10 Heavy Metal Albums By Bands Thought Past Their Prime

1994's 'Burn My Eyes' was the highly praised debut of one Machine Head, and is often regarded as one of - if not the - best debut metal albums of all time. A titanic glimmer of thrash and groove metal light at a time where grunge and nu metal reigned supreme.

However, for 1999's 'The Burning Red', Robb Fynn and cohorts got their frosted tips and trackie bottoms, and fell in line with the nu metal trend - including an awful cover of The Police's "Message in a Bottle" - before doubling down with the ill-timed follow-up, 'Supercharger'.

Dropped by Roadrunner and guitarist Ahrue Luster, Machine Head returned with a chip on their shoulder, and a point to prove, releasing 'Through the Ashes of Empires' in 2003 which saw a revert to the beloved thrash/groove metal sound of their first two albums.

But, if 'Through the Ashes...' was simply Machine Head's return to form, follow-up 'The Blackening' was the monumental release heavy metal had been desperate for for years. An instant, day one heavy metal classic and a benchmark for bands past, present and future, to strive for, for years to come.