Machine Head - "UNATØNED"

 

11 albums in, we are 10 albums past the point of letting freedom ring with a shotgun blast. We do know we are into some big, dumb metal for the masses. To their credit, I think Gojira's more mainstream shift was due to the band being influenced by these guys, and if there is any justice in the world, these guys would be just a big as Gojira or Lamb of God. The opening track is pretty much dense nu-metal, which has some shredding mixed in to their post-thrash persona. There is a more solid head bobbing groove to " Unbound". I am halfway into this song when I realize that this was the first single from this album I checked out, but it works better than the context of this album. I guess I am braced for it. 

"Outsider' is more melodic. If you asked AI to write a metal song that was radio-appropriate, I would think this is close to what might come out. It's heavy enough to make you feel like you are listening to metal. But colored with slick production. I am also into Spirit Box, who might have made an overproduced album, but still worked. And for some of these songs it works, 'Not Long For This World" being one of those moments. When they try to go harder than who they are in the present day reality, it might be at times awkward, like their more Slipknot homage that is "These Scars Won't Define Us".  It could be argued these guys were doing nu-metal before Slipknot, but they were not doing it like this. 

I got excited for the darker sounds going into 'Duskmaker', but it's just an interlude. "Bonescraper," which follows it is more of a nu-metal anthem. It is also pretty radio-friendly. "Addicted to Pain" is another that follows Slipknot's formula perhaps too closely for my tastes. "Bleeding Me Dry" is a respectable willingness to experiment, though I am not sure if the execution is perfect, however, it may just be the production choices. They try to remember back when they were thrashers on "Shards of Shattered Dreams," but they are too close to Slipknot's zip code with the big radio chorus to get there. I am not sure why they needed to end the album with a power ballad, but that is where we are. I will give this album an 8.5, about on par with the last one. They are good at what they are doing and if you like big dumb mainstream metal, then this is for you. Not my thing, but I can listen to it subjectively enough and enjoy some of the songs along the way. 

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