Track Listing
1. Enter the phoenix 2. Desire to fire 3. Nothing left 4. The blood, The sweat, The tears 5. Silver 6. From this day 7. Exhale the vile 8. Message in a bottle 9. Devil with the king's card 10. I defy 11. Five 12. The burning red Year: 1999 Label: Roadrunner - Official Site |
Machine Head - 'The burning red' - By S. Burrell
'The burning red' was the first Machine Head album I ever heard, so I was somewhat shrouded from the controversiality that surrounded it. Unless you will not listen to anything else other than death metal, or have been backpacking the Himalayas for the past three years, you will know that this record was declared by many as Machine Head selling out - their grotesque mutation into Nu Metal. I however (After hearing the three other MH albums) strongly disagree... The album begins with a soft, slightly depressing, yet pleasant sounding intro titled 'Enter the phoenix', which leads into the bouncy, rap ridden 'Desire to fire', slamming you into gear with it's groovy guitaring, ball breaking bass'age, destructive drumming and catchy vocals that force you to leap up and down on more than one occasion. At this point you are somewhat confused - It may not be tearing you a new arse hole 'Davidian' style, but it's still devilishly good! So, now intrigued, you turn up the volume and listen carefully to 'Nothing left', which is just as catchy, emotional and jagged as the album opener. In fact, it's a little heavier, maybe not quite as 'Single material' as it's predecessor, but just as good. Now you begin to become convinced by the album. It may not be quite as heavy as the previous two Machine Head CD's, however, the album is most definitely heavy, just, in different, more intellectual ways. 'The more things change' was slagged off almost as badly as this album, which was because MH were just making another 'Burn my eyes'. And yet, when they do what their critics advised, maturing their sound and including more versatility in their music, they are criticised more, leaving a no win situation. One song that was barraged more than any other on this opus was 'Message in a bottle', Machine Head's take on the Police classic. I cannot understand why this so was despised so much, by so many. It takes everything good from the original, increases the emotion of the track, and adds the very special MH rawness to the song, making it one of my favourite songs on the record. However, really, I don't have a favourite. Each song is just as good as the next, as soon as you try to name your preferred track, you think of the intense, yet emotive pounding of 'The blood, the sweat, the tears' But then you remind yourself of the brilliant album title song, 'The burning red', a reflective, beautiful number which shows off Robb's ever impressive vocals. But no! What about 'Silver'? Or 'Exhale the vile'? Or 'Desire to fire'? Argh! It's all too good! So, by the time the album finally reaches a halt, I am left wondering why this record was criticised at all. It is undoubtedly (In my opinion) the best Machine Head album yet. Hell, I even like the intro! Metal Obsessive Grade: 99% |