Robb Flynn On New Record: "we’ve got something really special"

The Machine Head frontman is very confident in his band's newest record. 

Robb Flynn is a very happy guy lately with regards to Machine Head's upcoming ninth album, 'Catharsis'.

“I feel like metal could really infiltrate the mainstream with this album" states Flynn in a new press release, rather cockily we feel. "And it needs to... now more than ever. A lot of consideration went into making these songs more identifiable to a wider audience. Simplifying ideas, simplifying hooks, really concentrating on story-telling as opposed to ‘brutal poetry’ or whatever. And while I’d love to say it was all some grand plan, there was no ‘plan’”.

He also added that, “You never know where you’re going to end up whenever you start writing a record... you just write... but I tell ya what... we ended up with a landmark here. Whenever you finish an album, you always feel proud, but this time... we’ve got something really special. We can feel it. We know it. 'Catharsis’ could really elevate our genre."

Jesus Christ, settle down a bit there. All in good time, Flynn. 

'Catharsis' was produced by Flynn himself and recorded, mixed, and co-produced by Zack Ohren (who has managed the faders and turned the knobs for Fallujah, All Shall Perish, among others) at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, CA and mastering was handled by Ted Jensen (who's given that extra kick to bands like Hatebreed, Alice In Chains, DEFTONES) at Sterling Sound, New York, NY.

So it's in very good hands production-wise but what about the actual 15 songs that will decide whether this record "infiltrates the mainstream" as the band's singer so dearly hopes it will? Well, there's only one single out so far and that's 'Beyond The Pale' (which you can stream below). There are some strong Strapping Young Lad vibes in the guitar work ('Love' anybody?) for this new song and many fans will probably notice the comparisons to the band's previous fan-fave, 'Now I Lay Thee Down'.

'Catharsis' drops on January 26th via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. Do you reckon it'll be the landmark record it's been touted as, a solid Machine Head record and nothing more, or just a flop?