The Blackening Reviews

• The Way Metal Should Be. Machine Head, I Salute You!

  
  By AZSN1TO0JI87B on 2007-03-27
  It's been a long uphill battle for Machine Head in the 14+ years they have spent in the music business. Sure, they got off on the right foot with the acclaimed Burn My Eyes, but after that, things seemed to get hazy for the group. In 1999, they teamed with Korn/Limp Bizkit producer Ross Robinson for Burning Red, which, despite being a great album in it's own right, set the stage for the next few years of the bands career. By 2001, Machine Head had slowly slipped into nu-metal territory, and of the worst kind, and thus, we got Supercharger, which is undeniably the band's worst effort. Thankfully, they got things right and in 2004, Through the Ashes of Empires saw the light of day and saw Machine Head turning once again to the sound that made them in the first place, while embracing all the musical experiments on the previous four albums.
  
  So what's the point in the history lesson? To understand why Machine Head's return to form has been so triumphant. "The Blackening" is hands down, without a doubt, the best thing Machine Head have done since 1994. One listen to the opening epic, "Clenching The Fists Of Dissent," and you're opinion of Machine Head will be forever altered. I'd hate for this review to be just mindless hype, but everything you've been hearing so far is true. "The Blackening" is a masterpiece. Opening and closing with songs that push past the ten-minute mark each, "The Blackening" is a bold statement from a band who have finally stopped giving into label pressures, stopped trying to mimic everyone else's style, and generally, just stopped caring what anyone thinks. "Now I Lay Thee Down" is about the most conventional the album gets, but even that's a stretch. Even the shorter tracks, such as "Slanderous" push Machine Head over the edge as far as musicianship goes. Phil Demmel and frontman Rob Flynn play off each other almost as if their minds were one. Despite metal's tendency to show off, Machine Head's work on "The Blackening" is not. Every little sound they add to the stew just makes it all the more powerful, all the more memorable, and all the more musical.
  
  It's only March, and yet I believe 2007 has it's best metal album already. It's going to be a long time until someone comes along and tops this -- and coming from a band like Machine Head, who have been so inconsistent in the past -- who would have expected it? Great for them, though. I don't think anyone will question them ever again. Machine Head have proven that there are second chances in this business and more importantly, have delivered a pure-metal album that is just about perfect.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Astounding... Machine Head's Opus

  
  By A2CB0DNKYCIQE8 on 2007-03-30
  For me, Burn My Eyes was the Machine Head album that was the basis for comparison for the rest of their work. This is now changed, as The Blackening is not only Machine Head's best album, it is one of the best metal albums I have ever heard.
  
  It's amazing that a band can go from making a sub par album like Supercharger to making a great album like Through the Ashes of Empires. I was glad of their return to form with that CD, but the Blackening is even more than a return to form. It is a reinvention. They've taken the great riffing and precice timing of Burn My Eyes and imbued it with a tone that is both brutally angry and chillingly haunting at the same time. Many of the tracks have slow, melodic passages with amazing bass lines, acoustic guitar parts and a chorus of background vocals and then lead into riffing so brutal you almost forget you are listning to the same song. Also, as with BME and TtAoE, they intermix modern style riffing with catchy style riffs that are definitely 80s influenced, making them a metal band that anyone can love. The guitar solos in these songs act as more than just talent showcases for the artists, they flow with the song and with some songs they are the best part.
  
  1) Cleching The Fists of Dissent: Wow! Possibly my favorite song on the album and maybe my favorite from the band (though Imperium is hard to top). The intro to this song reminds me of 'Fight Fire with Fire' on Metallica's 'Ride the Litghtning'. It starts out with a mellow acoustic passage and then bursts into a brutal riff with angry vocals and lyrics to back it. This is an epic track, clocking in at 9:36 with not a second wasted. (I particularly like the part at about 6:30 'FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!) 10/10
  
  2) Beautiful Mourning: No slow acoustic intro here, this song wastes no time as it starts with a nice fast, galloping riff. I liked this song but didn't think much of it until it got to the chorus, which is actually more than halfway through the song. The chorus is a great blend of heavy guitars and over the top volcals and lyrics that you can't help but sing along to. Great track. 8/10
  
  3) Aesthetics Of Hate: Perhaps the most easily accessable song, I could see this being a single. It is also the angriest, being a retaliation of an anti Dimebag Daryl article written after his death. It reminds me of 'Seasons' era Slayer, it has a very 80s vibe to it with catchy riffs and hooks and a good angry vibe all around. The solo sections are great as is the slow tempo section with the reverbrating vocals (May the hand of God strike them... DOWN......) Another great one. 8/10
  
  4) Now I Lay Thee Down: There isn't really a bad song on this album, but I think this may be my least favorite. It has more of a commercial feel to it than the rest of the tracks and is slower in tempo. It does have some faster, angrier sections, as everything does on this album, but overall it's not my favorite tune. 6/10
  
  5) Slanderous: Wow, another crushing track. I don't know how they managed to come up with so many great riffs for this album. This song is great all the way through, with the usual blend of modern riffs and old school riffs that make this band great. There almost seems to be a little bit of an Iron Maiden influence in this song. Great, great stuff.
  8/10
  
  6) Halo: My favorite track after the first. This one is epic (at 9:03) with so many different sections and also not a wasted minute. The choruses, the riffs, the solos, everything is great. 9/10
  
  7)Wolves: Another epic, very heavy track. The riffs didn't catch me as much as with Halo, but this is a brutal song, almost Halo part II. Another great one, of course. 8/10
  
  8) A Farewell to Arms: Man, this album doesn't cease to amaze. This song is another epic and the longest of them all at 10:12. Like the first track, it starts out with a Metallica style slow tempo into and busts into the amazing, brutal riffing. A fantastic closer to this masterpiece of an album. 8/10
  
  I can't stress enough how amazing this album is. Five stars is not enough. You can tell that the band put all they had into this album, as it bleeds with passion, anger and soul. It has definitely made it into my top 10 metal albums of all time, up there with Metallica's Ride the Lightning, Slayer's Seasons in the Abyss and Anthrax' Persistance of Time. Metal is alive and can still be as great as it used to be. This album is proof. Machine Head, you have just become legend.
  
