SAN FRANCISCO’s metal titans MACHINE HEAD are about to make some noise (literally) at The Aztec Theatre in San Antonio on April 17. They’re filming a music video for “Outsider”, a track off their 11th album “Unatoned”, dropping April 25 via NUCLEAR BLAST/IMPERIUM RECORDINGS. Pro tip: Bring earplugs. And maybe a helmet.
According to the press release (which is throwing around phrases like “melancholy melodies” and “bludgeoning riffs” like confetti at a metal wedding), “Unatoned” is a “testament to momentum” forged by “creative discipline.” Translation: It’s gonna slap. Robb Flynn & Co. recorded this bad boy everywhere from Flynn’s own JAM ROOM to SHARKBITE STUDIOS (no sharks were harmed, we hope). Fun fact: Mixing maestro COLIN RICHARDSON—who’s worked with everyone from SLIPKNOT to BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE—helped polish the chaos. The album art? Courtesy of SETH SIRO ANTON, who’s probably responsible for half your favorite metal album covers.
“Unatoned” Tracklist:
- 01. Landscape Of Thorns (feat. existential dread)
- 02. Atomic Revelations
- 03. Unbound
- 04. Outsider (the one that’ll ruin your neck)
- 05. Not Long For This World
- 06. These Scars Won’t Define Us
- 07. Dustmaker
- 08. Bonescraper
- 09. Addicted To Pain (no, not a cover of that ALTER BRIDGE song)
- 10. Bleeding Me Dry
- 11. Shards Of Shattered Dreams
- 12. Scorn (Robb’s piano ballad debut—more on that later)
Tour alert: MACHINE HEAD kicked off their North American run on April 1 in Idaho (no joke), with IN FLAMES, LACUNA COIL (queens of Italian goth vibes), and UNEARTH joining for 25 dates. Missed the Spokane show? Don’t worry—they’ve got enough pyro to light up your Instagram feed through 2025.
Robb Flynn spilled the tea on “The Garza Podcast” about the album’s vibe: “My last album was a renaissance… but you can’t just remake that.” He also name-dropped SLAYER’s chaotic chord changes (“like a musical rollercoaster”) and confessed he’s been trying to write a piano ballad for 15 years. Spoiler: He finally nailed it with “Scorn”, a track he describes as “Elton John meets existential crisis.” Fun fact: Flynn wrote lyrics dissing both Trump and Democrats, because why pick sides when you can roast everyone?
On MACHINE HEAD’s sound, Flynn keeps it real: “We’re not the heaviest—bands like LORNA SHORE could crush us like a soda can. But hey, I’m a 32-year-old Gandalf of metal. I’ve got my lane.”
Band update: New guitarist REECE ALAN SCRUGGS (HAVOK) is now shredding alongside Flynn, replacing VOGG (who’s busy with DECAPITATED). Because who needs sleep when you can tour with two bands?
