| Written by Alex Stojanovic TRACK LISTING Become The Firestorm Rotten Arrows In Words From The Sky MACHINE HEAD IS: Robb Flynn - Lead vocals & guitars Waclaw Kieltyka - Guitars & backing vocals (not on recordings) Jared MacEachern - Bass & backing vocals Matt Alston - Drums (not on recordings) Navene Koperweiss - Drums (session) Release Date: June 11, 2021 Label: Nuclear Blast Records Website: www.machinehead1.com www.facebook.com/MachineHead |  |
Ever since touring was put on hold last year when the pandemic hit, many bands continued being creative and putting out new music sporatically. One of those bands was Machine Head. Ever since the current lineup was solidified back in 2019, they have been sporatically releasing new songs, and they just entered the studio to begin working on their tenth studio album, and follow-up to the polarizing Catharsis. However, as a little holdover, the band released a brand new three-song EP titled Arrows In Words From The Sky, which I think contain three of the best songs Machine Head has put out since Bloodstone & Diamonds. These tracks bring back some of the qualities of The Blackening and Unto The Locust.
Now, due to the travel restrictions still in place when these songs were recorded, Waclaw "Vogg" Kieltyka and Matt Alston were not able to be a part of the recording sessions due to both of them living in Europe, so as a result, Robb Flynn and Jared MacEachern enlisted Navene Koperweiss of Whitechapel to record drums for the new songs, with Robb handling all the guitars. Getting into the EP, the festivities get off to a blazing start with "Become The Firestorm". Blast beats and frenetic riffing come charging right out of the gate, and leave a trail of destruction behind as it steamrolls through the battlefield. The heaviness doesn't stop there though, because "Rotten" keeps the momentum going with a more crushing, mid-tempo paced vibe. To end everything off, we arrive at the title track, which might be one of the best songs Machine Head has written in a long time. The song was written after the death of Robb's mother, which explains the more somber vibe. The chorus is incredibly captivating, and will make for a really strong sing-along moment in a live setting.
In conclusion, the EP is a really well balanced listening experience, encompassing everything that Machine Head is about from blisteringly heavy to melodic and soaring. After everything the band has gone through with the slight misstep of Catharsis, and the lineup changes, it seems that they've found their feet again with these three tracks, and it definitely gives good signs for what's to come with the next full-length album, which they are working on right now.
Now, due to the travel restrictions still in place when these songs were recorded, Waclaw "Vogg" Kieltyka and Matt Alston were not able to be a part of the recording sessions due to both of them living in Europe, so as a result, Robb Flynn and Jared MacEachern enlisted Navene Koperweiss of Whitechapel to record drums for the new songs, with Robb handling all the guitars. Getting into the EP, the festivities get off to a blazing start with "Become The Firestorm". Blast beats and frenetic riffing come charging right out of the gate, and leave a trail of destruction behind as it steamrolls through the battlefield. The heaviness doesn't stop there though, because "Rotten" keeps the momentum going with a more crushing, mid-tempo paced vibe. To end everything off, we arrive at the title track, which might be one of the best songs Machine Head has written in a long time. The song was written after the death of Robb's mother, which explains the more somber vibe. The chorus is incredibly captivating, and will make for a really strong sing-along moment in a live setting.
In conclusion, the EP is a really well balanced listening experience, encompassing everything that Machine Head is about from blisteringly heavy to melodic and soaring. After everything the band has gone through with the slight misstep of Catharsis, and the lineup changes, it seems that they've found their feet again with these three tracks, and it definitely gives good signs for what's to come with the next full-length album, which they are working on right now.
FINAL RATING
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