Forget your pre-conceived notions about MACHINE HEAD!
Everyone has them... the SF four-piece has dropped 2
previous sonic bombs on the aggro-world (the critically
acclaimed albums BURN MY EYES and THE MORE
THINGS CHANGE) and remained in the spotlight on
countless high-profile tours and in all the best hard-music
publications over the past five years. However, after providing
the blueprint for countless other bands, MACHINE HEAD felt
it was time to turn things around. While you will surely
recognize MACHINE HEAD's distinctive melodies and
Robert Flynn's striking vocal prowess, there is something
truly different about THE BURNING RED - something that
promises to take the band to the next level. If you havent
heard the buzz by now, soon you wont be able to escape
it...
MACHINE HEAD have assembled quite a cast of
characters... Dean Karr (Tool, Method Man) created the
dark, intoxicating images used in the album packaging,
Ross Robinson (Korn, Limp Bizkit) did some of his most
extraordinary, innovative work on producing this record and
Terry Date (White Zombie, Deftones, Soundgarden) punched
in his masterful mixing ability, all to complete THE
BURNING RED. The overall creative vision, however, remains
distinctly MACHINE HEAD... colorful guitar harmonics,
trademark down-tuned riffing, aggressive, yet melodic
vocals... emotional, intense music created with passion and
integrity.
Making "THE BURNING RED" was a far more laid-back,
organic process than that of their last two records. It was
more about the 'vibe' of the record, than the technicalities of
making it - this "capture the fire" element of Ross
Robinson's work was what drew the band to him. The most
important goals were to capture all that has been MACHINE
HEAD over the past five years and refine it, so that it
retained its integrity, yet expand it to reach a whole new
audience. This was a challenge that the band was
more-than-up-to.
Tracks like the first single off THE BURNING RED, "From
This Day", take the strongest elements of MACHINE
HEADs music and magnify them times-ten: the heaviness,
the melody, the groove and much more. This first single has
more melodic vocals than ever, and incorporates a nod to
the bands long-time affinity for hip-hop. The release of
pent-up energy and aggression in the track will draw the
dedicated fans out in droves and launch the album into the
hands of many of the previously unaware. Silvers lush
lyrics and ethereal riffs bore their way into the subconscious,
while Exhale the Viles tribal drums provide a crushing
backbeat for Flynns eruptive vocals. The band's brilliant,
multi-textured cover of the POLICE's classic "Message In A
Bottle" is the perfect way to show off Flynn's vocal talent. He
runs from a tantalizing whisper to a gut-wrenching growl,
injecting his passion into the track, making it his own.
Something has always been unsettling about MACHINE
HEAD's music... the best possible explanation is its brutal
honesty and hard-hitting emotionally-charged nature.
Lyrically, the band touches on themes of child abuse,
alienation and other controversial subjects. The band has
come under fire from critics for dealing with such topics, but
they have only done so in an attempt to make something
positive out of the negative. The band has been winning over
crowds on support slots with the likes of Pantera and
Megadeth as well as sharing the Main Stage alongside
bands like Marilyn Manson, Ozzy Osbourne and Black
Sabbath on Ozzfest 1997. MACHINE HEAD's live show is
the stuff of legend, striking a primal resounding chord with
the kids, their popularity having been built, brick-by-brick on
the touring groundwork they have laid over the years.
MACHINE HEAD has never been content with sitting back
and following trends. They have been leaders in what we all
now call Aggro-Rock since their inception in 1992. The past
7 years have been a steady climb toward acheiving their
goals of success. With THE BURNING RED, the band is set
to claim what is rightfully theirs.
One thing is certain for MACHINE HEAD, the future looks
exciting...
