From "Unto the Locust" I was not directly disappointed, but it was not a masterpiece, and the situation is similar with the latest work, "Bloodstone & Diamonds".
Already some time before the official release, I had the opportunity to listen to the album in detail and have been able to gain a good insight.
I then asked myself what defines Machine Head?
For me unusual in first line riffs in deepest mood with Harmonics as icing on the cake, to be acquired through structured lead guitars and an almost inhuman drummer drumming with a precision that has no equal.
The lyrics are average demanding and often very innovative but varied and well over half the level of other bands.
The song alternates between screaming and melody in a very unique symbiosis, which also makes up the typical Machine Head Charm.
All this was brought to my eyes on "The Blackening" the climax and has deservedly a very special place in the hearts of most fans.
"Blood Stones & Diamonds" is not "The Blackening", nor "Unto The Locust", for me it is somewhere between these two albums and refers several times in a very special way to "Burn My Eyes", which is particularly the instrumental " Imaginal Cells "and the significantly simplified reef structure reflects what nothing has to be bad in principle, but the catchy character remains well on track, lets you scroll through the CD, so remain a few moments in which one devoutly lifts his head and averted listens until finally hangs something you have to hear the album a couple of times.
Overall there is a lack Bloodstone & Diamonds to "soul", that is (for me) moments like the Bridge of 'Beautiful Mourning' that one wishes to hear in church atmosphere, a 'Farewell to Arms', or simply a title like' empire 'which, although simple structure but great in timing, rhythm and reef structure on the membranes of the boxing bell and the listener moves already under the spell of the first clock.
The vocals are mainly singing and significantly less outcry than its predecessors, which is also a logical consequence is in terms of total quieter music that day looking for the ultimate hardener seem to be over, much more attention is here given to arrangement and sound quality what was achieved and for the most part.
The sound, especially the drums is excellent over the momentum is far better than its predecessor, but the mix would have tolerated a little more finesse, because there sometimes especially washy choruses and a little "mushy" sound, what more are so makes noticeable when B & D listen in the car or on a low-cost system in which the individual channels and frequencies are resolved worse.
We come to the topic of classical elements, so the increased involvement of strings, choirs and keyboards.
One can on this issue probably worthy of debate, but it pleases me consistently, the already well-arranged music by Machine Head lend these elements additional accents, both enhance the feel of the songs, and can create tension and great hooks.
You can tell that here a lot of thought has been made.
Here, however, remains of course the hardness on the track.
After several Listen following pieces have distinguished themselves for me:
- Now we to
- Ghosts will haunt my Bones (a classic MH Song)
- Sail Into The Black (very atmospheric)
- Game Over (hard but almost trendy and very catchy)
- In Comes The Flood (Very nice analysis of US capitalism)
Conclusion:
Blood Stones & Diamonds marks another milestone in the history of Machine Head, it can be difficult to compare with the previous albums, what many fans will probably belching sour, but I really like that prevents monotony in the discography.
It's certainly not the best album of the band, but on a par with "Unto the Locust" and yet is still room for improvement.
I'm looking forward to the next releases and surprises.
