Brad: the death metal loving lumberjack ready to roast anything in sight Blayne: the death doom loving stoner comedian ready to crack a few jokes Good combo
I know this comment is from a while ago, but yeah, I left this album in the past where it belongs, but this popped up in my suggestions and I had to watch it for some laughs hahah
The seriousness of Brad with the straight up hilariousness of Blayne works very well together, I'd love to see more reviews like this!. Also now I wonder what it would feel like to be on meth while listening to that meth song... hmm well there's only one way to find out!
I'm a huge Machine Head fan and haven't even listened to the whole record yet, which says a lot about the quality of this album. Second worst after Supercharger, The Burning Red is definitely better.
1-THE BLACKENING 2-BURN MY EYES 3-UNTO THE LOCUST 4-THE MORE THINGS CHANGE 5-BLOODSTONE & DIAMONDS 6-THROUGH THE ASHES OF THE EMPIRES 7-THE BURNING RED 8-SUPERCHARGER 9-CATHARSIS
I did the same thing 4. 5. 6. And I kept 7. And the rest was good..to bad they decided to try something different and a lot of folks are given them heat for it
The thing that really made half the album suck for me was the lyrics. I'm from Europe, so political lyrics about america is already an issue that isn't very interesting to me beyond the news, and when they are so one sided and poorly written as they were on Catharsis they get in the way of the actual music.
I did the same. I got rid of California Bleeding, Triple Beam and Bastards, and shuffled the track listing a little bit. It's no masterpiece still, but at least it's more solid.
MetallicA7X92 Exactly. I can’t imagine anyone would want his corny political views shoved up their ass like this record attempted. Rob has just jumped on America’s trendy far “left” bandwagon that’s so popular now. They mostly sound like whiny idiot children.
OK, Blayne's meth bit with the song titles/themes was excellent. Brad trying so hard to be positive is understandable because I love Machine Head but I can't really figure out how I feel about this record yet. 'Triple Beam' was cringey, 'Bastards' is way outside MH's wheelhouse but I get it. 'Eulogy' is a totally unnecessary 6+min reworking of 'Bastards'. However, just when I think about turning off the record, a riff or solo sucks me back in. I guess the best way to describe this record is: frustrating. Good job, guys!!
Man, this was one of the best reviews you guys ever did And I don't know WTF happened, MH released 3 awesome albums one after another, and then they come if this shit ???
I am curious to see how these new songs will come off live at concerts, because so far the singles that have been released have this "call and respond" kind of structure where a live audience will be more involved in the songs: singing, chants, hand claps in the air etc... Let the test of time be the real measure to how good an album is. As a long time MH listener I am going to reserve my thoughts for a good 6 months and let this album grow on me. Don't jump the gun, folks. I got 99 problems and a music album will never be one.
The Blackening is still an excellent album. Every song hit me right in my gut at 14. I admit i haven't followed them much after Blackening, i had no idea fell off so much lyrically. Bummer.
Been waiting for this review since I heard bastards. Not disappointed. I swear I used to regard Flynn as the best lyricist in metal....not anymore. Vocals seem to be too much in the forefront. Dont know why bands are so scared to put out two albums that sound the same...just make a Blackening 2. Everyone wants it.
Because then it lacks musical integrity. It's no longer sincere/honest. That being said, making albums with a similar inspiration and theme/formula CAN be a good thing. Metallica did it for their first 4 albums. Slayer did it for their first 6 albums, ACDC did it forever, Van Halen did it for their first 6 albums and so did Black Sabbath. None of them were exactly the same, but at least the genre and style was recognizable.
It's awesome how I have feelings about records that I can't describe to people, then I come on here and you guys articulate them perfectly and I'm like "Yes! That."
This album for me is like the film The Last Jedi. Something new and different but ultimately unsatisfying in its execution. And can I second the criticism about length? Man, this was a slog to get through. A long epic album can work but only if the songs are well written and interesting.
I love Underground Hip-Hop & Metal, But sometimes trying to mesh the 2 just doesn't work. With the Exception of Anthrax, Public Enemy, Body Count, Ill Bill & Necro.
Whew, I hate to be so negative, but it sounds as if you guys had just about as hard a time as I did finding positive qualities on this record. Machine Head just come off abundantly confused and goofy here, especially in regards to Rob's vocals. Anyways, thanks for the content. Back to dissecting this Portal record. Get those middle fingers in the air.
