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Class 6(66)
Machine Head: Burn my eyes
18/03/11 || InquisitorGeneralis
Introduction
I certainly don’t hate on Machine Head as much as some other people in the metal world. Sure, they dropped a few stinkbombs like “The Burning Red” and “Supercharger” and came dangerously close to the dreaded realm of nu-metal but with their two most recent releases Machine Head have come back to the good graces of trve metal fans worldwide. Still, their debut record “Burn My Eyes” stands heads, shoulders, cock and balls above anything else they have done. “Burn My Eyes”, along with other landmark records like “Vulgar Display of Power”, “Demanufacture”, “Unsung”, and “Frizzle Fry” showed that metal was evolving in the early 90’s into a genre that was not limited to leather-clad bikers and thrashing satanists.
Sure, Machine Head’s sound would help inspire nu-metal, and the band sported some of the gayest haircuts ever to grace a skull in the mid 90’s; but the energy and power of “Burn My Eyes” can not be denied. This is modern metal done right and a record whose influence is still palpable today. When you see Machine Head live (and they do still kick it live) don’t be surprised to hear three or four of these songs in the set, especially near the end.
Songwriting
9. Without a doubt, “Brvn Chrvst’s Eves” has the best and most memorable Machine Head tunes. “Davidian” is, and always will be, the band’s signature song due to its aggressive pace, super-catchy chorus, and pre-brocore slamtastic ending breakdown. “Blood for Blood” also is pretty intense and the closest this album, and Machine Head in general, have ever gotten to death metal. “Old” and “A Thousand Lies” are a bit less thrashy than the opener but still heavy and enjoyable.
Besides “Davidian” and “Blood for Booze”, the real gems on here are the slower “None But My Own” and “Death Church”. These songs follow the same rising tempo but stand out with heaps of healthy riffs and some genuinely awesome rock outs at the end. It is clear that Rob and the Dukes put some time and effort into making “Burn My Eyes” more than a fast one trick pony.
Production
10. Even on shitty computer speakers (like the ones on my work laptop that are currently blasting “Death Church”) this record sounds fucking great. The drum sound is perfect and just right in the mix, the guitars are low’n‘heavy, and Rob’s vocals (which had not yet started to be clean and sucky) don’t overpower anything. There are many high points on “Burn My Eyes” that Machine Head have never been able to reach again afterwards, and the fantastic production is certainly one of them.
Guitars
8. Mader and Flynn’s guitar work is not going to blow Tipton and Downing or Harris and Smith off of the guitar-duo Pantheon anytime soon. Don’t expect ten minutes of dualing/trade-off solo wankery on any Machine Head songs. But, the riffs are here. And they are good. Even the ones on the strange, almost interlude-like “A Nation on Fire” are awesome. Other highlights are the chorus of “Davidian”, the main line on “A Thousand Lies”, and the breakdown in the middle of “Blood for Blood”.
Bass
7. Adam “Droppin’ a” Duce is definitely a strong factor in Machine Head’s powerful low-end groove. While drummer Chris Kontos dominates the rhythm section Duce provides steady, but not flashy or extraordinary, bass work.
Vocals
8.5. This is definitely Rob Flynn’s best vocal performance because there are no hints of nu-metal crappiness to be found. If there is one constant factor that brings down extreme metal, it is the inclusion of unnecessary or poorly done clean vocals. Only a few bands like Opeth or Mushroomhead can do it. Thankfully, Rob doesn’t even try here and that is a big, biiiiiiiiig plus. Many say that Rob was ripping off Pantera’s Phil Anselmo but I don’t really see it. Both bands were from the same time period and genre so I would not instantly indict vocal similarities as blatant rip-offs.
Drums
10. Chris Kontos gives an absolutely killer performance on “Burn My Eyes” and his playing is the driving force behind all that makes this record a classic. On “Davidian” and “Blood for Blood” he speeds it up and achieves a solid level of brutality without using ze blastbeats. The sound of the kicks alone is metallic bliss. Kontos has no problems dominating the groove department as well. This album along with Fear Factory’s “Demanufacture” is responsible for me developing an unholy love of extreme bass drumming.
“Death Church” and “None But My Own” are also standout, but slower, performances. I don’t understand how this dude has not gotten solid work because he is pure breasts on “Burn My Eyes” as well as “Weed Out the Weak”, the one album he did with underrated Danish death metallers Konkhra. Where are you Chris Kontos? You are too good to be flipping burgers or shaving gyro meat. Get back behind the kit.
Lyrics
8. In the mid 90’s, angst and rage were all the rage and “Burn My Eyes” is no exception. Still, there are plenty of good, memorable lines to be heard. First and foremost is the iconic Let freedom ring with a shotgun blast! from “Davidian”. A thousand lies they told a thousand times! is also a pretty sweet chorus. Honestly, do you really care about Machine Head lyrics?
Logo
5. The yellow/black M/H thingy looks like a road sign but at least it is somewhat original in the metal world. Nothing special going on here.
Cover
7. Oh no metallic man, you’re eyes are burning! BBBBBUUUUURRRNNNNIIIINNNNNGGGGG!!!!!
OK, so the cover matches the name of the album and looks decent; it is not blowing any brains out of their skulls though. Watch out for lightening eyeballs folks, they can sting ya.
Booklet
5. Nothing special, nothing great. Pictures, lyrics, ugly colors.
Overall and ending rant
Hellalive is the record that got me interested in Machine Head, but “Porn Never Dies” is the one that solidified me as a fan of the band. Only “Through the Ashes of Empires” (in my opinion) comes close to this in terms of song quality and production. Honestly, Machine Head should jump on the album/tour bandwagon and go play this bad boy start-to-finish each night. Yeah, I know that “Davidian”, “Old”, “Halo” and “Block” (and to a lesser extent “None But My Own”) routinely make their way into current Machine Head sets, but I want “Death Church”, “Blood for Blood”, and “A Thousand Lies” dammit! “Burn My Eyes” is a pretty awesome record from a time period where extreme music was going through some major changes…most for the good. It’s not a perfect 10, but a classic nonetheless.
- Information
- Released: 1994
- Label: Roadrunner
- Website: www.machinehead1.com
- Band
- Robb Flynn: vocals, guitar
- Logan Mader: guitar
- Adam Duce: bass, backing vocals
- Chris Kontos: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Davidian
- 02. Old
- 03. A Thousand Lies
- 04. None But My Own
- 05. The Rage To Overcome
- 06. Death Church
- 07. A Nation On Fire
- 08. Blood For Blood
- 09. I’m Your God Now
- 10. Real Eyes, Realize, Real Lies
- 11. Block