  

• The crown jewel of MH's career

  
  By ASVNSWIXBV72Q on 2007-04-22
  Nowadays, it seems like just about every modern-metal band is trying desperately to escape being tagged "metalcore" (a genre that is supposedly on its way out). Most haven't yet succeeded in doing so, but to some bands, "metalcore" is nothing more than a quickly fading object in their rear-view mirror.
  
  After releasing their debut, "Burn My Eyes" (which is groove/post-metal landmark), in 1994, Machine Head began experimenting with their sound by releasing a series of mediocre and uneven albums which were substantially softer, and even arguably nu-metal-ish. As a result, the band lost a large part of their fanbase. But then, in 2004, they stormed back onto the scene with a triumphant return to form, "Through The Ashes Of Empires." Unfortunately, heavy metal (and the metalcore genre, in particular) was at the peak of its popularity that year, so some fans thought of "Ashes" as just a trend jump. But now, three years after that, the Oakland-based quartet have released their sixth studio effort, "The Blackening," an album that leaves mere "metalcore" and "groove metal" in the dust. In fact, throw out all of the categories, because Machine Head are now in a class by themselves.
  
  "The Blackening" sounds like a mix of old and new. Frontman Rob Flynn (who was once in a Nineties thrash band called Vio-lence) draws a bit from his own past by filling these songs with intense tempos, excellent riffs, and killer solos which evoke the Bay Area's glory days. Plus, "The Blackening" recaptures much of the same raw energy, emotion, visceral impact, and iron-fisted aggression as 2004's "Through The Ashes Of Empires." But in no way is this just a simple throwback album, because it expands a great deal on Machine Head's sound, musicianship, and songwriting skills. T hese songs are friggin' epics -- they range from just under five minutes to over ten and a half minutes long, and are, musically, a lot more complex, meticulous, and multi-faceted than anything MH have ever attempted. (Flynn plays a big part in the band's growth by frequently showing off his surprisingly strong singing voice and intelligent, inspiring, often politically-charged lyrics.)
  
  Every track on this record is a winner; it's darn near impossible to find a single dud or weak moment anywhere on here. Whether opting for brutal and straightforward or more restrained and slowly-building songs, Machine Head almost always make sure the music bristles with intensity and unpredictability. Opener "Clenching The Fists of Dissent" begins quietly and slowly, with mysterious acoustic guitar strums, but in not too long, a breakneck tempo change kicks in, launching the listener into a river of furious riffing. The guitarists (Phil Demmel and the above-mentioned Rob Flynn) toss in a pair of superbly ripping solos near the end, too. Then, an explosive barrage of thick, hefty, churning guitars and hard-hitting drums back Flynn while he bellows "F you all!" from his gut, thus signifying the made-for-moshing beginning of "Beautiful Morning." The next track, "Aesthetics of Hate," boasts a quick, bouncy drum beat, and a wealth of great guitar melodies and harmonies (including a fairly long solo section), before ending with a dark and spine-tingling spoken-word passage where Flynn repeats "May the hand of God strike them down" several times. "Aesthetics of Hate" is also of note for it lyrical content because it is a livid tirade against a journalist who wrote an insulting article about Pantera/Damageplan guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott only a week after his tragic murder in 2004.
  
  Elsewhere, "Now I Lay Thee Down" and "A Farewell To Arms" both have quite a bit of clean, proper singing (in fact, the latter track even features some supple, even borderline-sweet crooning), thus making them probably the record's two most melodic and restrained cuts. "Slanderous" and "Halo" are also of note because they sport heavy, propulsive riffs, catchy, adherent grooves, and wailing solos. And, lastly, track seven, "Wolves," takes the cake for being "The Blackening"'s biggest highlight. This song is over nine-minutes of sheer awesomeness! Most of it is super fast and heavy (with an absolutely blistering thrash guitar lead, deft, thumping drums, and four wild, careening solos); but somehow, the song also always manages to be super catchy, and it includes a very memorable and powerful chorus ("Unleash the wolves!") that ranks right up there in greatness with the chorus from "Davidian" (the world-renowned first track on 1994's "Burn Your Eyes").
  
  "The Blackening" is an opus that practically has "greatness" written all over it, and all metalheads should fall in love with it very quickly. In addition to being the best heavy music release of 2007 thus far, this album is doubtlessly MH's most godly, epic, masterful, brilliant, intricate, expansive, exhilarating, and realized work to date. It silences every doubt and answers every question skeptics have ever had about Machine Head. Yes, they are still relevant; yes, they are still inspired; yes, they can still shred almost anybody's musical pants off; and yes, they are still fully capable of making a killer album that is sure to go down in history as a classic. Now only one question remains: how in the world will they ever top this one?!
  
  

• One for the metal history books...

  
  By A2Q8HBYGPJMUCS on 2007-04-08
  I can't believe the depth of this album. Rich, complex....not your average metal. Brutal and beautiful..like football.
  
  

• Awesome

  
  By A3E2JJ2F0O4SA2 on 2007-04-17
  What a killer CD. That makes two in a row for Machine Head. This CD is filled with heavy riffs and some great guitar harmonies. Robb's voice sounds great here. From growling & screaming to actual singing & soft vocals. This is also possibly the best Dave McClain has sounded since he joined MH so long ago. The drum work is awesome. All & all a great CD. Production is top notch. The best song is "Wolves".
  
  My only small nitpick is that we didn't get the DVD & bonus track(cover of Metallica's Battery) like Japan & the UK did. I imported from Amazon Japan. Its a region free DVD for those who are curious.
  
