Powerful, epic and well-done, the ambitious I Am Hell (Sonata in C #) is exactly what is expected of Machine Head in 2011: the metal which, on a barbaric thrash base, progressing in a composition "drawers" in shots that kill riffs and vocal skinned alive, somewhat in the manner of which made Metallica Master Of Puppets ... At the Machine Head, obviously. The top of the album, definitely. And that's where the rub of this Unto the Locust, very nice album and quite recommendable after all, but suffers from too much starting leaving a sense of unfinished business, of (relative) lower inspiration to the rest. It is a pity that there is any, otherwise, to satisfy the amateur thrashisant metal, melodic (though not always with a song often leveraging the registry flaying of the vocal cords) and often enough notably through progressive structures bêtasses not as it seems at first. In fact, besides the supposed single to the melody actually quite feeble and lourdaude (Darkness Within), everything here is an admirably consistent quality with lot of heavy riffs, solos disheveled, melodic hooks found much that they come the pair of guitarist - Flynn and Demmel - or the voice of the leader (of which there is also the opportunity to voice Progress) passing these long pieces like so many letters in the mail.
A great album Unto the Locust? Probably not. Everything would have been the level of the monumental inaugural piece, one would say. As it stands, it does not equal as the two standards albums of training (Burn My Eyes and The Blackening). That said, beautifully produced, with 6 songs with strong potential (of 7, it is not so bad), it remains one of the best metal albums of 2011, one which, moreover, is resistant impeccably in wear of time. A success, what!
Note the limited edition offering plus 3 bonus: an acoustic version of dispensable and aforementioned single and twice Witch Hunt Rush is well played but not appropriate to register Robb and The Sentinel Judas Priest, faithful also in the original is a more obvious success, notably with a Robb Flynn cleverly appropriating the vocal line and Phil Demmel melt. Not essential but a good way to "extend the sauce."
Staff:
- Robb Flynn: vocals, guitar
- Dave McClain: Battery
- Adam Duce: bass, backing vocals
- Phil Demmel: guitar, vocals
