Machine Head's Phil Demmel & Dave McClain Discuss NEW Album & Life on the Road

As we all know, Machine Head are currently putting the final touches to their seventh studio album titled "Unto The Locust" (set to be released on September 20th via Roadrunner Records). Judging from their first single "Locust", the record touches on darker themes and Robb Flynn has declared it to be his most personal record to date. At current time Flynn is flying back and forth between Oakland, California (where the record is being mixed) and the 2011 Rockstar Mayhem Festival! We had the chance to catch up with lead guitarist Phil Demmel and drummer Dave McClain, to discuss with them the new album and how they keep themselves focused while living on the road. This interview is not to be missed! Headbang motherfukkas!

"It is a different record then 'The Blackening', but we feel like we stepped our game up again." - Phil Demmel

"We are super proud of this record. In the last three albums, including this one, we've had complete musical freedom to do what we want to do. It is the first time we have the same lineup for more than two records. We feel that as much as we love 'The Blackening', we feel really proud of this one and are certain that people will feel the same way about this record as they did with 'Through the Ashes of Empires' and 'The Blackening". - Dave McClain



Click here to read The Horns Up Rocks Recap of Mayhemfest in Hartford Connecticut

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL TOUR DATES:

7/27 - PNC Bank Arts Center - Holmdel, NJ
7/29 - First Niagara Pavilion - Burgettstown, PA (Pittsburgh, PA)
7/30 - Jiffy Lube Live - Bristow, VA (Washington DC)
7/31 - Susquehanna Bank Center - Camden, NJ
8/2 – Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach - Virginia Beach, VA
8/3 - Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek - Raleigh, NC
8/5 - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre - Tinley Park, IL (Chicago IL)
8/6 - DTE Energy Music Theatre - Clarkston, MI (Detroit, MI)
8/7 - Verizon Wireless Music Center - Noblesville, IN (Indianapolis, IN)
8/9 - Zoo Amphitheatre - Oklahoma City, OK
8/10 – Gexa Energy Pavilion - Dallas, TX
8/12 - Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood - Atlanta, GA
8/13 - 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre - Tampa, FL
8/14 - Cruzan Amphitheatre - West Palm Beach, FL

Soundwave Revolution 2011 with VAN HALEN / ALICE COOPER / BAD RELIGION / HOLE / MACHINE HEAD & MORE!
09.24 - Brisbane, QLD - RNA Showgrounds
09.25 - Sydney, NSW - Old Kings Oval, Parramatta Park
09.30 - Melbourne, VIC - Tabcorp Park, Melton
10.01 - Adelaide, SA - Showgrounds
10.03 - Perth, WA - Arena, Joondalup

South American Tour-Dates with Sepultura:
10/14 - Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Citibank Hall
10/15 - Curitiba, Brazil @ Master Hall
10/16 - Porto Alegre, Brazil @ Casa de Gaucho
10/21 - Buenos Aires, Argentina @ El Teatro Flores
10/23 - Santiago, Chile @ Teatro Caupolican

European Tour Dates:
- 02-Nov Wed: Norway, Oslo - Sentrum
- 03-Nov Thu: Sweden, Stockholm - Aren
- 05-Nov Sat: Finland, Tampere - Sorsapuisto-Sali
- 06-Nov Sun: Finland, Helsinki - Circus
- 08-Nov Tue: Denmark, Copenhagen - KB Halle
- 09-Nov Wed: Germany, Hamburg - Grosse Freiheit 36
- 10-Nov Thu: Germany, Dresden - Alter Schlachthof
- 12-Nov Sat: Austria, Vienna - Gasomter
- 13-Nov Sun: Italy, Milan - Alcatraz
- 15-Nov Tue: Spain, Barcelona - Razzmatazz
- 16-Nov Wed: Spain, Madrid - Riviera
- 17-Nov Thu: Portugal, Lisbon - Coliseum
- 18-Nov Fri: Portugal, Oporto - Coliseum
- 19-Nov Sat: Spain, Bilbao - Rockitar
- 21-Nov Mon: Switzerland, Zurich - Volkshaus
- 23-Nov Wed: France, Paris - Zenith
- 24-Nov Thu: Germany, Neu-Isenburg - Hugenottenhalle
- 25-Nov Fri: Germany, Munich - Tonhalle
- 26-Nov Sat: Germany, Ludwigsburg - Arena
- 28-Nov Mon: Holland, Eindhoven - Klokgebown
- 29-Nov Tue: Belgium, Brussels - Forest
- 30-Nov Wed: Germany, Oberhausen - Turbinenhalle
- 01-Dec Thu: Luxembourg - Rockhal
- 03-Dec Sat: UK, London - Wembley Arena
- 04-Dec Sun: UK, Birmingham - NIA
- 05-Dec Mon: UK, Glasgow - SECC
- 06-Dec Tue: UK, Manchester - Central

Here is a video of Machine Head performing "Locust" at these years Mayhem Fest:



Special thanks to Steve Lars, Paul Sosa, Adrenaline PR, Machine Head, and of course Rockstar Energy Drink for organizing this killer event year after year.

IN MEMORY OF:

Video and Photo credit: Steve Lars from Creative Ventures International

Related links:
The Horns Up Rocks Recap of Mayhemfest in Hartford Connecticut
Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival
Machine Head
Purchase Locust on Amazon
Purchase Locust on Itunes