  
• Aggressive, powerful and all things a metal album should be.
  By A2GWOJ9XKGF8F5 on 2007-03-30
  To call The Blackening just a metal album is a disservice. After the fantastic work that was Through the Ashes of Empires, Machine Head returns and follows it up with quite possibly their best effort yet. The Blackening picks up where Ashes left off and shows the band coming out the gate full throttle and ready to destroy. The heaviness of this album is a new standard for the band (and metal all over as far as I'm concerned) but the musicality of the album is what sets it apart from prior releases, even Ashes. The opening track, "Clenching the Fists of Dissent," is a ten minute opus that starts somber and quiet, launches into full scale dual guitar brutality, winds through a trade off guitar solo section and comes back with the ultimate fist pumping bridge I've heard since "Creeping Death." "Beautiful Mourning" is a bit shorter, but thrashes damn well and keeps the feel of the album going. "Aesthetics of Hate" is probably the most angry song on the album and is a tribute to Mr. Dimebag Darrell as well as a shot at a writer who trashed Dime and the metal community as a whole after his death. The song is a visceral tour de force of crushing riffs and an excellent harmonized bridge that leads into a beautiful trade off guitar solo between Phil Demmel and Robb Flynn. The harmonized lines are beautiful and the solo might be one of the best on the albums.
  
  The rest of the album follows suit. "Now I Lay Thee Down" is a little more balladesque at first but sweeps into a grinding bridge and solo. "Slanderous" is heavy and thrashes with the best of them. The last three tracks are an amazing half hour of music unto themselves. "Halo" is almost ballad like, and and the guitar melodies during the chorus are spectacular. The bridge vaults the song into an amazing instrumental section, with a few twists and turns and more sweet lead work. "Wolves" is thrash at its finest and delivers 9 minutes of it and it crushes. "A Farewell to Arms" is the closer and it could not be more fitting. It starts slow and somber, moves into a sludge-riff verse with a very melodic chorus and picks up tempo halfway through and tears down the last half. The music here is Machine Head at their best: excellent riffs, excellent vocal and instrumental harmonies, wonderful leadwork (the solo here might be the best on the album. I like it even more than the one in "Asthetics of Hate") and great pacing and well placed tempo changes to keep the song interesting. The feel of the song is almost cataclysmic lyrically and musically, but it's beautifully done.
  
  The performances are spot on by all the band members. The dual guitar crunch of Flynn/Demmel is probably the heaviest tone on the market right now (never have 5150s sounded so damn good), and the lead tones are awesome - full, singing, sustaining and just plain powerful. Dave McClain's drumwork is in top form and is as pulsating and powerful as ever. And Adam Duce's bass takes melody and some points and has returned to a more aggressive tone, almost like that on "The More Things Change" (which has the best bass tone Machine Head has ever had). While not overplaying, his own melodies and harmonies work so well on this album, even more so than previous efforts. Plus he does some excellent backup vocal work as well. And Robb's vocals are phenomenal. His roar is in top form but his singing has gotten better. Everything fits and it fits well.
  
  Machine Head's goal was to push themselves further than they've ever gone with an album. With this record, they've accomplished just that. It may be the finest album of their career and it may be one of the most powerful metal albums since "Vulgar Display of Power" and even "Master of Puppets" before it. This album thrashes, but it does so in a way that can only be described as epic. This is metal. Uncompromising, aggressive and powerful, this is metal at its finest.
  
  
• It is no "Burn My Eyes"
  By A2TKLOPPKPOBFQ on 2007-04-01
  I get a kick out of the people claiming this is as good as "Burn My Eyes". Have they even heard that album? I bought BME new, and have all their albums. This is no "Burn My Eyes", in fact, the last album was way better. If you love the whiny, tempo-killing singing, poorly placed solos, overly long acoustic intros, and the songs about Rob's feelings, which have been the ruin of Machine Head in the last few albums, buy this album. If you were expecting a return to their thrash roots as the Nu-metal fans above suggest, look elsewhere. You will be sorely disappointed as I was. Most overhyped album of the year? Indeed.
  
  
• machine fkin head
  By AAR77T6K4X3XZ on 2007-04-03
  by the end of this year im 100% that this cd will be the best of the best its a cd full of songs from the heart, few years ago when they released Through the Ashes of Empires in the UK i was sure that this is the return of MH the raise from the depth of hell they fell. but killer flynt all what he needed is a killer guitarist to deliver the goods and this is what brought them back to the top of the metal game. long live M fkin H.
  
  
• Album of the year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  By A2MIDSJ9RECDT4 on 2007-04-09
  What can i say about this album that hasnt already been said, great thrashy riffs, memorable solos, powerful lyrics that bring raw emotion and anger, and awesome drumming. since i bought the cd its all i have been listening to, i mean i could write a damn essay about how much this cd does right and then go that extra step. a must by for not just metal fans but a fan of great music.
  
  p.s. was listening to THE BLACKENING while writing the review, yup that awesome
  
  
• Instant Classic
  By A13X9VQILHCK1O on 2007-03-27
  ABSOLUTELY KILLER, I was so ecstatic to see Machine Head go back to their roots with Ashes of Empires which is a fantastic cd, the best since Burn My Eyes, this one....nearly flawless. It's hard to find metal cd's that you can call a masterpiece, but I don't think I'm overstating anything when I say this is a freakin masterpiece.
  
  Its got the attitude, speed and bone crushing guitars their previous cd's had (meaning first and second discs, not third and forth, stay away from those, ugh, blah, barf) but every song has numerous guitar virtuoso riffs and harmonies that are so fresh and interesting that the 10 min long first song seems as short as a radio edit.
  
  That pretty much explains it. You'll want to put each song on repeat. Each one of the 8 tracks has AT LEAST about 6 different riffs and they all kill, and you never even start to think some riff has gotten stale because right before you do they change it up.
  
  The heavy riffs aren't just them chuggin away at the two lowest strings either, they use the ENTIRE guitar, so much that Slayer would be jealous. While the frequently beautiful guitar harmonies would make Metallica (from the 80's) jealous as well.
  
  There are mellow parts all over this disc too. Fantastic vocal harmonies and melody is in every one of the eight tracks. There is pretty much the perfect balance of brutality and serenity.
  
