MACHINE HEAD
UNATØNED
Nuclear Blast
There are few bands whose journey I've followed as closely as MACHINE HEAD. From the moment they opened for PANTERA, to headlining with SLIPKNOT on tour just a couple years later, they've been burned into my metal DNA. The Nu-Metal/Thrash giants have been fusing genres for over three decades and they're still pushing forward. Sure, not every record hit me the way I hoped, but I never stopped listening. And now, with UNATØNED dropping April 25, I can honestly say this is one of my favorite MACHINE HEAD albums to date. I normally don't do a song-by-song breakdown, but as a long-time fan, I felt that with the band's rebirth, I owed it to the readers and fans alike to walk through this record in full.
The album begins with "Landscape øf Thørns" a brooding instrumental that sets the mood like storm clouds gathering on the horizon. It's a slow burn that invites you to settle in before the chaos truly begins. The textures feel cinematic, almost dystopic, and it's clear the band wants you to take this in before they start swinging.
"Atømic Revelatiøns" charges in with groove-heavy thrash, channeling early Machine Head energy while throwing in Flynn's evolving melodic vocal experimentation. That lyric, "Our future's our creation", isn't just clever, it feels like a quiet war cry for where MACHINE HEAD is going. It's a bold track that balances aggression and introspection, showing off the lineup's ability to gel right out of the gate.
"Unbøund" was the first single I heard, and it hit me like a shot of adrenaline. That signature Machine Head stomp is back, but with new polish and precision. There's this palpable sense of momentum, like the band knows they're standing at a crossroads and are finally ready to burn the old road down. It feels like a declaration of purpose, with a chorus designed to rattle arena walls.
Then comes "Øutsider", which begins deceptively melodic before diving into Flynn's Nu-Metal roots. His cadence is rhythmic and raw, building toward a massive sing-along chorus. This song is a reminder that MACHINE HEAD's DNA includes both raw aggression and emotional clarity. I see this one becoming a live staple, easy to shout, easy to mosh, and impossible to forget.
"Nøt Løng Før This Wørld" slows things down, and Flynn trades his rasp for full-on clean vocals. It's vulnerable, melodic, and deeply reflective, touching on themes of aging and letting go. While I respect the song's emotional core, I couldn't shake the feeling that it disrupted the album's pacing. It's a powerful track, but one that might have felt more impactful as a standalone or bonus track. Still, you can't knock the risk-taking.
"These Scars Wøn't Define Us" answers that lull with one of the strongest cuts on the album. It's heavy, it's groovy, and the chorus absolutely soars. Add guest spots from Anders Friden, Cristina Scabbia, and Trevor Phipps and you've got a melting pot of power. The track feels like a mission statement about survival not just for individuals, but for the band itself. Everything from the breakdowns to the layered vocals screams passion.
"Dustmaker" is short, atmospheric, and placed right in the middle of the album. For me, it works as a palate cleanser rather than a highlight. After the emotional rise of the previous track, this gives you a moment to exhale before the second half begins. It doesn't try to be a centerpiece, it just clears the stage.
"Bønescraper" is the reason I fell for this album. This song has everything. The old-school MACHINE HEAD groove, the emotional depth, the structure that keeps pulling you forward. The lyrics bite, the rhythm section crushes, and it's got one of the most addictive hooks on the whole record. It's a perfect entry point for new fans and a gift for those of us who've been here since the beginning. If this isn't in the live set, we riot.
"Addicted Tø Pain" digs deep into themes of emotional torment, addiction, and self-awareness. It's got a haunting spoken rhythm in the verses before opening into a chorus that rips your guts out. The solo is vicious, unrelenting, and perfectly placed. It's one of those songs that feels like it was written mid-breakdown when everything hurts, but you're still standing.
"Bleeding Me Dry" follows up with some incredible double bass work and eerie harmonics. It sets the tone beautifully, but as the track progresses, I found myself waiting for that emotional explosion that never quite arrived. It's a solid song with great parts, but it lacks the unforgettable punch delivered by others in the set.
"Shards Øf Shattered Dreams" brings us back to thrash town with furious riffage in the verses and a cleaner chorus that still keeps the edge sharp. This song feels like a spiritual successor to early MACHINE HEAD, raw but refined, aggressive but balanced. Part of me wishes it stayed on the warpath the whole way through, but even with the melody injected, it's a standout.
Finally, we land on "Scørn". This one will polarize fans, no question. It's piano-driven, stripped down, and drenched in vulnerability. And you know what? I think that's the point. It shows MACHINE HEAD isn't afraid to bleed, to be quiet, and to end with emotion instead of explosion. Is it my favorite? No. But do I respect the hell out of it? Absolutely. Flynn took a risk and trusted his instincts and that's how you grow without losing your roots.
Final Verdict
I love this album. I'd love to give it a 5 out of 5, but I can't. My biggest critique aside from "Dustmaker" is that Flynn sometimes forces clean vocals into spots that didn't need them. His rasp is iconic, and a few moments felt off. But even those missteps don't drag the album down.
UNATØNED is raw, heavy, emotional, and relentlessly honest. It's the sound of a band that's been to hell and back and came out swinging. It's already been played dozens of times, and it's going into my constant rotation. A powerful mix of the past and future.
4.5 Battle Jackets Out Of 5.0