I like these no BS reviews that are far shorter than a bad album I later wish I'd skipped, and like the thumbs up for good albums at the end. Looking up Tribulation and Mammoth Grinder. \m/
Damn. I was looking forward to this one, but it really does sound like it's really inconsistent and could have been shortened by a lot. A few too many nu-metal elements too. Like, they were on a roll when they first got Demmel back. The guitar interplay between him and Flynn was spectacular on Ashes of Empires, The Blackening, and Locust. Overall those were solid, straightforward thrash albums that are really easy to get behind. But this one sounds like a lot of wasted potential, and to be honest I was the hugest fan of the last one either. The symphonic touches didn't fit as well with the superheavy moments. Props to Robb for experimenting and never being satisfied, but his attempts at experimenting tend to just...not work...
really liked the review's style and I'm glad that I followed through to the end because the Shout-Out to Tribulation's Down Below totally made my day. Just got to see them live and they are nothing but awesome. This said I really like Catharsis. There's a lot of good on that album and I feel that a lot of people just can't live with the fact that Machine Head dares to try some things they didn't want to have. I also don't mind the length of the album, though I agree that they coukd have cut it into something shorter and more cohesive. But that was obviously not what they went for which I'm totally fine with.
My opinion: second worst Machine Head album. The title track is ok, there are some good parts in Heavy Lies the Crown, I like the beginning of Behind a Mask but it loses me after the second chorus. Score: 3/10.
I found nothing wrong with this album I like the dynamic that Rob brings to the album using acoustic songs as well as showing the classical aspects of robs guitar playing and his vocal ability. great album.
Brothers & Sisters, I took it upon myself to cut all the fat off ‘Catharsis.’ Here is my new track listing for the record. Let me know what you think. Catharsis by Machine Head 2018 TRACK LISTING REDUX 1. Beyond The Pale 2. Violatile 3.Psychotic 4. Kaleidoscope 5. Hope Begets Hope 6. Heavy Lies The Crown 7. Grind You Down 8. Razorblade Smile 9. Screaming At The Sun 10.Catharsis Cut it down from a 15 track record that ran 1 hour and 14 minutes to a 10 track album with a run time of 50 mins. I find it far more bearable.
i think brads beard is acting as a high pass filter for his lapel mic or his voice has mids boosted somehow (??) but blayne sounds way clearer for some reason.
The album isn't necessarily bad, but isn't good either - especially the lyrics on most of the songs. Giving the genres the album has been described as, I still think it's okay for people who mostly enjoy Nu and Alternative Metal. I expected it to be another Machine Head album, but I'm on their side for wanting to change. As for me, I know there are other songs on the album that are really good and I should give them more chance, but as for now I really dig the title track, Beyond the Pale, Triple Beam (while it's probably the most Rap song on the album, it has beautiful slow-paced melodic on the verses that gives me goosebumps. Reminds me of good old Machine Head), Kaleidoscope, and Grind You Down.
Also, another thing I forgot to mention. Catharsis is your typical "quantity-over-quality" album, in comparison to the low quantity of The Blackening and Unto the Locust, yet they're both quality albums. So, not necessarily a bad album as a whole. There are some songs that are decent.
Quite possibly the best music review out there! I've enjoyed Machine Head for a long time, with Burn My Eyes, The Blackening and Unto The Locust being great releases, but this is just a mess.. Anyway, more reviews with both of you!
I got a little worried when I saw a MACHINE HEAD review coming from you guys. But, I'm glad yous shot it down, man. I thought that I would have had to unsubscribe from the BANGER channel.
Damn, this channel is GOLDEN. I think the metal community needed a quality show like this for so long. Keep up the great work guys. Loving the new guy Blayne too, he is fuckin' hysterical haha ...and yeah this album stinks. It sounds uninspired and forced like most of the albums that were written by bands who've been around for more than 20 years... not to mention the supercringy lyrics... what the f.. nevermind, I need some meth. Seriously guys can we get some more meth in here??? :D
Love all Overkill reviews, but goddamn Blayne is my boy!!! Makes me fully laugh out loud every time! Legend! Not got any interest in Machine Head whatsoever though.
An insightful review, but honestly I think its too harsh. Yeah, it's a bit all over the place tone and lyric wise, but we still get plenty of heavy groove punches, and I think the passion Rob sings with the vocals fits exceptionally well with the political themes in many of the songs. It's not going to top "Locust" for me as my favourite Machine Head album, but it's still worth a buy in my opinion. Three and 1/3 skulls.
This review is great and so true! The lyrics are so naive that makes question did a grown-up family man really write those... Political protesting is ok to me but you can do that in more mature and intelligent way than this Machine Head seems to have problem creating a tight and coherent album lately. Bloodstone and Diamonds had a lot of filler stuff that could have been left out of the album
Can we talk about Beyond the Pale is like "Hey, this is totally not a Strapping Young Lad riff at all. We changed a part of the riff. It's like that Vanilla Ice Vs. Queen thing, right? Totally not the same!!!" No thanks to the Miley-Cyrus-meets-SYL metal. Agreed about Tribulation though. Fucking tight.
