16. Machine Head - Burn My Eyes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVtPyipUSXc Track List: 1. Davidian 2. Old 3. A Thousand Lies 4. None But My Own 5. The Rage to Overcome 6. Death Church 7. A Nation on Fire 8. Blood for Blood 9. I'm Your God Now 10. Real Eyes. Realize. Real Lies 11. Block Thrash Metal was outcast and Grunge reigned supreme but in 1994 Machine Head's head honcho and Thrash veteran Robb Flynn (Forbidden, Vio-Lence) didn't give a hoot, unleashing an instant classic of groove-laden Pantera-esque Thrash upon the world. Influenced equally by Slayer's Thrash intensity and Suicidal Tendencies Skate-core aesthetic, Burn my Eyes was a refreshing, surprising left-turn in the face of Grunge's unrelenting dominance. Unjustly ignored in the US but adored by European metal-heads, the album sold just shy of 400,000 copies worldwide, becoming Roadrunner Records' best selling debut album until Slipknot's masked marauders unleashed their ferocious debut in 1999 (more on them later). Opening track Davidian was an instantaneous statement of grinding, bulldozing intent that was sledgehammer-heavy and groovier than a 70's disco marathon. It remains Machine Head's defining moment and its street-level refrain of 'Let freedom reign with a shotgun blast' echoes around your head for days. That's not to say that the album's remaining 10 tracks are any less crushing. Far from it; A Thousand Lies, None But My Own and Block are equally accomplished, infused with a grit and bite and just as immediate and satisfying; Davidian just happens to be a modern metal classic and most songs pale in comparison. These are songs which tell of the reality of life on the streets, the perils of drug addiction, gang-violence and the endless fight against hypocrisy and social stigma. Heavy subject matter maybe, but a strong positive element bleeds through each and every lyric; dig deep beneath the gang-mentality and hard as nails machismo and you'll find a positive message of staying true to your beliefs and never giving up - there is much to admire here. Machine Head let Thrash Metal reign with a shotgun blast loud enough to blow grunge's cardigan-wearing miseries to smithereens, letting Thrash lovers know that they need not lurk embarrassingly in the shadows anymore. Thrash was back with a bang and it was a welcome return.
Christopher Jennings
Contributor
I love Heavy Metal, and generally anything that involves a guitar and loud noises, so I figured it was about time I put all the useless information in my head to good use and start writing a few things. Most of the time I'll be writing nonsense but occasionally I may surprise myself and appear half-way knowledgable.....but you can be the judge of that. Thanks for your fleeting attention!
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Christopher