Very few bands make it to their 11th album. Even fewer do so with the same fire and fury that defined their early years. But Machine Head isn’t just any band. For over three decades, the personification of determination, Founder/Vocalist/Guitarist Robb Flynn, has led Machine Head on an uncompromising path – one fueled by defiance, reinvention, and a relentless pursuit of evolution. Now, with ‘UNATØNED’ (out in April on Nuclear Blast), they’ve once again sharpened their sound into its most direct and impactful form to date.
That fighting spirit, paired with a steadfast commitment to reinvention, has kept Machine Head at the forefront of heavy music. With 5 million albums sold, over a billion streams (650 million alone on Spotify), and a Grammy nomination, their legacy is indeed impossible to deny – but nostalgia has never been part of the equation. ‘UNATØNED’ is a testament to momentum, an album honed to its sharpest edge, forged on creative discipline and the hunger to push forward.
Determined to challenge himself, Flynn set strict songwriting parameters for ‘UNATØNED,’ shorter, more focused songs with a decidedly American feel, unconventional key changes, and shifting structures that break expectations. That self-imposed restraint resulted in a lean, unrelenting album that captures Machine Head at their most potent. Written in motion – on the road, in hotel rooms, and across continents – it reflects the raw energy of their return to the global festival circuit after an 11-year hiatus.
The album drips with melancholy melodies, and yet hammers with bludgeoning riffs, soars with anthemic sing-a-longs of love-lost and sadness, to bellowing power and
undeniable confidence.
‘UNATØNED’ is Machine Head proving once again that longevity in metal isn’t about comfort – it’s about taking risks, standing firm in conviction, and refusing to stagnate. Eleven albums deep, they remain as fierce, relevant, and unstoppable as ever.
