Album Review: Machine Head - 'Machine Fucking Head Live'

2 December 2012 | 8:33 pm | Staff Writer
Originally Appeared In

A snapshot of a powerful live sound.

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‘Live’ albums are pretty simple beasts in their own way. They are face value offerings. The listener knows what there are buying into, so the equation is easy to grasp and no gets hurt with any apparent flaws.


On the surface, ‘live’ albums are inherently indifferent. Not because they are badly presented or badly produced or even badly performed, it’s more the notion of something being ‘live’ is seemingly lost in translation once packaged into a disc. The unpredictability, the intensity and the atmosphere is removed. Sure, we’ll meet things halfway and believe the idea is to bring the ‘live’ ambience into one's bedroom, but nothing can substitute the raw aural feelings of hearing something in the flesh.


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Machine Head have a sound that is hard to contain. It naturally bursts through the speakers. It’s engaging, it’s powerful and it’s assertive. Hence, a live album is not a bad idea.


New live album ‘Machine Fucking Head Live’ is the second album in the band’s catalogue that pools the band's select performances onto disc (2003’s ‘Hellalive’ the predecessor). This fifteen-track release will feed the fans interest. The album cover is deliberate and the tracks well chosen.


The songs need no analysis. They are familiar, they are career spanning. It’s more the impact that feeds the interest here. Essentially, this is an 18-year snapshot. It traces the modern moments and backtracks to early points. It does pick the best periods, not too much of that whole rap, nu-metal stages.


Contemporary opener ‘I Am Hell (Sonata in C#)’ hits the marks early. It might be well-paced, but this album is a lengthy exercise – 100 minutes plus.


Aesthetics of Hate’ is prominent and heavy on the speakers or through the headphones. Closer ‘Davidian’ is still the moment! It’s still Machine Head’s signature jam. If a track was ever going to make you want to create a one man mosh-pit in your bedroom, this is it.


It’s an honest listen, but how much value ‘Machine Fucking Head Live’ contains is left to the listener. It will get the energy raised, but do ‘live’ albums have the same impact when the first-person experience is removed?

 A powerful band demands a powerful album, right? 'Machine Fucking Head' captures the band's spirit. It's well-presented. Perhaps that is enough here?

Disc 1 - 

1. I Am Hell (Sonata In C#) 

2. Be Still And Know 

3. Imperium 

4. Beautiful Mourning 

5. The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears 

6. Locust 

7. This Is The End 

8. Aesthetics of Hate 

9. Old 


Disc 2 - 

1. Darkness Within 

2. Bulldozer 

3. Ten Ton Hammer 

4. Who We Are 

5. Halo 

6. Davidian