MACHINE HEAD recently finished recording The Blackening at Sharkbite Studios in the band’s hometown of Oakland, California. Once again produced by singer/guitarist Robert Flynn and mixed by Colin Richardson, the album is set for a March 27, 2007 release.
With the upcoming release, MACHINE HEAD will head out on tour with LAMB OF GOD, TRIVIUM, and GOJIRA.
Regarding The Blackening Flynn states, “This is the most ambitious thing we have ever attempted. We all challenged ourselves and each other to write a record that pushed the boundaries of complexity and technical structure.” Meanwhile, Flynn’s lyrics have gone from what has been, recently, a more introspective focus, back to the social commentary tackled on previous albums like Burn My Eyes. Flynn continues, “The nature of what is happening in the world led to a darker, bleaker album in every sense.” Pointed and timely, the lyrics in songs such as “Clenching the Fists of Dissent,” “A Farewell to Arms” and “Halo” touch upon politics, the war in Iraq and organized religion. The lyrics to the aforementioned songs spit anger and disdain at their topics in the true spirit of angst that fueled punk rock in the mid- 80’s.
Frontman Robert Flynn continues, “Got all of the mixes 2 days ago, WOW man, Colin Richardson nailed it!! SO massive sounding, it could be the heaviest guitar tone EVER!! We’re all really proud of the results, we worked our butt’s off on this one. It’s a crazy, complex, challenging, and fun record to listen too. It’s layered like hell, one of those albums where the more you listen, the more you hear. We can’t fuckin’ wait til’ people can listen to it!!!!!”
“Aesthetics Of Hate” captures the bands anger towards an article that bashed Dimebag Darrell right after his death and slammed the metal community as a whole for mourning it. The band actually performed this new track during the special appearances they made along the Sounds of the Underground Tour this past summer. “Now I Lay Thee Down” has a Romeo and Juliet-esque love story slant to it, while “Slanderous” addresses the hate that still permeates throughout society and “Wolves,” tackles the bands competitive, ”˜winner take all’ spirit.
MACHINE HEAD drummer Dave McClain on the upcoming tour: “Looking forward to spreading the metal across the U.S. with our friends LAMB OF GOD, and TRIVIUM. Can’t wait to feel the energy from the fans at these shows! This tour and the venues we’re playing couldn’t be any better for an ‘in your face” metal show!!! “Super fuckin’ stoked to going out on this tour. LAMB OF GOD have been one of my favorite bands since As the Palaces Burn, this is gonna be FUN. Let the metal mania begin!!” Tour dates: 2/16 ”“ Dallas, TX ”“ Palladium Ballroom 2/17 ”“ Corpus Christi, TX ”“ Concrete St Amphitheatre 2/18 ”“ Austin, TX ”“ Stubbs 2/20 ”“ Albuquerque, NM ”“ Sunshine Theatre 2/21 ”“ Flagstaff, Az ”“ Orpheum Theater 2/22 ”“ Anaheim, CA ”“ The Grove 2/23 ”“ Fresno, CA ”“ Rainbow Ballroom 2/24 ”“ Santa Cruz, CA ”“ The Catalyst 2/25 ”“ Los Angeles, CA ”“ Wiltern 2/27 ”“ Chico, CA ”“ Senator Theatre 2/28 ”“ Portland, OR ”“ Roseland 3/01 ”“ Spokane, WA ”“ Big Easy 3/03 ”“ Edmonton, AB ”“ Edmonton Events Centre 3/04 ”“ Calgary, AB ”“ Macewan Hall 3/06 ”“ Winnipeg, MB ”“ Burton Cummings Theatre 3/07 ”“ Fargo, ND ”“ Playmakers Pavilion 3/08 ”“ Omaha, NE ”“ Sokol Auditorium 3/09 ”“ Tulsa, OK ”“ Cain’s Ballroom 3/10 ”“ Kansas City, KS ”“ Beaumont Club 3/11 ”“ Sioux Falls, SD ”“ Empire Expo Hall 3/13 ”“ Cedar Rapids, IA ”“ Hawkeye Downs 3/14 ”“ Milwaukee, WI ”“ The Rave 3/15 ”“ Ft Wayne, IN ”“ Pierre’s 3/16 ”“ Toledo, OH ”“ Headliner’s 3/17 ”“ Grand Rapids, MI ”“ Orbit Room 3/18 ”“ Guelph, ON ”“ Cowboys Bar 3/20 ”“ Montreal, QC ”“ Medley 3/21 ”“ Providence, RI ”“ Lupos 3/22 ”“ New York, NY ”“ Roseland Ballroom 3/23 ”“ Philadelphia, Pa Electric Factory 3/24 ”“ Albany, NY ”“ Northern Lights 3/25 ”“ Rochester, NY ”“ Harro East 3/26 ”“ Washington DC ”“ 9:30 Club 3/28 ”“ Norfolk, VA ”“ Norva Theatre 3/29 ”“ Myrtle Beach, SC ”“ House of Blues 3/30 ”“ Jacksonville, FL ”“ Plush 3/31 ”“ St Petersburg, FL ”“ Jannus Landing 4/01 ”“ Ft Lauderdale, FL ”“ Revolution 4/03 ”“ Nashville, TN ”“ City Hall ”“ No TRIVIUM 4/04 ”“ Memphis, TN ”“ New Daisy Theatre ”“ No TRIVIUM 4/05 ”“ Cincinnati, OH ”“ Bogarts ”“ No TRIVIUM