds
Bloodstone & Diamonds is where some felt that Machine head was beginning to fall off again with them sort of expanding their sonic palate and trying new structural things and experimenting with orchestral elements and yada yada. This was probably my favorite Machine head record for a long time, I loved all the songs on here and I thought the guitar playing was just insanely good. Over the years, I have developed qualms with some of the songs like Eyes of the Dead and In Comes the Flood that feel extremely melodramatic and just honestly don’t do it for me anymore. Regardless, I still think this is one of their best records.
3.9/5
Best Track: Ghosts Will Haunt My Bones | | 3 |  | Machine Head
Burn My Eyes
Burn My Eyes can be viewed as that quintessential Machine Head record and for good reason; it fucking slaps. Up and down, this has some of their best songs and feels insanely consistent. I almost view it as lightning in a bottle because they weren’t really able to top it until like 15 years later. It’s got some old school charm while still feeling fresh to this day which is why it ranks very highly in my eyes.
4.2/5
Best Track: Death Church | | 2 |  | Machine Head
The Blackening
And here we have The Blackening; a monumental metal record that sort of shaped the landscape a bit for groove and thrash metal. Critically acclaimed at it’s time of release and revered to this day. There’re elements of prog, there’s hints of core, there’s a sort of unique flow to this record and to this day, I feel floored that this record exists. It does not feel like it’s 70 minutes long, it feels like a breeze that crushes you and I love it!
4.6/5
Best Track: Clenching the Fists of Dissent | | 1 |  | Machine Head
Unto The Locust
And we move to my number one favorite Machine Head record, Unto the Locust. My defense towards this stance is that this accomplishes everything that The Blackening did and wraps it up a concise, tight 48-minute package. These songs are slightly more “accessible” and feature just some of the most intense and interesting guitar work of their entire discography. I do sort of have a bias with this being my first exposure to the band so yes, this record holds a special place in my heart and really introduced me to this style of heavy music and acted almost as a gateway album. But I stand by this being their best record; I fall in love every time I hear it as I’m reminded of its brilliance.
4.8/5
Best Track: Pearls Before the Swine | |
artificialbox
05.08.24 | Awesome list mk. I’ve only ever listened to 2 but now I might delve into some of their other ones now that you’ve given me a guide lol | artiswar
05.08.24 | i don’t agree with your top 6 but great list | Ryus
05.08.24 | i was hoping this would be like hawks dream theater list | mkmusic1995
05.08.24 | Hope you enjoy @artificialbox, they certainly have a lot of content to explore.
@artiswar, hey at least 10-7 are good right? Thanks, mate!
@Ryus, i wouldn't be able to pull that off because I'm just not that funny lol | Deez
05.09.24 | 3
6
the rest can gtf | Sabrutin
05.09.24 | Never really explored this band but I'm always up for a nice discog list | PumpBoffBag
05.09.24 | Noooo list is good but you’re smoking rocks if you think Locust is better than Blackening | DoofDoof
05.09.24 | 1. Burn My Eyes
2. The Blackening
3. The More Things Change
4. Unto the Locust
5. Bloodstone
6. Of Kingdom
7. Through the Ashes
8. Burning Red
9. Supercharger
10. Fetal position covered in red corn syrup |
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