Machine Head

Machine Head

Machine Head is an American metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by vocalist andguitarist Robb Flynn and bassist Adam Duce. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn, ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel, and drummerDave McClain. Duce parted ways with the band on February 11, 2013. Machine Head is one of the pioneering bands in the New Wave of American Heavy Metal.

Machine Head was formed by member Robb Flynn, previously part of the bands Forbidden and Vio-lence. Flynn felt musically unfulfilled with Vio-lence and requested to start a side project. When his request was denied, he left the band and formed Machine Head in 1992 with Adam Duce, Logan Mader and Tony Constanza. The band's first album Burn My Eyes, was a big success in Europe where it garnered attention on MTV'sHeadbangers Ball. In America (with HBB taken off the air during the grunge movement) Machine Head would not have success until later albums.

The band nearly disbanded in 2002 after negotiating off its label Roadrunner Records, when controversy surrounding Machine Head's fourth albumSupercharger (released 3 weeks after September 11, 2001) resulted in their songs and music video for the song "Crashing Around You" (which featured burning buildings) being pulled from all media outlets. The band re-signed with Roadrunner soon after and has released three albums since, 2003's Through the Ashes of Empires, 2007's The Blackening (which earned Machine Head its first Grammy Award nomination) and 2011'sUnto the Locust. Machine Head have sold over 3 million records worldwide.

Machine Head's music crosses multiple genres such as thrash metal, groove metal, and heavy metal. The band is influenced by Bay Area thrash metal bands such as Metallica, Exodus,Slayer and Testament, groove metal bands Pantera and Exhorder, and grunge bands Nirvana, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, they also have influences from early 70's such as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Rush and Black Sabbath.

Their early albums Burn My Eyes and The More Things Change... show a more thrash-inspired groove metal approach, similar to bands like Pantera and Exhorder. The albums also featured brutal and technical drumming by Chris Kontos and Dave McClain. The band changed their musical direction for the albums The Burning Red and Supercharger, which showed a nu metalsound. These albums featured rapping by Robb Flynn and simpler guitar riffs. This change in direction resulted in criticism from many fans because of the popularity of nu metal at the time.

Machine Head returned to their original thrash-inspired groove metal sound with the album Through the Ashes of Empires, which proved a success. Machine Head increased the complexity and technicality in their sound for the next album, The Blackening, which feature similar styles to the earlier albums, with complex song structures and guitar riffs. Unto the Locust features heavier and faster riffs by both Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel supported by fast and complex drum patterns by Dave McClain. This is also the first Machine Head's record to include blast beats. Robb Flynn makes use of different vocal styles including clean vocals, screams and death growls.                                           

Some Songs