All alone in their own league

Machine Head are undoubtedly one of the best, biggest and most important metal bands, which can be found in the scene today and that is in this case really the reward of tens of high class albums in series.
Unlike other, conventional Festival headliners MH spared the fans with total Rohrkrepierern. Even the NuMetal-lastigeren albums of the late 90s were at least gutklassige steam rams. What the Flynn-Boys leave but steadily since the "Ashes" rain down on Thrashervolk, you can not say enough. May sound a bit exaggerated, but at this level were last Metallica late 80s !!! At least in my humble opinion.

Large, complex, but always comprehensible Thrash cinema, brutally hard and bold, but also super catchy.

Exactly gets the listener on the "Bloodstone" commanded !!!!

Even the brilliant opener "Now We The" shows all facets of the MH-Sounds. Murderously hard and impulsive, but at the same time would have killed even a violin-assisted, highly melodic refrain, for the diverse Metalcore bands. This is a real Metal-hit!
"Killers and Kings" keeps the level with a full guitar charge in the ass.
"Ghosts Will Haunt My Bones" sounds to me like ne blend of metalcore and modern Megadeth and one of the few songs on the album that I did not need.

With "Night Of Long Knives" and "Sail Into The Black" for follow equal to 2 absolute highlights of the album. The first one with Thrasher endgeilen Parts, the second a dark Grower who has totally grabbed me after the fourth hearing.

"Eyes Of The Dead" is typical, modern MH-fare. Fast, hard and melodic parts in exchange.
"Beneath The Silt" does not fire me. Hard Black Sabbath / retro riffs, delicate vocals. Mir is to retro and so too trendy ...
"In Comes The Flood" is very melodic, but somehow also very standard fare, you really can not be said of the subsequent "Damage Inside". No metal, for me, however, is another highlight and the next follows immediately afterwards:

"Game Over" is the best song of the album and have one of the best ever written the MH. Completely great live guaranteed ne grenade and a future classic. AWESOME!

The anthemic and later hard "Take Me Through The Fire" is terminated worthy a strong album!

Conclusion:
From another milestone I can not speak for the level of blackening or Burn My Eyes was just too high, but a safe 5 star candidate is the new Machine Head with safety, especially when you consider that crap here otherwise here is celebrated by all the tricks.

The Bloodstone & Diamonds is a hard, melodic and varied piece of precious metal, is top produced and one of the best metal albums of 2014. For my taste MH have, however often times can depress the accelerator pedal ...

9 of 10