  One example of how interesting and how much depth this cd has is while during part of the chorus of "Now I Lay Thee Down" the guitars seem to be the background melody while the bass plays a wicked riff. It's rare you can even notice that bass exists on a metal album, let alone hearing it stand out.
  
  I downloaded this illegally and listened to it 7 or 8 times straight in my car over a period of 5 days (and I get burnt out on cd's quickly say, two full spins) needless to say I'm in love and I'm am going out to buy it tomorrow.
  
  Solid, beautiful, melodic, bone crushing, fist pumping, well written, well produced, mind blowing metal. Tell your friends.
  
  
  
• Machine Head's beast of an album!!!
  By A1LN1X4ZGX7P8X on 2007-04-05
  I honestly can't find anything on this album to dislike. I thought that "Through The Ashes" was a killer album, their best even.
  But, this album is like the unloved brother to "Ashes" ! It's been hiding in the darkest corners of Rob Flynn's mind, and it finally had enough and wanted to strike.
  I seriously enjoy every track on here. One of the other reviewers said that "Now I Lay Thee Down" was probably the least favorite, well, I am the opposite.
  This album opens with some slow, moody acoustic guitars, and after about 1 minute, it doesn't stop punching you in the face.
  Amazing guitar work, dueling solos, drumming like a stampede of the horsemen of the apocolypse, some of the most heart-felt, angry, aggresive vocals, and some beautiful singing top this album quite nicely.
  Start to finish, this is one strong album. I think Machine Head have definitely raised the bar for not only the bands releasing albums around them, but, also for themselves.
  It'll be tough to outdo this record.
  
  One Complaint: I just saw Machine Head play here in Florida, and they only got to play 5 songs !!!
  Only 2 of which were from this album.
  They played 1)Clenching the Fists... 2)Imperium 3)Aesthetics of Hate 4) Oldman 5)Davidian.
  
  
• This is their Master of Puppets!!!!!!
  By A247V59BRHTZZ2 on 2007-03-28
  The riffs are heavy as a damn dumptruck on this record! That will be the first thing you should notice when you pop in this metal masterpiece. The solos are blazing, the drums are punishing, and the bass is low and angry baby, Goddamn this cd rocks! This is by far their best album, that's right, I said it's better than Burn My Eyes, so what! They have taken the thrash of old school metallica and added some new age anger and spawned one hell of an album. I know there are only eight songs but over half of them are more than nine minutes! If that doesn't remind you of the good ol' days i don't know what will. Buy this cd and support this severely unappreciated band because they deserve glory for sculpting such a punishing, brutal album. Like I said, GODDAMN, this cd rocks!!!!!!
  
  
• Best Metal Album Of The Year?
  By AURX0OA5H0NVX on 2007-04-20
  Machine Head blew out of the gates in 1994 with their debut album, "Burn My Eyes", widely considered one of the best metal albums of the '90s. After several albums in which MH experimented with their style (with mixed results), many wondered if they could ever achieve the heights reached earlier in their career. As "The Blackening" proves, they can even surpass it.
  
  Perhaps the fans have been unfair to Machine Head....I thought that their follow-up to their initial album "The More Things Change..." was a very solid metal platter, and other subsequent releases, such as "Burning Red" and "Supercharger" were still decent, just flirting with other styles such as rap-metal and industrial, which didn't really gel with the bands' super-heavy, aggresssive neo-thrash metal. What makes "The Blackening" so special is the fact that the band have finally settled into playing what they want to play, and have begun pushing themselves musically into almost progressive metal directions- lengthy, complex and epic compositions, intense instrumental interludes and interplay between instruments and band members, and crazy, out-of-control shred soloing. They absolutely blow their previous work out of the water with this disc, and it is quite an exhilirating ride, at times.
  
  Lyrically, conceptually, and musically, this is miles above anything they have ever done. One listen to "The Aesthetics Of Hate" was enough for me...classic metal nihilism and agression, super heavy riffing, and a huge, intense crescendo of almost neo-classical-style guitar harmony combined with a modern "metalcore" sensibility building to a huge climax. Very, very cool. This is MH at their best, proving that they can hold their own against any other metal band out there. Awesome. Highest recommendation. I've been a fans since the beginning, and this is the Machine Head album I've always wanted.
  
  
• What a wonderfully epic metal album!
  By A3V5O5G3I1T2NX on 2007-05-17
  When I first heard Machine Head a few years back, I dismissed them as your stereotypical nu-metal band trying to cash in on the trend. I was ignorant to Burn My Eyes and didn't bother noticing Through the Ashes of Empires.
  
  Well, one night while wandering around my local hypermarket, I saw The Blackening in the CD rack. I remembered reading some decent articles on it in Revolver and Decibel and, without even having heard a track, took a gamble and bought the CD.
  
  What a great idea that was.
  
  The album has 8 tracks, yet is over an hour long. Every song is so over the top that it's pure metal decadence. "Clenching the Fists of Dissent", the opening track, is over 10 minutes and barely prepares you for all of the bone-jarring breakdowns, high-flying solos, pounding drums, and anti-establishment lyrics that this album throws at you. I could go on and list all of the highlights of the songs on this album, but it's best stated that this album serves as an example of what's right in modern thrash metal. If you're a bigger fan of songs that are direct and to the point, then you'd probably get a big kick out of "Beautiful Mourning", "Aesthetics of Hate", and "Slanderous". However, the songs that stood out to me on the album to be the best are the ones that I considered the most melodic and progressive: "Clenching the Fists of Dissent", "Now I Lay Thee Down", and my personal favorite "A Farewell to Arms."
  
  Again, "A Farewell to Arms" is in my opinion the most outstanding song on album, not to mention the song that I feel best summarizes the elements found throughout the album.
  
  This album makes me ask so many questions: What if Phil Demmel was in the band earlier? What if Roadrunner didn't try pushing them into nu-metal when that style was popular? Would this album be considered as great as it is if Metallica (one of their larger influences) still wrote music with this type of tenacity? You know what, forget the questions and go with the now: This album rules!
  
  Bottom line: If you haven't bought this album already, you're wasting time! Get it now!
  
