Machine Head - Øf Kingdøm And Crøwn (2LP Vinyl)

Undisputed masters of murderous riffs, pugnacious grooves and ferocious hooks since 1991, Machine Head are long established as one of the most influential and incendiary bands in the metal world. From genre-expanding triumphs like 1994’s debut, Burn My Eyes, 1999’s The Burning Red to the planet-conquering might of 2007’s The Blackening, to the new life injected in 2014’s Bloodstone and Diamonds, Machine Head have carved a singular path across the globe for over three decades now with no end in sight. Whether it be marathon 3 hour live performances, or millions of albums sold worldwide, and accolades both big and small, there aren’t too many “distractions” clouding up the vision of Guitarist/Vocalist/Founder Robb Flynn these days.

In 2022, Machine Head are back with their most crushing and complete album yet. Of Kingdom And Crown is an hour-long conceptual monolith, rich in colour and dynamics but hell-bent on destruction. Set in a futuristic wasteland where the sky is always crimson red, Of Kingdom & Crown tells the tale of two characters, both faced with incalculable trauma, whose stories become bloodily entwined as this deep, dark record progresses. “The album and concept was loosely inspired by the Japanese anime series Attack On Titan,” says Robb, in the sense that in that series, there is no “good” or “bad” guy... both sides believe they’re doing the right thing, but both are committing atrocities and evil. Album opener, “Slaughter the Martyr, sets the tone for not only the record, but the aural and psychological exploration the listener is about to embark on. From the first dissonant note, its certain this is not only fresh canvas spelled out with lead vocalist Robb Flynn and bassist Jared MacEachern’s soaring vocal harmonies, but its intent is as furious as anything the band has ever come up with.

This track also begins the journey of our protagonists. Further exploration of the damaged psyche blasts forth on “Choke on the Ashes of Your Hate, a searing back and forth dose of Thrash Metal that could only come from the roots of the Bay Area. Unrelenting in its attack, the breakneck pace only solidifies this as one of many standouts on Of Kingdom And Crown. From the adrenaline rush of exorcising their inner demons to the innate feeling of solitude and regret comes Unhallowed. A dramatic introspective of questioning one’s motives and the fallout when the debts our expended emotions come to collect. Hopeless, lost, and isolated, protagonist#2 begins the transformation from victim to victimizer over the melodic chaos courtesy of guitarist Vogg Kiełtyka. Radicalized, paranoid, and armed with a dead-end stare, the mental onslaught ignites with the song, “Kill Thy Enemies.” The whiplash inducing thoughts pair up nicely with some of the thickest grooves on the album.

Tracklist
01.    Slaughter the Martyr
02.    Choke On the Ashes of Your Hate
03.    Become the Firestorm
04.    Overdose
05.    My Hands Are Empty
06.    Unhallowed
07.    Assimilate
08.    Kill Thy Enemies
09.    No Gods, No Masters
10.    Bloodshot
11.    Rotten
12.    Terminus
13.    Arrow in Words from the Sky