The 11th studio album UNATØNED from the mighty Machine Head is an album which has left me pleasantly surprised. The groove metal giants are back with 12 blistering tracks of chaotic and fun riffs, big anthem choruses and a return to their nu-metal roots. Fans of the bands earlier work will be quite satisfied with this one I think. It feels like a return to their early sound but with the punchy heaviness they have incorporated into their newer albums.
The album starts with the intro track, LANDSCAPE ØF THØRNS, which is just 30 seconds of wind and the sound of someone digging. A weak start to the album I must admit. But everything that follows more than makes up for it!
Following that, we have ATØMIC REVELATIØNS. This should have been the intro track. We get a little bit of piano before the band comes in and all hell breaks loose. Nice thrashy fun in the verses. Big choruses with nicely harmonised vocals. The piano comes back in briefly before the bridge and 2 guitar solos. Then the vocals build up for the final chorus. Right at the end the piano comes in once more for the outro.
UNBØUND comes in next with some vocals and drums and then the rest of the band come in swinging. We have some nice big bouncy bends from the guitars in the main riff which is repeated in the choruses. The verse are fast and frantic and we get some clean vocals in the pre-choruses. This track also has a very Dimebag sounding guitar solo which even ends on a nice divebomb.
UNBØUND comes in next with some vocals and drums and then the rest of the band come in swinging. We have some nice big bouncy bends from the guitars in the main riff which is repeated in the choruses. The verse are fast and frantic and we get some clean vocals in the pre-choruses. This track also has a very Dimebag sounding guitar solo which even ends on a nice divebomb.
ØUTSIDER follows up with a chorus/intro for the start. Then we get a heavy instrumental bit to lead us into the first verse. There’s a great build-up to the choruses. Then there’s a calmer section before some chugs leading into the chorus which is followed by the bridge. No guitar solo this time, it’s straight back in for the final chorus and then a fun bouncy outro.
Track 5 is NØT LØNG FØR THIS WØRLD. This one also starts with a chorus/intro. A bit slower than the previous tracks with some nice clean vocals and big chords. There’s a cool bridge riff before some duel guitars. The final chorus begins with some synth and clean vocals and then builds up and gets heavier before the synth outro.
The first half of the album ends with track 6, THESE SCARS WØN’T DEFINE US. This one is a fun, fast and chaotic track. It has some nice tribal sounding drums in the choruses. A great guitar solo with some more duel guitars action and a heavy, bouncy bridge leading into the final chorus.
The first half of the album ends with track 6, THESE SCARS WØN’T DEFINE US. This one is a fun, fast and chaotic track. It has some nice tribal sounding drums in the choruses. A great guitar solo with some more duel guitars action and a heavy, bouncy bridge leading into the final chorus.
Track 7 is DUSTMAKER. This is more of an interlude track. Nothing really special. It’s got some chill drums and muddy sounding guitar and bass, a bit of synth and a woman talking halfway through. Can’t quite hear what she’s saying but it almost sounds like a prayer of some sort. This is definitely more of a filler track.
We’re back to having some fun for BØNESCRAPER. It starts with some clean vocals before the band comes in. More bouncy nu-metal goodness, big choruses and then a nice heavy bridge section. The final chorus begins with just vocals and piano in the first half, then it builds up in heaviness and then the nice bouncy main riff comes back in for the outro.
We’re back to having some fun for BØNESCRAPER. It starts with some clean vocals before the band comes in. More bouncy nu-metal goodness, big choruses and then a nice heavy bridge section. The final chorus begins with just vocals and piano in the first half, then it builds up in heaviness and then the nice bouncy main riff comes back in for the outro.
Next is ADDICTED TØ PAIN. We get a nice heavy drum fill in the intro and then back to the epic nu-metal riffage leading into the first verse. The verses build up the heaviness. Then they dial things back a bit for the choruses. There’s a great guitar riff leading into the bridge which goes into a short but fast guitar solo which then goes back into the bridge before the final chorus comes in and the song ends with a heavy instrumental bit before ending on a synthy outro.
BLEEDING ME DRY is my favourite song on this album. It starts with the synth carrying on from the previous track before the band come in for what I can only describe as a dubstep on guitar sounding riff. Really cool, quite different. The verses are a bit calmer with some clean vocals and guitar. They build up the heaviness in the pre-choruses and go for it in the choruses. There’s some great guttural low screams at the end of the choruses, leading into the next verse. There’s a slow build up for the bridge which comes in with a great guitar riff. This is followed by some duel guitars which leads into the final chorus which ends in more epic screams and finally a synthy outro yet again.
BLEEDING ME DRY is my favourite song on this album. It starts with the synth carrying on from the previous track before the band come in for what I can only describe as a dubstep on guitar sounding riff. Really cool, quite different. The verses are a bit calmer with some clean vocals and guitar. They build up the heaviness in the pre-choruses and go for it in the choruses. There’s some great guttural low screams at the end of the choruses, leading into the next verse. There’s a slow build up for the bridge which comes in with a great guitar riff. This is followed by some duel guitars which leads into the final chorus which ends in more epic screams and finally a synthy outro yet again.
SHARDS ØF SHATTERED DREAMS comes in swinging. Another thrashy heavy track with great choruses, a bouncy bridge section and another short and fast guitar solo leading into the final chorus.
Then we arrive at the last track of the album, SCØRN. This one is a bit of a drag, I’ll admit. It starts off slow and quite calming. Gradually getting heavier towards the end of the track before finally ending once again on a calmer note with some strings, vocals and piano. A song like this would usually be great as an album closer but for some reason it just didn’t quite feel right for me. Some people might like it, but it didn’t quite work in my opinion. It’s not one I’ll be rushing to listen to again any time soon.
Overall, great album! I love that they’ve gone back to that nice mix of groove and nu-metal that they had in their earlier work. It’s blended quite well with their more modern sound making this perhaps one of their most unique albums to date. I do have a bit of an issue with the pacing of the album, it feels a little off in some parts.
Then we arrive at the last track of the album, SCØRN. This one is a bit of a drag, I’ll admit. It starts off slow and quite calming. Gradually getting heavier towards the end of the track before finally ending once again on a calmer note with some strings, vocals and piano. A song like this would usually be great as an album closer but for some reason it just didn’t quite feel right for me. Some people might like it, but it didn’t quite work in my opinion. It’s not one I’ll be rushing to listen to again any time soon.
Overall, great album! I love that they’ve gone back to that nice mix of groove and nu-metal that they had in their earlier work. It’s blended quite well with their more modern sound making this perhaps one of their most unique albums to date. I do have a bit of an issue with the pacing of the album, it feels a little off in some parts.
The intro track really wasn’t necessary and the last track felt like a bit of a drag. But other than that, I’ve got no big complaints. It sounds good, it’s a fun listen and I’m sure many people will enjoy it! 8/10
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