  
• Help me, I'm drowning in hyperbole!!!!!
  By ANBQIWHO9JRFS on 2007-03-29
  Well, the mainstream metal press is eating this up, and it appears that much of the public is too, but I'm not totally sold. Yeah, it's a very solid album, perhaps the best yet from Machine Head, but I really don't see that's it's altogether remarkable, and certainly not groundbreaking. (Not that that's necessary for a great metal album.) Still, it's more than worth a look for just about any metal fan.
  
  Several years back Machine Head hopped on the metalcore bandwagon, and they continue to ride that wagon with "The Blackening". They've changed things up a bit still, though, and for the better. It's definitely a bit more thrashy, more riff-oriented and far more epic, which I like, with 4 tracks between 9-10 minutes. Furthermore, this album just has a rawness and an edge that's greater than what we've heard from them recently. This is the second album with Flynn's old Vio-lence bandmate Phil Demmel backing him on guitar, (Vio-lence rules Machine Head, by the way) and they've both stepped it up here, with some better than usual solos and plenty of cool unison guitar lines. (And, still plenty of pounding riffs, though some of the groove ones still leave me a bit cold.) They've got an absolutely brutal guitar tone here, something which makes them standout from most of the other thrashy, melodic metalcore bands in the market today. Some bands that tune down this low lose some bite in the tone. Not so here, no way. The rhythm section is solid too, though it doesn't often draw attention to itself, which is perfectly alright, and Flynn's vox are competent with some occasionally pleasant hints of melody. All in all, the pieces are all here, but occasionally the execution falters a bit.
  
  "The Blackening" is only 8 tracks long, which I like. Precious few metal albums have 10 or more tracks and no filler. Trouble is, "The Blackening" still isn't totally consistent. Specifically, we've got "Wolves" and "Slanderous". Neither or these are bad songs, by any means, but they're a tad too faceless for something with a mere 8 tracks. "Wolves" is one of the epics, though it stands out from the others and most metal epics in that it has no real concessions to melody or mood; it's just 9 minutes of endless riffs. Trouble is, these riffs aren't especially interesting, particularly the more groove-oriented ones. It sounds fine, but if I'm not specifically paying attention to it I barely even notice it. "Slanderous" is a shorter rocker. It's got a pretty solid main riff and generally strong guitarwork, but the chorus is pretty weak and again, it's just kinda there. The other six tracks are very good to excellent, however.
  
  "The Blackening" is bookended by the two most epic tracks, the awkwardly titled "Clenching the Fists of Dissent" at the beginning and "A Farewell to Arms" at the close. The opener gives you a good sense of what's to come, with some of the strongest, thrashiest riffing on the album, solid lead work and some effective 'core styled vox. Probably the strongest track on the album. "A Farewell to Arms" is a more balladish track, though it gets pretty intense at the end. You've heard this kinda thing plenty of times before: Slow, ethereal intro, an epic, melodic chorus and some more brute, wild guitarwork at the latter parts of the song. An old pattern, but a good one and they use it well. "Beautiful Mourning" is the second track, the shortest one but still a very solid piece. It starts out a a pure rocker, but they integrate some melody nicely, and it proves to be quite a memorable song. The Dimebag Darrell tribute "Aesthetics of Hate" has some of the finest guitarwork on the album, though it kinda peters out at the end. Still, they do rip it up on the guitars pretty nicely here. "Now I Lay Thee Down" is one of those darker, slower and moodier tracks that inches towards ballad territory (though it's still very, very heavy much of the time.. The chorus is very memorable and it has some of Flynn's best vox on the whole album. Finally, we come to "Halo", another long one. Much of the riffing in this song is a tad dubious, but it makes up for it with an outstanding dual lead middle sections and a very melodic, immediately memorable chorus.
  
  All in all, a good metal album, and an effective extension of the Machine Head sound. Check it out.
  
  
• Machine Head continues to bounce back!
  By AA2MOLT8YF3P2 on 2007-04-03
  Machine Head slipped with 'The Burning Red' (1999) & 'Supercharger' in 2001, but since then the band has released 2 solid & INTENSE metal albums & continues to prove in my opinion that they continue to get heavier & better as time goes on. And for all of these 'Burn My Eyes' freaks, PLEASE get over it, Machine Head has released better albums since that album & 'The Blackening' could be the best yet! If you want extreme metal that sounds GREAT, then buy this album!
  
  
• If you enjoy Metal, the Blackening awaits...
  By A1WIXRK0CUGWB7 on 2007-04-08
  Please allow me to first begin this review by addressing the review of Craig W. Hildreth "Metalfan". It is reviews like the one that I read through of Craig's that makes me wonder if people who say they enjoy metal, truly enjoy the genre. A good metal band will produce good examples of metal. A bad metal band will usually attempt to copy a good metal band, which produces mixed results. A bad reviewer of a good metal band results in a complete waste of time. Craig, listen to the cd much closer. If you truly enjoy metal, you will find something about the Blackening that impresses you. Otherwise, take your one hour opinions to a forum on the internet, and stop waisting the time of people who are interested in what the boys of Machine Head have been up to for the past three years.
  
  Now on to my review of Machine Head's The Blackening..... A great band making incredibly good music. I would first like to point out that I have actually listened to this cd multiple times for the past two weeks in order to truly soak in everything that the Blackening has to offer. After all of that listening, one would expect a degree of boredome may set in. This actually isn't true in the least. I find the Blackening to be the most complete, complex, and exciting metal release that I have listened to in a very long time.
  
  If you have enjoyed anything at all from Machine Head, you will be amazed with the Blackening. I had no idea that Machine Head was as talented as they sound on this album. The solos fit perfectly within each song and are as technical, and rifftastic as anything that the better metal bands out there have to offer. The melodic moments are moody and help to add diversity to the album. The solos are absolutely one-hundred percent metal and the flow of the album is near perfection. Also, the lyrics are worth your time to look into as well. Rob Flynn tackles social, religious, political, and personal issues through the eight tracks on the Blackening. If you thought MH could not possibly get any better than they sound on Burn My Eyes, give the Blackening a listen.
  
