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I remember when I bought this CD, just released from my trusted seller, the trip from the store to my house felt endless, but after returning home and throwing around everything that got in my way, including the cleaning lady, I inserted the CD into the stereo and was overwhelmed by the impressive power of “Imperium”... It was immensely satisfying to see MH make a grand comeback with an astounding album like this. And yes... with this Through The Ashes Of Empires, Machine Head proves they still have a lot to say and are truly back to roar after two years since the last splendid Supercharger. Through The Ashes Of Empires marks a return to the sound of their beginnings. Without abandoning the crossover paths of the previous The Burning Red and Supercharger, the sound of this album is not an interlude between the two roads taken by the band, but creates a new one, completely different from the others.
Musically speaking, the album could still fall into that genre generically called “Post-Thrash” which included the first two debut albums, perhaps rewritten in a more modern, elaborate key, damn destructive and solid. It should also be noted the line-up change, Flynn strongly wanted guitarist Phil Demmel, his former companion in the Vio-lence thrash project, and the producer becomes Flynn himself assisted by the competent and brilliant Andy Sneap, and it must be said that the results are truly excellent. The result is an impeccable, crystal-clear production without blemishes from the first to the last note.
As already mentioned, the terrifying “Imperium” could knock down a concrete wall, one of the most devastating pieces ever written by Flynn and company, a song of immediate impact blasted a thousand times into the ears of the poor traumatized listener. The expressive intensity and the emotion-laden atmosphere created by Imperium do not break, rather they continue with “Bite The Bullet”, which starts with one of the most classic drum intros by Dave McClain, his performance behind the skins is excellent, the song is very distinctive and alternates slow and fast parts in a very thrilling manner. Slight "superchargerian" influences appear instead in “Left Unfinished”, a truly impactful song with a chorus that immediately sticks in your head. With “Elegy” an atmosphere more dark and obsessive is created, starting slow then progressively building up to a granite and rocky finale. “In The Presence Of My Enemies” is another direct demonstration that Machine Head knows how to give lessons of violence, at the service of technique and reason.
Thus, we reach the beautiful “Days Turn Blue To Gray” with a captivating melody and a tempo change halfway through the song that takes your breath away and leaves you holding your breath, impressed by the unpredictability of the passages and arrangements. Thus comes the moment for “Vim”, a straightforward and tight piece with a solo endowed with rich expressiveness and strong incisiveness. By now, it's a continuous succession of scratchy riffs, melodies, and tempo changes that always keep the listener anxious and waiting for everything to break from one moment to the next, only to then change radically. The splendid “All Falls Down” is proof of this. Just try to listen to the singularity of the effects coming from the Marshall of Flynn and Demmel at the beginning of the song. “Wipe The Tears” presents more nu-metal nuances. The album closes with “Descend The Shades Of Night”, a stunning ballad with a nocturnal and gothic flavor demonstrating Robert Flynn's great talent even in clean vocals. The sweet melodies and melancholy arpeggios of this ballad gently accompany us towards the closure of the platter.
What remains to be said? Machine Head, in 10 years of career, have been a truly flamboyant and eclectic band, a band that has always and nevertheless been original whatever the genre played, rejecting anything that was banally canonical and static. Through The Ashes Of Empires is a high-level album and a recommended purchase for all genre lovers.
Luca
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