Machine Head - Machine F**king Head Live (20/02/2013)
There aren't many bands that give a show as powerful as Machine Head do and having had the pleasure of seeing them live twice I was very keen to hear their latest live album Machine Fucking Head. The album starts with the crowd favourite chant “Machine Fucking Head, Machine Fucking Head” (a chant heard numerous times throughout the record) before the band kicks in with the opening track I Am Hell (Sonata in C#) which is the opening track off their latest album Unto The Locust and you can just picture being there, getting sweaty amongst the crowd as Rob Flynn screams those opening words, “I am death, arms outstretched!” it truly sends a shiver down your spine.
The second track on the album Be Still and Know is also the second track on Unto The Locust and like I Am Hell sounds just as amazing live as it does recorded. We go back to 2003's Through The Ashes of Empires for the next track, Imperium and to 2007's huge album The Blackening for Beautiful Mourning after that. The first disc ends with their classic track Old, which at a tick under 5 minutes is the shortest track on the record. There are only 14 tracks on this album yet it's been spread over 2 discs for it's length. You don't really get short songs when it comes to Machine Head!
Disc 2 kicks things off with Rob thanking the fans for sticking by them for the past 17 years before another chant of “Machine Fucking Head” leads into Darkness Within, one of my personal favourites from this album. I just love the acoustic guitar at the start, it truly shows off Rob's voice and it's raw power. Disc 2 also features my all time personal favourite song by Machine Head, Bulldozer. It was the first ever song by them I ever heard, and to this day remains my favourite.
There is a reason why Machine Head have become renowned for being one of the best live bands going around and that's because they put absolutely everything into every note and every word. The crowds are always die hards singing along to every word, sometimes even louder than Rob himself and this live double album shows that. Playing through old classics like Ten Ton Hammer, The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears and of course Davidian as well as newer songs like Locust and Halo this has something for all Machine Head fans and is an absolute must own for any metal head.
Matt Barton
Want more Machine F**king Head live? Check out our photos and review from their Soundwave 2012 Melbourne sidewave!
The second track on the album Be Still and Know is also the second track on Unto The Locust and like I Am Hell sounds just as amazing live as it does recorded. We go back to 2003's Through The Ashes of Empires for the next track, Imperium and to 2007's huge album The Blackening for Beautiful Mourning after that. The first disc ends with their classic track Old, which at a tick under 5 minutes is the shortest track on the record. There are only 14 tracks on this album yet it's been spread over 2 discs for it's length. You don't really get short songs when it comes to Machine Head!
Disc 2 kicks things off with Rob thanking the fans for sticking by them for the past 17 years before another chant of “Machine Fucking Head” leads into Darkness Within, one of my personal favourites from this album. I just love the acoustic guitar at the start, it truly shows off Rob's voice and it's raw power. Disc 2 also features my all time personal favourite song by Machine Head, Bulldozer. It was the first ever song by them I ever heard, and to this day remains my favourite.
There is a reason why Machine Head have become renowned for being one of the best live bands going around and that's because they put absolutely everything into every note and every word. The crowds are always die hards singing along to every word, sometimes even louder than Rob himself and this live double album shows that. Playing through old classics like Ten Ton Hammer, The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears and of course Davidian as well as newer songs like Locust and Halo this has something for all Machine Head fans and is an absolute must own for any metal head.
Matt Barton
Want more Machine F**king Head live? Check out our photos and review from their Soundwave 2012 Melbourne sidewave!