BAND – MACHINE HEAD
ALBUM – CATHARSIS
RELEASED – 2018
REVIEWED BY – CHARLES FLORIO
CURRENT BAND –
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LINKS – https://www.machinehead1.com/
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Ca·thar·sis – The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.
This term, in my opinion, really does sum up Machine Head’s latest CD. In order to understand where I am coming from with the newest release, I think it is only logical to first explain my perspective and describe exactly where I am coming from as a Machine Head fan.
Machine Head have had what could be objectively described as an up and down career. I have been a fan of this band since their brilliant debut CD, Burn My Eyes, which was a phenomenal mix of ultra-heavy music with innovation and what would become their characteristic groove. Machine Head followed that release up with the excellent The More Things Change CD. The album was a logical follow up, a solid release with interesting twists. Perhaps the title was a nod to what was coming next.
I still vividly remember receiving their third CD, The Burning Red, from a friend at Roadrunner Records, the band’s label at the time. To say that it was a big-time let down would be an understatement. The experimentation with rap-style vocals and so-called Nu-Metal bouncing riffs was a point of confusion for many of the Machine Head faithful, myself included. This change in direction resulted in criticism from many fans, in spite of (or perhaps because of) the popularity of nu-metal at the time. The next CD Supercharger was more to my personal liking, but the release still contained the elements and experimentation that I feel did not further the band’s name. The band unfortunately suffered the difficulties of lost credibility through these times.
2003’s Through The Ashes Of Empires was a notable step in the right direction for Machine Head, and its release garnered many positive reviews, my own included. The song Imperium alone makes this an album worth owning. But it was the band’s next CD, The Blackening, released in March, 2007 that was a true game changer. The Blackening is heavy as hell and is absolutely brilliant. I would go as far as to say that it is one of the greatest Metal CD’s ever released, and I am not alone in that assertion… it was voted Metal CD of the Decade by Metal Hammer magazine back in February, 2010. Subsequent CD’s Unto The Locust and Blackstones & Diamonds were good releases in their own right, not pushing beyond the mastery of The Blackening but comfortably plateauing the band in a good place.
This brings us to the 15-track Catharsis. In my opinion, this release is collection of songs that seem as if they could have been taken from throughout all aspects and eras of the band’s career. This is both a good thing and a bad thing, based on my earlier comments. I almost wonder whether the band rummaged through and listed to their entire back catalog for inspiration and then wrote songs based on that experience. As goes their discography, there are ups and downs.
Let’s start with the positives- and fortunately there are plenty to choose from. The production for this release is excellent, and the performances and playing are top notch. Musicianship has always been a strongpoint for Machine Head. Songs like Violate, Catharsis, Heavy Lies The Crown, Beyond The Pale, and Screaming at the Sun all come to mind right away. These songs invoke elements of earlier releases that didn’t delve into experimentation. These tracks will appeal to classic Machine Head fans.
However, the negatives are also abundant. Songs like Triple Beam (Ugh… Korn 2018?) and the almost folk-like track Bastards… while very personal and engaging from a lyrical perspective, the avant-garde experimentation on these tracks harkens back to a period in the band’s career that was difficult to define and even more difficult to embrace. While not a bad song by any means, Behind The Mask is an acoustic ballad that just doesn’t seem to fit. The other tracks on the release seem to have that experimentation vibe that I personally feel the band didn’t need to invoke at this stage of their career. I sometimes wonder whether Machine Head feels entirely comfortable in their own band’s skin.
I opened my review with the definition of the word that defines the album. Let’s hope that this release IS the Catharsis that snaps Machine Head solidly back into form. Though I do wonder why this had to happen at all, my advice would be, if you’re buying this album, to focus on the positives and enjoy them for what they are.
3 out of 5 horns up!
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