Band:	Machine Head
Album:	The More Things Change...
Style:	Groove thrash metal
Release date:	March 25, 1997
Guest review by:	Cynic Metalhead

01. Ten Ton Hammer
02. Take My Scars
03. Struck A Nerve
04. Down To None
05. The Front Lines
06. Spine
07. Bay Of Pigs
08. Violate
09. Blistering
10. Blood Of The Zodiac
11. The Possibility Of Life's Destruction [limited edition digipack bonus]
12. My Misery [limited edition digipack bonus]
13. Colors [Ice-T cover] [limited edition digipack bonus]

This is the last Machine Head album I enjoyed.

While it's true that metal faced challenges in the mid-'90s, grappling with a lack of commercial backing and media spotlight, Machine Head reignited the genre's fire with their groundbreaking and monumental release Burn My Eyes in 1994. This album sent shockwaves through the metal community, reminding heavyweights like Pantera, Sepultura, and Fear Factory that heavy music could stay true to its roots while still delivering something of undeniable power and lasting value. From setting the scene on fire to ascending to the main headliners, Machine Head now bore the weight of immense expectations on their shoulders. The pressure to create a follow-up that could surpass the impact was intensive—especially when fans were eagerly anticipating Burn My Eyes 2.0.

The More Things Change... was released in 1997, carrying the weight of expectation to at least match, if not surpass, the thrilling and destructive formula that had made its predecessor such a runaway success. The album opens with the crushing "Ten Ton Hammer," a mid-tempo groove monster with a heavily downtuned sound and a touch of "nu" influence. The sheer intensity of anger on "The Frontlines", amplified by strident, pulverizing riffs, the sinister, riff-style approach on "Spine", the cruelly enervate "Violate", and the murderous drama of "Blood Of The Zodiac" produces artistic mastery of damaging dynamics and unsettling atmospheres. These elements would later take center stage on 1999's The Burning Red, as Machine Head ventured into more adventurous, yet curiously polarizing, new territory.

The striking amicability to The More Things Change... is exhilarating with precise grooves, driven forward by perfectly entwined guitars and drums, Robb’s chafed roars, and a less easily defined but still unmistakable sense of urgency. As the record draws to a close, Flynn steps pedal to the metal, delivering rapid tempo shifts, bursts of vicious speed, and complex rhythmic twists on tracks like "Struck A Nerve", "Bay Of Pigs", and the blistering finale, all culminating in a grand and powerful conclusion.

While the production is solid, the results fall short, offering little more than ennui as they fail to capture the raw intensity of Burn My Eyes. Overindulgence, overemphasis, and over-relying on the "nu" sound, mixed with the groove elements, make for an uncomfortable feeling that hampers the vibe Machine Head primarily aimed to deliver. Although the atmospheric sections introduce a fresh edge, the guitars’ shift towards the "nu" sound ultimately strips away much of the album's intended charm.

The More Things Change... was never destined to be universally praised as an improvement over Burn My Eyes, yet it succeeded on every level, reinforcing the belief that this compelling, mutant subgenre called 'groove metal' was the true path forward for mainstream heaviness. Although it didn’t generate the same accolades as its predecessor, it still solidified Machine Head as one of Europe's most favorite metal bands, and The More Things Change... did plenty to escalate that campaign.

Highlights: "Ten Ton Hammer", "The Frontlines", "Violate" and "Struck A Nerve"