  To keep this review short, I will end here by saying that Machine Head has done the impossible. After their release of Supercharger, I thought a miricale would have to take place in order to get the band back on their feet. That mirical came in the form of Mr. Phil Demmel (Machine Head's newest lead guitarist). Through the Ashes of Empires was an amazing cd, and the Blackening is an even better cd. Everything that worked so well on Through The Ashes is improved upon with the Blackening. Songs on Through the Ashes that sounded technical and complex pale in comparison to everything on the Blackening. The most intense moments of Burn My Eyes as well as the More Things Change are matched riff for gigantic riff. Also, Machine Head have never sounded more thrash in their entire career. If you want a great example of what I am talking about, simply give Wolves a listen. For those of you who are interested in aggressive music, this cd is essential.
  
  
  
• piece of s***
  By A2A27R72G8WUY7 on 2007-04-09
  this is by far one of the worst heavy metal albums i have heard comeout in the last year, no wait five years, no better make that ten years. way overated band who suck live. the only band they played after was gojira who are from france. and even they sounded better.
  
  
• D.A.F.
  By A30MQ9ELQCVQLR on 2007-04-09
  This band sucks beyond belief, I saw them in concert with Lamb of God and Trivium, and they are by far the worst band I have seen.
  
  
• MH's most epic, powerful, and best release to date
  By A3TKL7X26QKKMO on 2007-04-26
  I bought Machine Head's brand new album "The Blackening" over the weekend, and let me just say this right off the bat, that words can't even describe how much I love this album. Eight solid tracks, over sixty minutes of pure epic metal, "The Blackening" is without question Machine Head's most epic, powerful, and best release to date thus far, and it's already one of the best metal albums of 2007 thus far as well. When I first listened to this album (and I'am still currently listening to this), I was completely blown away. I mean every song on here is a classic, the songwriting is just incredible, the musicianship is totally phenomenal and out of this world. Frontman Robb Flynn's vocals are just fantastic. His vocals can range from vicious growls and angry screams, to a great clean singing range. Oh yeah did I mention that Robb's an incredible guitarist as well. Together he and lead shredder Phil Demmel deliver tons and tons of great fast heavy riffs, wild scorching dualing solos, and beyond beautiful harmonies throughout this album. Adam Duece's bass lines are just crisp, solid, and hearable. Dave McClain is just an incredible drummer with great speed and precision. This album also showcases some of Dave's best and most powerful drum work on here as well.
  
  The Songs:
  
  1. Clenching the Fists of Dissent (10:36): The opening track and my favorite song on here. Man words just cannot describe how much I love this song. It starts off with some nice accoustic strings, however at approximately 1:43, a barrage of fast steamrolling riffs followed by fast pounding drums and angry vocals from Robb gets the song and the album rolling without warning. I like the shout of Fight! Fight! Fight! at the 6:33 mark. The dualing solos by Robb and Phil are just awesome. Jeremy's rating: 5/5
  
  2. Beautiful Mourning (4:46): Another great song that starts off with some great fast riffs, which are quickly followed by some fast marching drums. A very brutal intense song. Nice solo by Robb BTW. Jeremy's rating: 5/5
  
  3. Aesthetics of Hate (6:30): One of the most and I do mean one of the most intense in your face songs on the album, and another favorite of mine as well. The lyrics are very angry and very in your face too. Great angry vocals from Robb, great brutal riffs, awesome back to back soloing, and great drumming. I also like during the slow tempo section where Robb says "May the Hand of God Strike Them Down". A great song to listen to especially when you're having one of those rough days. Jeremy's rating: 5/5
  
  4. Now I Lay Thee Down (5:34): This is one of the more slower songs on here. There's lots of great riffs, and some nice solid bass work from Adam. This song also has it's angry parts too. I really like the part where all the guitar solos and harmonies go back and forth. Jeremy's rating: 5/5
  
  5. Slanderous (5:16): Another heavy, in your face, yet very groovy song that features some great heavy yet groovy riffs and a catchy drum beat throughout. Great waling back to back solos from Robb and Phil BTW. Jeremy's rating: 5/5
  
  6. Halo (9:03): Ahhhh, another epic track, and a another huge highlight which inlcluded so many great different rhythm sections. The choruses just bring tears to my eyes whenever I sing along to them. Robb's vocals are just incredible on this song, as well as the riffs, the solos, and drumming. Jeremy's rating: 5/5
  
  7. Wolves (9:01): This is another very heavy song, and another epic as well. To me this song is another huge highlight because most of this song is just super fast with fast punishing drums, blistering thrashing riffs, and some more wild careening back to back solos that will make your ears bleed blood red. The chorus is very powerful too. Jeremy's rating: 5/5
  
  8. A Farewell to Arms (10:12): The epic album closer, and when I say epic, I do mean epic. It starts off with a slow tempo section just like the opening song, and then approximately at the 6 minute mark, the song breaks in with some angry brutal riffs, and angry vocals from Robb followed by a sick wailing guitar solo from Phil which is soon followed by some punishing drumwork, and more hefty riffs. A fantastic album closer, and another one of my favorites as well. Jeremy's rating: 5/5
  
  See every song gets a 5 out of 5
  
  Normally, I don't write long reviews, but since this album is soooooo incredible, I thought I'd give it a long well thought out review. Like I said before, "The Blackening" is the most epic, powerful, and the best album of Machine Head's career to date thus far, and of course being one of the best and I do mean best metal albums of 2007 thus far. After listening to this album so many times, I'am not even afraid to say, that this album has already become one of the my top 25 favorite metal albums of all time now.
  
  Bottom Line: If you don't have The Blackening, then you are seriously missing out on some true epic heavy metal for the ages. Do yourself a huge favor, go out and buy this masterpiece of an album ASAP. This album proves that true heavy metal is alive and well. Fantastic job guys!!
  
