Machine Head deliver again from good work

Machine Head have never released a weak album (also not exactly beloved by many "The Burning Red" I think succeeded), and so it remains fortunately also with "Bloodstone & Diamonds". The predecessor "Unto The Locust" is for me personally as the crowning achievement of creation of the band from Oakland is, and I was really clear that they can such a masterpiece topped difficult. "Bloodstone & Diamonds" is something less bulky therefore, what one can imagine when looking at the tracklist already: Twelve songs are on the album, which suggests that fewer songs with overlength are doing.
The opening track "Now We The" awakened with its length and the complex arrangements including strings (!) Although the impression that it goes back towards the complexity of the partially overloaded "The Blackening", but many of the subsequent tracks but then streamlined. This does not mean that "Bloodstone & Diamonds" is knitted so accessible and relatively simple as the debut "Burn My Eyes". Some songs need a few passes until they reveal themselves really with all its details. On the other hand go eg "Night Of Long Knives" and the places punky "Game Over" fairly quickly in his ear. Strange it is really gets going at "Sail Into The Black", which will be accompanied at the beginning of meditative background vocals and only after minutes. Somehow strange, but also interesting and not bad.
"Bloodstone & Diamonds" may not be the best work of Machine Head, but the quartet more than just good album (the first with the new bassist Jared MacEachern) succeeded. Strong buy recommendation.