The Blackening [PA] (CD - 2007)

Oakland's Machine Head is back with its sixth release of blistering, smoldering, and streetwise metal. Arguably the band's finest work to date, THE BLACKENING digs back to the band's technically-savvy, thrashy roots and brings them to the present with brilliant production. Produced once again by guitarist/vocalist Robb Flynn and mixed by legendary knob-spinner Colin Richardson (Carcass, Bullet For My Valentine), the sleek-sounding album presents eight tracks of bruising metal, rife with attitude and passion. Adding fuel to the band's aggressive fire is guitarist Phil Demmel, who was Flynn's bandmate and co-guitarist in the legendary Bay Area thrash outfit Vio-Lence. From the Dimebag Darrel-inspired "Aesthetics of Hate" to the sobering "Beautiful Mourning", THE BLACKENING is designed to be an instant classic.

Machine Head's The Blackening is an over-the-top rage and pummelfest with all the qualities that earned the group its enormous fan base by touring and recording. The record starts out unlikely enough, and gladly enough, with a left-of-center call to arms to the youth of this nation to not accept blindly the words (and threats) of "patriotic brutes." It calls for rage with triple-timed slamming beats and blistering lead guitar breaks, as the piece alternates between death metal, industrial metal, thrash and prog. It blends seamlessly. At ten-and-half minutes for an opening cut, one can tell this is no original heavy metal record. "Beautiful Mourning" is anything but gothic heavy metal; it begins with a taut, explosive riff matched by the drum kit, and then Robb Flynn is off and running, celebrating being "taken under" by her, and the seductive power of both women and death. The thrash element here rivals Slayer at their very best, and breaks new ground within the realm of composition for aggressive music. The intense dual arpeggios between both guitarists -- Flynn and Phil Demmel on "Aesthetics of Hate" (as just one example) are among the tightest ever. The drama produced by Dave McClain's blastbeats and the steady guidance of Adam Duce's basslines comprise a deeply intuitive rhythm section for the six-stringers to fly from. They don't so much fly as fight, though. Other standouts include "Halo," and "Now I Lay Thee Down." Recommended. ~ Thom Jurek minimize