  
  
  
• AMAZING
  By A3EICMA876DN2H on 2007-04-26
  I'll write a small review, because I'm too lazy to write down a long one., In fact, I never write reviews of any kind, and the reason I am doing it for this particular album is just to reinforce just how GREAT it is.
  honestly, this is one of the best post 80's albums, right there with "Dead Heart in a Dead World" by Nevermore and a few more. Just listen to tracks 6 (Halo) and 7 (Wolves) and you will understand what I mean. This is good metal for true metal fans. And it sets the bar really high to any other "new" metal band trying to make it on the scene.
  
  To put it simple: BUY!!!
  
  
• Return To Form
  By A2YTGRFQC9ZF52 on 2007-05-14
  Infamous post-thrash metal band Machine Head releases their sixth album, which is titled "The Blackening", and this is their most epic album to date. If you thought that "Through The Ashes of Empires" was a return to form, this surpasses it. We have eight tracks here, ranging from 3 minutes to 10 minutes. Tracks like "Aesthetics of Hate" and "Slanderous" will remind you of how metal should be played. Even after 13 years since their debut, "Burn My Eyes", Machine Head has not let up. The guitar parts are amazing, Robb Flynn still remains an excellent vocalist, and Dave McClain's drumming is superb.
  
  Overall, this could be a landmark in today's modern metal scene. If you're getting tired of the usual, pop in "The Blackening", and sit back while you listen to this masterpiece of an album.
  
  
• Metal where the sun don't shine!! Grrrrrrrrrrreat!!!!!!
  By A3032O1SLQI48W on 2007-05-26
  Never have I seen a band improve like this. An absolute Masterpiece of Metal.For fans who love their metal with multiple rhythm changes multiple solos great vocals all done with style power and beauty,buy it !!!!
  
  Best Metal Album In Years!!!!
  
  
• The Machine Head album...
  By A1LJCB7RAWC9IH on 2007-05-27
  Say you're strolling through the mall, you stop by your favourite music-store and you see a big poster reading "The Blackening - New MachineHead album" with that scary 13th century Death painting in the cover. You wonder "When was the last time I got a worthy metal CD?".
  
  Let's put you aren't a huge metal fan. I mean you're a 20 to 30 y.o.... you've been through Metallica, perhaps Pantera and even Megadeth, and you still remember with passion and joy those amazing riffs and powerful lyrics. "Should I give it a try?"
  
  In most of the cases in today's modern metal, the answer would be no. However, the Blackening is just something else. The band stands well above all the rest in the present modern metal scene. And after listening to all their discography, included this album, at least a dozen times, I don't know exactly why they keep being so musically attractive to my ears.
  
  It could be their performance, but they don't execute as good as Dream Theater. It could be their lyrics, but you can't compare them to Nordic Metal bands. Perhaps it's their creativity, but what the heck!, let's face it, it's all been done and redone in modern music. Is it their attitude? Their "this is my music, f@ck all else" stance?
  
  I cannot precise any single feature/ability that makes this album worth every buck. All I know is when I heard it for the first time, it felt like those great masterpieces of old. I feel lucky to be able to assist to this time right here and know. Probably, a few years from now, my children will say something like "Yeah, my dad was a metal-head all the way back since the time of The Blackening."
  
  
• Metal masterpiece
  By AY0RZL53GANW2 on 2007-05-29
  Listening to metal in the 2000's has been a chore; most everything was amazingly average or had been done a lot better before. Take it from me; Machinehead was one of these fairly average bands. There was nu metal leanings, cookie cutters songs, and it took the band about 10 years to get some of their main fanbase back.
  
  Well, it's official; the arrival of the blackening changes everything. If you haven't heard this cd you might still be one of the one's in denial that machinehead has not only returned to full form but has taken on a masterpiece that exceeds the template of their entire career. This cd is brutal. Best thrash/death riffs I've ever heard out of machinehead; but with the range of dynamics, melody, and changing vocal styles to pull us through the catacylsm without getting burned by one set pace through out.
  
  The first track out of the gates, clenching the fists of dissent, nailed me to the floor. Massive drumming, the choruses we know and love, and the guitars might as well be described as machineguns. The two minute fade to one brual riff entertwined with breakdowns at the end of the track will be hard to forget, and harkens back to the days of davidian; machinehead's most well known track. The blackening continues its rampage to hell and back; the song halo especially caught me off guard; a strong melodic chorus finds itself matched with the album's crowning riff.
  
  I have to say........don't leave this one on the mantle; if you enjoy metal this one is for you.
  
  
• The solo are great but...
  By A31Q1GF6Q67YTV on 2007-06-18
  If you want to hear through the ashes... with great solo guitar you should get this album, but what makes this album get 2 star from me is after the song title "now i lay thee down" you only get song that sound sooo nu metal, yes i only like the first three song from this album, man this album is dissapointing me
  
  
• The Blackening !!
  By A28GPIX0A1OER2 on 2007-06-20
  This is hands down the best metal record this century. Metal fans of old will embrace this and newer metal fans should be influenced by this.
  
  
• Not a MH fan ... but simply love this album !
  By AZIFPJVUEJ4J5 on 2007-08-09
  I have read so many album reviews by supposed 'experts' over the years - magazine writers, internet know-it-alls etc - that I tend to be very cynical when they start raving about any new metal album. "It's the best album of the year !" ... "It's the greatest thing since 'Master of Puppets'" ... "These are the new kings of metal" ... blah, blah, blah ... Heard it all before - and sorry but most of the time the 'experts' have simply got it wrong. The last album that wet Metal Hammer's pants was Mastodon's 'Blood Mountain', for example. Yes, it was good - but hardly the greatest thing since sliced bread like Hammer felt it was. The same goes for a long list of other critics' favorites.
  
  So you'll excuse my cynical response when Machine Head's "The Blackening" was given the same treatment by all the press. Suddenly, this was the "classic, must have album of the 21st Century". No, really? Heck, call me an older generation metal fan - but I had hardly ever heard of Machine Head before this. Looks like just any other metalcore band at first glance. Surely, the critics have gotten over-excited again over just another run-of-the-mill album.
  
  Boy, was I wrong.
  
