Machine Head is an iconic groove metal band. The origins of the group is Robb Flynn, who before the formation of the group already had experience in the music industry.
Groove metal is a genre of extreme metal that was created in the early 1990s under the influence of thrash metal, hardcore punk and sludge. The name "groove metal" comes from the musical concept of groove. It denotes a pronounced rhythmic feeling in music.
The musicians managed to create their own style of the band, which is based on "heavy" music - thrash, groove and heavy. In the works of Machine Head, fans of heavy music note technicality. As well as the brutality of percussion instruments, elements of rap and alternatives.
If we talk about the group in numbers, then during their career the musicians released:
- 9 studio albums.
- 2 live albums.
- 2 mini discs.
- 13 singles.
- 15 video clips.
- 1 DVD.
The Machine Head band is one of the brightest Western representatives of heavy metal. The musicians of American music have influenced the evolution of the style of many modern bands.
History of creation and composition of the group
The guys took the name Machine Head from the album Deep Purple, which was released in 1972. The project originates in 1991 in Auckland. Robb Flynn is the founder and frontman of the band. He still assures fans that he invented the name of the band himself. And he is not associated with the creation of Deep Purple. But the fans were impossible to convince.
The origins of the group are Robb Flynn and his friend Adam Deuce, who played the bass guitar perfectly. Flynn had already worked in several bands, but he dreamed of his own project.
The duo soon began to expand. The new band recruited guitarist Logan Mader and drummer Tony Costanza. In this composition, the guys began to record the first tracks. Robb is the lyricist.
The band's first performances
After the formation of the line-up, the musicians began to perform in local clubs. Almost every concert of the group was accompanied by "drunks" and fights. Despite the not very intelligent appearance on the stage, the band managed to attract the attention of representatives of the Roadrunner Records label. Soon the Machine Head group signed a contract with the company.
The conclusion of the contract was accompanied by the release of the debut album. The album was warmly received by fans of heavy music. The first disagreements began in the team. In 1994, Tony Costanza left the band and was replaced by Chris Kontos.
The new drummer could not last long in the group. He was replaced by Walter Ryan, but he was also short-lived. After Dave McClain joined the team, the line-up became stable.
By the end of the 1990s, the group gained the status of world-class stars. This caused not only pride, but also serious problems. Almost all members of the group suffered from alcohol and drug addiction.
When Logan Mader completely lost "himself", guitarist Aru Luster took his place. Four years later, the latter left the team. Since the early 2000s, Phil Demmel, an old friend and colleague of Flynn, has been playing.
Until 2013, the team was a stable quartet, until Adam Deuce left it. The place of the musician was taken by Jared McEchern. By the way, he still plays in the band today. The last roster changes took place in 2019. Then two members left the team at once. We are talking about the musician Dave McClain and Phil Demmel. Their place was taken by Vaclav Keltyka and drummer Matt Alston.
Music by Machine Head
The compositions of Machine Head have absorbed the chaos that Robb Flynn absorbed and transformed during the street riots in California in 1992. In the tracks, the musician recalled the "lawlessness" that took place on the streets of Los Angeles. To feel Robb's mood and the message that he tried to convey to music lovers, just listen to the debut disc Burn My Eyes (1994).
The debut album is not only the band's immortal and top record, but also the best-selling collection in the history of the Roadrunner Records label. The songs that the LP included were filled with genres such as groove, thrash and hip hop. In support of the album, the musicians went on a tour that lasted more than 20 months. After the tour ended, the band members continued to work on new records.
Soon the band's discography was replenished with the second studio LP. We are talking about the collection The More Things Change. After the presentation of the album, the musicians organized the first world tour.
The third album The Burning Red, which was released in 1999, repeated the success of previous works. In addition, he cemented the success of the performers as masters of groove metal and alternative rock. But music critics said that this is a commercial album. The LP sold well, but the musicians said that was not their only goal.
The main hits of the album The Burning Red were the tracks: From This Day, Silver and The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears. In the compositions presented, the guys touched on the social themes of violence, lawlessness, and cruelty.
In the 2000s, the Machine Head group continued to engage in creativity. The musicians released albums, videos, traveled around the world with their concerts. They became classics of nu metal.
In 2019, the band celebrated a major anniversary - 25 years since the release of their debut album. Especially in honor of this event, the musicians went on a European tour. Old members Chris Kontos and Logan Mader joined the celebration.
Interesting facts about Machine Head
- Almost all of Machine Head's records were released on Roadrunner Records.
- In the music video for Crashing Around You, buildings are on fire and exploding. The video was filmed before the September 11 tragedy, but the guys released it a few weeks after the terrorist attack.
- The group was greatly influenced by bands: Metallica, Exodus, Testament, Suicidal Tendencies, Nirvana. Also Alice in Chains and Slayer.
Machine Head today
In 2018, the band's discography was replenished with the album Catharsis. To date, this is the band's last album. Since then, the musicians have released several new tracks. The songs Door Die (2019) and Circle the Drain (2020) deserve significant attention.
Part of the planned concerts of the group had to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Performances have been rescheduled for Fall 2020. The poster can be found on the official website of the team.
