Machine Head - Unatøned - review
Machine Head - Unatøned - review
Tracklist
01. Landscape Øf Thørns02. Atømic Revelatiøns
03. Unbøund
04. Øutsider
05. Nøt Løng Før This Wørld
06. These Scars Wøn't Define Us
07. Dustmaker
08. Bønescraper
09. Addicted Tø Pain
10. Bleeding Me Dry
11. Shards Øf Shattered Dreams
12. Scørn
A review by
omne metallum April 21, 2025
If there is one band in metal that are allergic to the concept of consistency, then it's Machine Head, giving fans an experience of a lucky dip when it comes to picking up a new album. For many other bands, having a solid preceding record is a good omen that the follow-up will also be enjoyable (well, not all the time anyway); for Machine Head, the only real omen is that when the band's back is against the wall they come out swinging, and given that Øf Kingdøm And Crøwn was a good album... eep.
Striking while the iron is hot, and returning after a surprisingly quick turnaround by their own standards, the key and influential factor around Unatøned is that the band wrote this material on the road, speeding up the process of producing the new album. While some songs have that 'lightning strikes' inspiration moment, the overall impression you get out of this album is that some of this material feels unfinished or thrown in to meet a deadline rather than being included on merit. While the ratio is quite well-balanced, the album isn't as good as it could be.
Still, when inspiration strikes, time is immaterial, and when it strikes on Unatøned you end up with some of the strongest tracks this side of The Blackening. "Bønescraper" has a groove that immediately gets under your skin, while "Atømic Revelations" is the atypical powerhouse track that Flynn and co can churn out consistently, with Scruggs (of Havok fame) and Alston fitting like a hand in an iron fist from the off. While two of twelve tracks doesn't bode well normally, there are several additional songs that are good, but just lack that one spark that would elevate them to a similar level; "Shards øf Shattered Dreams" and "Addicted Tø Pain" both have that traditional Machine Head style and sound, but lay one or two rungs below the aforementioned duo.
The issue is largely down to a mix of direction and time; with Unatøned being one of the band's more melodic and mainstream-leaning efforts, it doesn't play to their strengths, and leaves you with an undercooked effort that tries to turn water into wine. "Bleeding Me Dry" and "These Scars Wøn't Define Us" epitomise this; the former meanders nowhere fast, while the latter seems designed to get on the radio (not a negative in itself, but when it comes at the expense of neutering the band's strengths, it becomes an issue).
Sø, the question on everyone's mind, is the overuse of ø's kvltural apprøpriatiøn? A means tø cømpensate? I don't know, but given how "These Scars Wøn't Define Us" features a trio of guest appearances, I think the metal world may implode on itself in cringe should Nergal øv Behemoth collaborate on the next album.
Oh, and is Unatøned gøød? Yes, it's an enjoyable album, and will likely sit firmly in the middle ground of Machine Head's discography, but just don't expect some of the band's top-tier material.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 6 |
| Originality: | 6 |
| Production: | 8 |
Written on 21.04.2025 by
Written on 21.04.2025 by
Just because I don't care doesn't mean I'm not listening. Comments
Comments:
7
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Posts: 756
As a Norwegian, I just cannot take these titles seriously 
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Posts: 64433
What's whit ö
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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Posts: 64433 Written by Fallen Ghost on 23.04.2025 at 09:42 Better then denish
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die" I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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Posts: 212 Written by Fallen Ghost on 23.04.2025 at 09:42 Man I feel you . As a Greek I just can’t stand the titles that use Σ (the Greek S) or Δ as an E or A just because they kinda look similar. Bruce Dickinson overdid this shit on his Mandrake (MΔΝRΔΚΣ) album! It hurts my eyes! Can they just stop appropriating languages they have no knowledge of?
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Posts: 87  |
Posts: 87
“ Bruce Dickinson overdid this shit on his Mandrake (MΔΝRΔΚΣ) album! It hurts my eyes!” Lol I don’t want to see his manrake either 😂
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 Posts: 206 |
Posts: 206
"These Scars Wøn't Define Us" is definitely best track imo. Fast, nice melodic, with fantastic strings in background at chorus and catchy as hell.
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