MACHINE HEAD · The Blackening | CD

Jewelcase CD.

Background information about 'The Blackening'

Machine Head delivered one of their most crushing and politically charged statements with "The Blackening", an album that stands as a towering achievement in modern heavy metal. This 2007 release finds the Oakland quartet at their most focused and furious, channeling years of frustration with the political climate into eight tracks of uncompromising heaviness. From the opening assault of "Clenching The Fists Of Dissent" to the epic closer "A Farewell To Arms", the band crafts songs that are both brutally heavy and surprisingly nuanced, featuring complex arrangements that never sacrifice impact for technicality.

The album showcases Robb Flynn's most passionate vocal performance to date, seamlessly shifting between melodic passages and throat-shredding screams that perfectly complement the band's evolved sound. Tracks like "Aesthetics Of Hate" and "Halo" demonstrate the group's ability to build tension through dynamic songwriting, while "Beautiful Mourning" proves they can deliver crushing riffs without losing emotional depth. The production captures every crushing detail while maintaining clarity across the extended compositions, many of which stretch beyond the nine-minute mark.

For fans of: Lamb Of God, Killswitch Engage, Trivium, and In Flames.

Track listing

1. Clenching The Fists Of Dissent
2. Beautiful Mourning
3. Aesthetics Of Hate
4. Now I Lay Thee Down
5. Slanderous
6. Halo
7. Wolves
8. A Farewell To Arms

Manufacturer: Warner Music Group Germany Holding GmbH, Alter Wandrahm 14, 20457 Hamburg, Germany, Contact: warnermusic.com