Where to start with Machine Head?

Well before I review the "The Blackening" a brief history of the band is needed. Back in 1994 Machine Head released there debut album "Burn My Eyes" the same year Pantera released there third number 1 album "Far Beyond Driven" back then extreme heavy music was being phased out and replacing it was nu-metal with the likes of Korn releasing there debut album. So Machine Head had a up hill struggle getting the merit that they should deserve well they did get the merit and a hole bunch of new hardcore dedicated fans. Soon after Machine Head released there Second successful album "More Things Change" things were looking up for the band until a change in direction came just as nu-metal was getting more popular Machine Head decided to hop on the band wagon by releasing the awful "Burning Red" next was 2001 "Supercharger" which failed big time. Then in 2003 Machine Head got rid of there Guitarist and decided to go back to there heavy roots by producing and releasing there best album since "Burn My Eyes" the brilliant "Through The Ashes Of   Empire". Could anything beat this mighty album well folks something has the "The Blackening" on with the review.

The album kicks off with opening track "Clenching The Fists Of Dissent" its starts with a heavy baseline then all hell breaks loose Rob Flynn's vocals seem to get more better one thing I noticed was that the usual metal core riffs from previous Machine Albums have gone replaced now with a more stunning direct sound in the first song alone there are 25-30 different riffs going on and the solos are electric Rob Flynn and fellow guitarist Phil Demmel going back and forth in dual guitar solo's plain brilliant.

The second track "Beautiful Morning" Starts off with a faster heavy pace though very melodic even the first 2 songs get you hooked straight away.

The third track "Aesthetics Of Hate" is a song written about the late Guitarist "Dimebag Darrell" how at the time of his death certain people in our society and the media didn't understand so they gloated about the death of Dimebag, Machine Head's answer was to write this track saying a big f**k you to certain people and the media the track itself is fast and very heavy with a nice slow solo also the drumming on this track is superb.

Most of the songs on this album are on average 7-10 minutes long the album itself consists of 8 songs if you buy the limited edition with the DVD it has a bonus cover track which is Metallica's "Battery"

The heaviest track on the album has to be "Halo" just plain brutal riff after riff of pure metal at its best while the seventh track "Wolves" starts of with a blistering solo and some of the riffs remind me something straight out of the Death Metal scene. Every song on this album I would have to rate as 10/10 this album cannot seem to fail or do any wrong from the moment the album starts to the finish you will want to keep on listening to the "Blackening". Trust me i have lost count on the number of times I have listened to this album.

So Machine Head have come back with a stunning album that roll's over "Through the Empire of Ashes" this album will go down as one of Machine Head's best album to date and go down as a metal classic.