Machine Head // Unatoned // Album Review

Having been a massive fan of MH for the past twenty-five years or more, I was a little excited to get my grubby paws on the band’s eleventh album, and boy, they do not disappoint.

The atmospheric meanderings of “Landscape Of Thorns” is a mere gateway to another classic MH album as it truly gets into gear with “Atomic Revelations”; hitting with typical Machine Head force the massive drum and bass lay the foundations here as the crunching riffs dig in, throw in Flynn’s unwavering vocals, a killer singalong chorus and a savage solo all to give you a blinding opening.

“Unbound” opens with Flynn roaring “Unbound, unbreakable, you’ll never tear us down, never you’ll wear the cronw” before the rest of the band kick in with a killer slow groove that ramps up as the verse hits, riffs abound as the drums and bass crash and boom creating a searing signature MH rhythm as Flynn spits out the lyrics with venom, a banger tune. “Outsider” starts slowly before exploding into life with cutting riffs and a pummeling bass and drum beat, Flynn goes down the hip hop route on the verses’ which click brilliantly with the rhythm, shades of “Triple Beam” on this, the chorus’ drops in tempo with standard vocals and harmonies from the band, a cracking track.

“Not Long For This World” is an absolute monster; slow, deliberate drumming with a heavy bass sets this one up, Flynn is amazing on this as he goes from his usual hoarse roaring to soaring vocals with consummate ease. However, it is not as long as some Machine Head tracks; this has epic written all over it with a “Halo” feel, a suitable replacement for those as mentioned earlier live, but hopefully not, either way an amazing track. “These Scars Don’t Define Us” turns it up to ten as it goes balls out with a pounding drum beat, savage riff and a thumping bass line as Flynn roars and shouts his way through what is yet another killer track. “Dustmaker” is an atmospheric, bass-heavy electro funk interlude. “Bonescraper” has MH anthem written all over it with it’s trademark low end and killer riffs that combine to create a mesmerising wall of sound topped off by Flynn’s scorching vocals, the chorus is so hooky that live the singalong will be insane, a real earworm that will be stuck in your head for days.

“Addicted To Pain” has a searing pace with a rhythm that rips through you, the blistering drums and bass combination from Alston and MacEachern is huge setting the track up with it’s banging beat, the cutting riffs match Flynn’s vocals in terms of ferocity and with a seriously catchy chorus which is in contrast to the harshness of the rest of the track you have another beast on your hands. “Bleeding Me Dry” opens with a quirky synth that throws you initially but what it gives way to is unreal; thunderous drums and rumbling bass line with Flynn’s near pleading vocals drawing you in, the track takes a darker turn as it come crashing down and gets much heavier, the track tos and fros between calm and heavy with some amazing guitar work from Flynn and Scruggs. “Shards Of Shattered Dreams” opens up with a flurry of drums and crunching riffs as Flynn comes roaring in, the grinding guitars and thumping bass give way to soaring chorus’, it’s like chaotic gut punches give way to melodic highs, the complete opposites but put together really well, an amazing track. “Scorn” closes the album in a mellow fashion, not something you would expect, a “ballad” but done MH style; dark that increases in intensity as the atmospheric soundtrack gives way to heavier tones with Flynn going from clean to harsh roars, an unexpected finish to the album but excellent all the same.

“Unatoned” is out on the 25th of April, and another masterpiece to add to the Machine Head catalogue.

Review: Conor

This Spring, MACHINE HEAD are heading on a massive North American 24-date tour alongside labelmates and Swedish melodic death metal icons IN FLAMES, Italian metal titans LACUNA COIL, and American metalcore outfit UNEARTH.

Confirmed dates for MACHINE HEAD’s North American Tour 2025 with IN FLAMES, LACUNA COIL, UNEARTH are:
4/05/2025 U.S. Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
4/07/2025 U.S. Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
4/09/2025 U.S. San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park
4/10/2025 U.S. Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
4/12/2025 U.S. Las Vegas, NV @ Sick New World **
4/13/2025 U.S. Salt Lake City, UT @ Union
4/15/2025 U.S. Denver, CO @ The Fillmore Auditorium
4/17/2025 U.S. San Antonio, TX @ The Aztec
4/18/2025 U.S. Houston, TX @ House Of Blues
4/19/2025 U.S. Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues
4/21/2025 U.S. Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
4/22/2025 U.S. Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
4/23/2025 U.S. Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
4/25/2025 U.S. Reading, PA @ Santander Arena
4/26/2025 U.S. Boston, MA @ House Of Blues
4/27/2025 CAN Montreal, QC @ M’Telus
4/28/2025 CAN Toronto, ON @ History
4/30/2025 U.S. Cincinnati, OH @ Andrew J. Brady Music Center
5/02/2025 U.S. Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
5/03/2025 U.S. Chicago, IL @ Radius
5/04/2025 U.S. Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore
5/05/2025 CAN Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings
5/07/2025 CAN Calgary, AB @ Grey Eagle Event Center
5/08/2025 CAN Edmonton, AB @ Midway Music Hall
5/10/2025 CAN Kelowna, BC @ Prospera Place