  Simply put, "The Blackening" really is fantastic. I heard just the demo of "Now I Lay Thee Down" and was instantly captivated. The music was so good, I simply couldn't get it out of my head. I bought the album - and it far exceeded all expectations. This was a work of art ! Every song was strong and there are no weak links in the entire album. Each of the 8 songs have their individual, catchy character. Keeping them all tied together is the incredible riffing and surprisingly melodic flavor. This wasn't just angry shouting - the vocals span an exciting range from mad metal torment to moments of beautifully crooned singing. The guitars riff and roar as hard and heavy as anything in the metal world, yet do not lose sight of providing actually entertaining music that is - dare I say - very pleasant to listen to. I got the impression I was listening to the natural evolution and maturation of the thrash I grew up with. It was still energetic and powerful as anything back in the Metallica heyday - but was now infused with a more seasoned grasp of melody and pathos. My jaw dropped. For once, the critics were actually right. This is great.
  
  I was greatly surprised by my fondness for this album. I am not usually a fan of 'this type' of metal. I tend to prefer classic metal (Maiden) or old school thrash (early Metallica). Maybe I'm just getting old. I never really got the hang of shouted, harsh vocals - I always liked 'clean' vocals instead. My favorite current band is Dragonforce (yes, I know ... cheesy etc etc). So I guess I'm not your typical Machine Head fan. But I just couldn't stop head-banging to "The Blackening". It feels insane. For someone who is not a Machine Head fan - and who had never heard of the band just a few months ago - I am suddenly converted. And I just ordered a Machine Head T-shirt !
  
  My favorite song is still "Now I Lay Thee Down" - probably the most beautifully melodic yet heavily pounding romantic rock song I've heard this decade. "Aesthetics of Hate" will get most of the publicity - being one of the shorter songs that is being marketed heavily by Roadrunner. It certainly has the raw aggression and naked power to attract younger head-bangers, but it has the awe-inspiring, masterful riffery to appeal to more discerning afficionados. Speaking of riffs, those on "Cleching the Fists of Dissent" easily rank among the great riffs of the last 10 years - tuneful, memorable and utterly enjoyable. At over 10 minutes long, "A Farewell to Arms" was quite obviously written to be an epic - and it succeeds. It is beautifully crafted, wonderfully performed and is 'epic' in every sense of the word. In fact, every song on this album is just immensely great to listen to. I simply can't stop playing it.
  
  Personally, I would agree with anyone who now says "The Blackening" is the album of the year. It trumps anything else I heard this year by a very wide margin. I would go as far as to put this album squarely amongst my personal favorite 10 metal albums of all time. Maybe others won't rate this album as highly. But take it from me: I'm a cynic who distrusts glowing reviews, I'm someone who has never heard of Machine Head before this year, I usually prefer 'classic' metal with cleaner vocls than this ... and yet even I can get so excited by the album. I hope that tells you something - this is a special album that may convert you even if you are a non-believer.
  
  
• Their best album since Burn My Eyes - but not better.
  By A8H3BO04QZ6IS on 2007-03-19
  Machine Head in full flight - in my opinion few bands can touch them for the pure metal epilepsy they induce.
  
  Burn My Eyes is a metal classic. 5 stars, and if I could take 10 cd's out of my entire collection of over 400 metal only cd's it would be one of them.
  
  I hold Machine Head to that album's standard.
  
  But I have been progressively disappointed with every release they have done since. Don't get me wrong, there have been some excellent tracks on those following releases, even if I hated Rob Flynn's devil horned turn-table hand rapping crap that existed on The Burning Red and Supercharger.
  
  Personally I felt their last album was good but not excellent. An improvement - and Imperium rules - a return to form and their third best album but not a patch on their first album.
  
  This album is their best since Burn My Eyes. Easily.
  
  It is heavy. Most of the songs are epic, 2 clock in at over 10 minutes, has riffs that will cause metal overload, has great solos and is distinctly Machine Head. The lyrics are cool and mostly Rob's screaming is spot on. Though his singing isn't...
  
  That said, the song length is also a bit of a killer to some of the songs continuity. They tend to break down to mellower parts for too long which ruins the pace of the songs. But I AM a total thrash head...The mosh pit will cut sick to some of these tunes, but may be standing around for a couple of minutes during the breakdowns...
  
  There is 1 track I hate on this CD and this is due to the chorus. Halo - in which every second line in the chorus rhymes with and becomes very annoying...and Rob Flynn sings like a bitch on. He sings clean a fair bit on this CD.
  
  I consider it a hangover from his Ross Robinson and Burning Red/Supercharger days and I'd prefer it if he just growled/snarled/whispered these sections, shut up or cut them out.
  
  Like I said, Machine Head in full flight few can match them, but they hit top gear so well and so often on this album and then lose momentum to mellow breakdowns and clean singing.
  
  4 1/2 stars rounded to 5 due to Amazon's rating system.
  
  It is the metal album of the year.
  
  
• The Best Metal CD in years...
  By A2WB1ZFX1VR4MM on 2007-03-28
  Machine Head's "The Blackening" is one of the best metal cds I've ever heard. I bought it today, but have been listening to it for the past month nonstop (thanks torrent sites). Every single track on this album is amazing. The album starts off with the 10 minute, thrash metal opener "Clenching The Fists of Dissent". 6 minutes into the song I got the chills when Flynn starts chanting "Fight", much like a harder version of "Creeping Death". That song sets the tone for the rest of the album. I can't really pick a favorite song because they all flow together so well. The vocal harmonies, along with the layered guitar work is out of this world. The songs are so complex and yet they don't feel pretentious or overbearing. When I first listened to this cd, it brought me back to when I was a teenager and I heard "Master Of Puppets" for the first time. To me, this is Machine Head's best cd. Even though the average track length is 7:30 minutes, the album is very accessible (much like Master of Puppets). It's hard to explain how good this cd really is, you just have to buy it and see for yourself. "The Blackening" is absolutely amazing.
  
  

• HELLYEAH
• Threads of Life
• United Abominations
• Through the Ashes of Empires
• Cannibal