Machine Head - Machine Fucking Head Live

Published November 18 2012

*=Staff's pick

CD 1:
I Am Hell (Sonata In C#)*
Be Still And Know
Imperium*
Beautiful Mourning
The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears
Locust
This Is The End
Aesthetics Of Hate

CD 2:
Darkness Within
Declaration/Bulldozer*
Ten Ton Hammer
Who We Are*
Halo
Davidian

Genre	Heavy/Thrash Metal	Robb Flynn	Vocals
Tracks	15	Robb Flynn	Guitar
Running time	101 Min.	Phil Demmel	Guitar
Label	Roadrunner	Adam Duce	Bass
Release	13 November 2012	Dave McClain	Drums
Country	USA	-	Keyboard
Producer	Juan Urteaga, Robb Flynn
Similar artists	---

Machine Head's second live album comes as a two disc release. Much of it recorded in Manchester, UK, as you'll find out when listening to it, but also recorded in various venues and locations all around the world, during their still ongoing tour to support the latest release Unto The Locust. I have to say that I'm not so familiar with bands releasing albums while still on tour. When comparing this effort to their first live album, Hellalive, nine years have made huge changes and massive impacts on the band. They are pretty much somewhat of a new band and play a lot of material from their two latest studio releases, The Blackening and Unto The Locust, both highly critically acclaimed by both media and fans.

Even if the soundquality on Machine Fucking Head Live still has much to offer, as the volume goes up and down, and from time to time is hollow, this proves how Machine Head sounds during their liveshows. It's raw, brutal, energetic and heavy. All this accompanied by singer/guitarist Robb Flynn's angry, distinctive and commanding voice. Dave McClain's raving drumplay and the loud mixed lead guitars have major effect on their ever growing popularity with the newer albums, which is evident when taking a look at the tracklist above. Six out of seven possible off their latest release, leaving only Pearls Before The Swine out. Add three from The Blackening and that covers two thirds of the material on these two discs.

I can't honestly say that this brings out the very best of Machine Head, but all in all, it's a good live album and definitely something for the fans of the Bay Area metallers.

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
7	6	4	6	9

Summary
6 chalices of 10 - Tobbe