Album review by Lucas Bell
Written in motion – on the road, in hotel rooms, and across continents – Machine Head reflects the raw energy of their return to the global festival circuit after an 11-year hiatus. The bands latest offering, UNATØNED, was recorded at Robb’s Jam Room, Sharkbite Studios, and Drop Of Sun Recording between July 2023 and December 2024. The band are now deep into their catalog, with UNATØNED marking the eleventh record in the band’s rich discography. This album also creates a unique marker for the band, with UNATØNED coming in at just 41 minutes, which is the shortest album the band have produced in their careers.
Song Breakdowns
LANDSCAPE ØF THØRNS – Quick little intro track. Very pretty. Not a lot to say here about a 30 second song.
ATØMIC REVELATIØNS – The opening piano I wish was longer, because this piece of music is beautiful. Bookending the piano at the end is nice too. But within the piano lies a very good song. I’m all about the first track being a tone setter for the record, and while I don’t think it sets the tone for the record as a whole, it’s a banger of a track.
UNBØUND – The album’s second single did a lot for me more than the first one did. This track just slams. The chorus on this song, and most of the record, feels like a sound we’ve not heard from the band before. I’m not sure how to explain it fully, but they’ve done something to the sound, and I kinda love it.
ØUTSIDER – This track feels like a true throwback into an older vibe mid 00s Machine Head vibe. Arguably one of my favourites from the album. The guitar work on this track is so sick, and doubled down with the vocal layering in the chorus, it’s a big old chefs kiss of perfection.
NØT LØNG FØR THIS WØRLD – This track is a bit of a slower one compared to what came before it, but I am a sucker for the slower metal tracks. The lower vocals on the chorus, with the instrumentation under this track strikes a perfect balance and sound. Zero notes on this track. Just simple awesomeness.
THESE SCARS WØNT DEFINE US – This track dropped in November, with the announcement of both the record, and the bands US mega-tour, featuring In Flames, Lacuna Coil, and Unearth (jealous of this please bring it to Australia thanks). The song also features the vocals of all those bands, with Flynn describing the collaboration as a “Wu Tang Clan-level thrash collaboration”. And while I love the song, the mixing on the track seems to drown out the features, and they’re all sung in unison with Flynn. So while on occasion you can hear a high note of Scabbia, or the signature gruff of Frieden, it’s drowned out so much that it wouldn’t matter if they weren’t on the track at all.
DUSTMAKER – This track serves as a two minute interlude, which helps break the album up quite nicely. Sonically, it has no real ties to anything else on the record, or sound like anything the band has ever made before, but I think that’s actually brilliant. Keeps you guessing.
BØNESCRAPER – At time of writing, this is the third and most recent single to release. Something about Machine Head that I love is the unique way they write their riffs. They always seem to be ahead of the curve, and the way the riffs sound on the verses on this track are so sick. This song has my favorite chorus of the album too.
ADDICTED TØ PAIN – The drums. Holy hell. A good drum line on a track makes me want to start a mosh in my living room. This track summoned the need in me to fling my body through the walls. The mini guitar solo also rips. Definitely an album highlight for sure.
BLEEDING ME DRY – Another slower track like NØT LØNG FØR THIS WØRLD, but this one is way heavier. Choruses are quiet, but the intro and choruses are super loud and aggressive. Love it.
SHARDS ØF SHATTERED DREAMS – This track has no chill, and immediately kicks you in the face. This is probably the most “peak” Machine Head song on the record, feeling almost like a long lost cut from Unto the Locust. The chorus soars, and this one has some of the most fun riffage on the album.
SCØRN – This song. Holy shit. Just beautiful. I said earlier I am a sucker for the slow ones, and this just builds and builds, until about 2 and a half minutes in, it just kicks in. What makes it even more impressive, is that the song is four minutes and sixteen seconds. Most of it, builds to the final 90+ seconds. A brilliant piece of music.
Final Thoughts
Following up their critically acclaimed 2022 record ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN was destined to not be an easy feat. But for California metal royalty, Machine Head, they definitely put the pedal to the metal, in crafting a worthy follow up. Some of the transitioning into songs is a bit janky, and there are some production decisions I wasn’t super into as a whole. This record might not be for everyone, but if you loved ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN, this record will be right up your alley.
