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Machine Head’s new album ‘ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN’ is something to behold. Their first concept album, it tells a powerful story through its lyrics, all while soundtracked by the dark, melodic power supplied by the instrumentation, a mixture that creates a veritable explosion when the album gets going. Unbelievably, despite the excellency and the sheer force and ferocity of the lead single, ‘CHØKE ØN THE ASHES ØF YØUR HATE’, just about every other song on the album manages to keep up with it, and arguably some overtake.
The first track ‘SLAUGHTER THE MARTYR’ starts slower than you would expect, and its intro really gives vocalist Robb Flynn and bassist Jared MacEachern a chance to show off some truly impressive harmonies, and begin the thorough storytelling that spans the album, with both lyrical and musical prowess. It lasts ten minutes, includes multiple movements, and showcases a great deal of care having been put into the album’s narrative. It’s also immediate proof from new guitarist Wacław “Vogg” Kiełtyka that he fits right in, with his fierce riffs providing perfect balance to the balladic melodies as they blend into each other – something that’s the case for the whole album, all the way through.
The sixth track on the album, ‘UNHALLØWED’, is one of the standouts. It matches that same brutal intensity, as well as lyrics that focus on loss and loneliness, to hit that equilibrium perfectly. While the song itself is a touch out of place, the switch in momentum feels intentional, to bring the change in the album’s tale into a harsher focus, and it’s picked up again almost immediately in the more aggressively heavy ‘KILL THY ENEMIES’.
‘ØVERDØSE’. ‘ASSIMILATE’ and ‘TERMINUS’ are short tracks on the album, doing their job to provide a momentary break from the intensity of the songs, giving you time to digest the narrative. The latter marks the story’s turning point, and leads into the final song of the album, ‘ARRØWS IN WØRDS FRØM THE SKY’, bookending the whole thing with another more solemn effort to finish us out, marking one of the best tracks on there. The song ends the story, providing a melodic and impassioned closer, designed to be stirring and doing its job well.
Overall, it’s one of the best albums Machine Head has produced in years. While it’s a little too long and some of the tracks’ individual lengths feel a little overindulgent, it’s a brilliant foray into the concept album and there are plenty of reasons to love it all the way through.
Review – El
CDs, Digipak, cassettes, and all digital formats will be available on Aug 26th, with all vinyl formats arriving on Nov 25th. Pre-order ‘ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN’ HERE.
Catch MACHINE HEAD on the road across Europe, starting in August. For ticket information, click here.
Electric Happy Hour Live:
August 31 – GLASGOW @ Garage (SOLD OUT)
September 2 – INVERNESS @ Ironworks (SOLD OUT)
September 4 – ABERDEEN @ Lemontree (SOLD OUT)
September 5 – DUNDEE @ Fat Sams
September 6 – EDINBURGH @ Liquid Room (SOLD OUT)
September 15th – STRASBOURG @ La Laiterie (JUST ADDED)
Machine Head & Amon Amarth; Vikings & Lionhearts’ Tour Dates:
SEPTEMBER
08th NOTTINGHAM, Arena
09th CARDIFF, Arena
10th LONDON, Wembley Arena
12th MANCHESTER, Arena
13th DUBLIN, 3 Arena
16th ZURICH, Hallenstadion
17th VIENNA, Stadthalle
18th KRAKOW, Tauron Arena
20th TALLINN, Saku Arena
21st HELSINKI, Ice Hall
23rd OSLO, Spektrum
24th STOCKHOLM, Hovet
26th COPENHAGEN, Forum Black Box
27th HAMBURG, Barclays Arena
28th FRANKFURT, Festhalle
30th OBERHAUSEN, König Pilsener Arena
OCTOBER
01st BERLIN, Velodrom
02nd AMSTERDAM, Afas Live
04th MILANO, Lorenzini District
06th BARCELONA, Sant Jordi
07th MADRID, Vistalegre
08th LA CORUNA, Coliseum
09th LISBON, Campo Pequeno
12th PARIS, Zenith
14th MUNICH, Olympiahalle
15th LEIPZIG, Arena
16th PRAGUE, Tipsport Arena
18th BUDAPEST, Barba Negra
20th ESCH SUR ALZETTE, Rockhal
21st BRUSSELS, Forest National
22nd STUTTGART, Schleyerhalle
