Machine Head – Unatoned
Machine Head – Unatoned
Nuclear Blast
Release Date: 25/04/25
Review by Rick Eaglestone
7/10
For three decades Bay Area icons Machine Head have always been uncompromising, and eleven albums in, their latest album “Unatoned” shows little sign of the future being any different
There is certainly a correlation from the bands previous offering that is immediately apparent as the albums short cinematic start ‘Landscape Of Thorns’ leads into ‘Atomic Revelations’, which still contains elements that would be considered quintessential Machine Head, but there are a few twists and turns that certainly add a new dynamic. Although it has received criticism, I for one, am a fan of Flynn’s softer style.
“Unbound” has an undeniable wave of groove surrounded by a cascade of destruction, with lead track ‘Outsider’ fundamentally underpinning the album and securing itself as a future live favourite.
The time structures are used well and certainly pack a lot in. The mellowness of ‘Not Long For This World’ certainly works within the structure of the album, and its almost ballad-like properties place it well. Even the solos match the tone perfectly, as this is followed up with the blistering ‘These Scars Won’t Define Us’
‘Dustmaker’ almost goes into Portishead territory and feels like an interlude piece and an extension of ‘Bonescraper’, which has guitar tones reminiscent of the band’s debut, but obviously with the addition of maturity and experience for what is easily the heaviest track of the entire release, ‘Addicted To Pain.’
The experimental soundscapes continue into ‘Bleeding Me Dry’ with again a heavier following up on ‘Shards Of Shattered Dreams’ this seems to have almost followed a pattern on this release which maybe after a few listens could potentially become a bit predictable. But there really isn’t a lot of time to overthink that particular hypothesis, and the final track ‘Scorn’ creeps in with a wave of raw emotion to conclude an album that has certainly been an eye opener and has me keen to see if this is now a direction the band pursue further.
It is certainly eclectic with newer soundscapes entering the fray, but still maintains the quintessential heartbeat that Machine Head use to forge their ever-continuing pursuit of evolution.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Landscape of Thorns
02. Atomic Revelations
03. Unbound
04. Outsider
05. Not Long for This World
06. These Scars Won’t Define Us
07. Dustmaker
08. Bonescraper
09. Addicted to Pain
10. Bleeding Me Dry
11. Shards of Shattered Dreams
12. Scorn
LINKS:
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