Machine Head
Unto The Locust (Deluxe Collector's Edition)

What can one expect from a band like Machine Head after a great album like "The Blackening"? 
Many times, the offerings from talented bands turn out to be a bunch of clichés similar to those spouted by pseudo-neo-economists improvising in times of lean cows. Writing for the sake of writing. Writing to sell out, because there’s a deadline or because the beers in the fridge are finished.

Fortunately, this has not happened to the 4 from Oakland, who have managed to deliver a good, immediate album capable of capturing attention and confirming the musical path undertaken with the predecessor. Now one hand is reaching out to the glorious thrash that was (naturally revisited in a Machine Head style), and the other holds a classical guitar (apparently Flynn has taken to studying it).
The lyrics are direct and angry enough to perfectly blend with the music to form this "Unto The Locust," a true "swarm of the locust" that envelops listeners throughout all 7 tracks of the album.
The ingredients are there, the right attitude is there, the rage is there, the melodic openings that distinguish them are there as well, and yes, there's even what's been defined as a "medieval choir" opening the album in "I Am Hell (Sonata in C#)." The album sounds wonderful, it progresses with a machinehead-esque "Be Still And Know," strikes with "Locust" and especially with "This Is The End," in my opinion the Track of the album, and continues until the end at high levels (perhaps a bit gaudy is the opening choir of "Who We Are," sung by the various Machine Head juniors).
In the Collector’s edition, besides a DVD with the making of the album, there are 3 additional tracks, including a well-done cover of "The Sentinel" by Judas Priest, "Witch Hunt" by Rush, and an acoustic version of "Darkness Within."

In summing up this "journey towards the locust," we have an excellent effort from Machine Head, who after such a great album as their previous work, managed to demonstrate that it wasn’t an isolated creative peak.
To me, this "Unto The Locust" deserves a 9/10, because after all, "The Blackening" is "The Blackening."
The fact that on the day I decided to buy the album, it was gifted to me, well, it made listening and writing much, much more enjoyable.
Thanks a million times.