It’s been a tough few years for Machine Head. Since the lukewarm reception to 2018’s Catharsis, power struggles and internal conflicts left frontman Robb Flynn and bassist Jared MacEachern having to essentially start from scratch. While new live members have been roped in through Vogg of Decapitated fame and drummer Matt Alston (formerly of Devilment), on this year’s 3 track EP Arrows in Words from the Sky the group have instead opted to operate as a 3 piece, recruiting drummer Navene Koperweiss for the sessions as they continue to rebuild and rediscover their focus after 3 years of turmoil.
All the negativity that stewed in that time is immediately let loose in the opening seconds of opening track “Become the Firestorm”, with blasting drums and tremolo riffs abound, showing off a much more extreme metal-influenced side to Machine Head which will appeal to those who were disappointed by the nu metal tendencies of Catharsis. The clean vocals do raise a few questions, though, sounding a lot more strained than usual and unlike the sort of clean vocals you normally would expect from a Machine Head album. It’s definitely a strong statement from the duo, and suggests there is more to come from them when many (including myself) questioned whether the band could even continue.
Once we reach the second track, “Rotten”, it does feel a lot more like classic Machine Head, with a trademark pinch harmonic filled, mid-pace riff providing the bulk of the track. However, things to change up a notch midway through the track when Robb unleashes some true guttural screams into the breakdown, channelling his inner metalcore vocalist once again. The repetitiveness can get old after a while and can make the song feel like it outstays its welcome somewhat, but it’s definitely one that will go down well at live shows and that’s what it feels like it’s built for. As usual, the lyrics do feel a bit cheesy but if you’ve listened to Machine Head up to this point you know that it’s part and parcel of the band’s music now, and you either take it or leave it. This is Machine Head going back to basics and doing what they, and if you like their old material you'll love this.
The title track from Arrows in Words from the Sky is perhaps the most metalcore influenced offering from Machine Head to date, though. From the clean vocal style, to the chugging verses contrasting with the melodic chorus, it feels like an attempt at a more modern, streamlined take on something like “A Farewell to Arms” with some of the influences that seeped into Catharsis, meeting in the middle to make something completely different, almost jarringly so, from the rest of the EP.
After looking at the songs individually, it has to be said that it’s difficult to fully summarise a general sound for Arrows in Words from the Sky, other than it feels like Machine Head are attempting to make a statement while at the same time going through the motions and trying to figure out what direction they want to take going on from here. We are presented with three songs in wildly different styles, going from extreme metal to classic MH through to modern metalcore, and while some moments click, others feel forced or out of place. Coupled with the standalone singles released before this EP dropped, and it really does feel like Robb Flynn is lost right now, trying to find a way to keep his band going through this rough patch until he can steady the ship and come out triumphant on the other side. But, there is still a lot of work to do and while this does feel like a step in the right direction, one can only wait and see what happens next.
Listen to the EP above and follow Machine Head on Twitter.
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