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

Machine Head's Phil Demmel: Track-By-Track Breakdown of "Unto The Locust"

Machine Head have wrapped up the production of their seventh studio album titled "Unto the Locust" (to be released on September 26/27, 2011 via Roadrunner Records). The band is currently destroying stages at the Rockstar Mayhem Festival. Recently, their guitar master Phil Demmel was interviewed by the Denver alt-weekly Westword and he was asked to give a track-by-track breakdown of "Unto The Locust". Here it is!

- "I Am Hell," the opener, is actually a sonata. It's a song in three parts, and it's a pyromaniac song. You know, it's the most brutal song Machine Head has ever written. It's got to at least be eight minutes long. So, it starts off with... you know, I'm not going to break down the music too much. I mean its still pretty early before the record comes out, but it's a three part tune.

- "Be Still in Now," which is, uh, kind of a few riffs that I threw together, that kind of got shelved for a minute, got put away, and got brought back from the dead when I came in one day and those guys were kind of jamming on it. It kind of got some chest compressions, and it got brought back to life. Epic jam. It's about struggle, and overcoming struggle, and knowing that the light at the end of the tunnel is only there if that light shines inside of you.

The title was... Like my grandmother handed down all of her grandchildren bible verses in all their Easter cards and Christmas cards. She used to sign one to each, and mine was Psalm 46, which is, "Be still, and know that I'm the Lord". Basically, be steadfast. Know that you will get through, and this shall pass. It kind of fit into the tune and kind of fit into the chorus. I mean, I got it tattooed on my arm around eight years ago. So, it's been kind of my mantra through my life. So, I'm really stoked that Rob chose to title the song that.

- "Locust" is a concept I came up with, based on a few people I have encountered in my life, just like everybody has: The type of person that just comes into your life under a different guise, under false pretenses, to befriend you, be your buddy, be your man, be on your team, or, you know, to be your lover or whatever. Their goal is just to soak up all your resources and just to drain you of all you've got, whatever you have to offer. Once they're discovered, they fly off into the next crop and drain that of everything. Yeah, it just feels like hell.

- "This is the End" is a burner, one of the faster Machine Head songs ever [laughter]. Rob and David got together, and we took a break from everything after touring for three years. We took about a six-month break, got back together and wrote this song. It's really fast. Kind of a Death Metal song, but it's got the classical sound like a Death Metal tune. The whole record has kind of neo-classical feel to it. The song, Rob's going to have to describe the lyrics. It's basically about people kind of living and not being able to accept present times and moving on to things.

- "Darkest of Day": this song is probably the biggest departure of our record, in terms of when we did on "Innocence Denied" on Through The Ashes. It's kind of a ballad, with acoustic guitars. This one I'm going to leave up to something of a surprise. All of my friends that aren't kind of into Metal say, "Damn, is that you guys?" It's a beautiful, beautiful song. Still heavy, but us growing as musicians. It has my favorite, the best solo I've ever done for this band, so far, dripping with emotion. I'll leave it at that.

- "Pearls Before Swine" is a song about addiction. It was a song without lyrics really for a while, without a concept. We kind of came up with an idea to write about addicts and addiction, when talking to each other and watching Breaking Bad episodes to kind of catch up and start again to see it. [laughter] It's not a song about hope. It's just a song about about being in the throes of addiction, in its claws, and a lot of my lyrics are in there. So, there's a lot of descriptive thoughts of addiction. It's not a song of hope for sure. It's not "Stairway to Heaven." It's not a song of hope for sure.

- And the last song is a song called "Who We Are," which is another song that Rob wrote. He and Dave kind of had it before I started writing for the record. I took some time off last year to deal with some personal stuff. This one and the other one I talked about earlier are the two that Rob had already written and brought. You know, he had all this music pouring out of him, and he had to get it out...so. Yeah, I don't know really how to describe those two, so I'm going to refrain from doing that.

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



ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL TOUR DATES:

7/19 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater - Maryland Heights, MO (St. Louis, MO)
7/20 - Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
7/22 - Comcast Center - Mansfield, MA (Boston, MA)
7/23 - Parc Jean-Drapeau - (Heavy MTL) - Montreal, QC
7/24 - Comcast Theatre - Hartford, CT
7/26 - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center - Darien Center, NY
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

Related links:
Machine Head
Purchase Locust on Amazon
Purchase Locust on Itunes
Full interview with Phil Demmel by the Denver Westword

Machine Head Debut "Locust" (New Song) at the Rockstar Mayhem Festival

Machine Head have wrapped up the production of their seventh studio album titled "Unto the Locust" (to be released on September 26/27, 2011 via Roadrunner Records). As previously announced, the band is part of these years Rockstar Mayhem Festival, which kicked off this past weekend in California. On Saturday, July 9, Machine Head performed at the San Manuel Amphitheater in San Bernardino, California and debuted their new song titled "Locust" in front of a sweaty, hungry crowd!

Here is a video of Machine Head performing "Locust":



ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL TOUR DATES:

7/12 - White River Amphitheatre - Auburn, WA (Seattle, WA)
7/13 - Idaho Center Amphitheater - Nampa, ID (Boise, ID)
7/15 – Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion - Phoenix, AZ
7/16 - Hard Rock Casino Presents: The Pavilion - Albuquerque, NM
7/17 - Comfort Dental Amphitheater - Englewood, CO (Denver, CO)
7/19 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater - Maryland Heights, MO (St. Louis, MO)
7/20 - Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
7/22 - Comcast Center - Mansfield, MA (Boston, MA)
7/23 - Parc Jean-Drapeau - (Heavy MTL) - Montreal, QC
7/24 - Comcast Theatre - Hartford, CT
7/26 - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center - Darien Center, NY
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

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
- 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

Visit their official website at www.machinehead1.com for a chance to win tickets, and stay tuned for more updates.

Related links:
Machine Head
Purchase Locust on Amazon
Purchase Locust on Itunes

Machine Head Announce Additional Special One-off Shows in North America

The Machine Head crew have been busy working on their seventh studio album titled "Unto The Locust" (out September 26/27, 2011, via Roadrunner Records) for the last year. As they put the final touches to what is one of the most anticipated albums in Heavy Music for 2011. The band have announced a few special one-off shows, before they hit the road as part of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.

Machine Head will be performing on July 5th at Club Vegas in Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as on July 7th in Reno, Nevada at The Knitting Factory. These dates will mark the first time the band has taken the stage since March of last year after a relentless three years of touring for the critically acclaimed album, "The Blackening".

These shows will be the only two U.S. headline dates in 2011 and both feature the band in an intimate setting, facilitating the kind of close connection with their fans that ignites the crushing live performances that so many of the band’s die-hard fans have come to expect. If you are anywhere near Salt Lake City or Reno, these shows are not to be missed.



North America Tour Dates:
7/5 - Club Vegas - Salt Lake City, Utah
7/7 - The Knitting Factory - Reno, Nevada

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL TOUR DATES:

7/9 - San Manuel Amphitheater - San Bernardino, CA (Los Angeles, CA)
7/10 - Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View, CA (San Francisco, CA)
7/12 - White River Amphitheatre - Auburn, WA (Seattle, WA)
7/13 - Idaho Center Amphitheater - Nampa, ID (Boise, ID)
7/15 – Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion - Phoenix, AZ
7/16 - Hard Rock Casino Presents: The Pavilion - Albuquerque, NM
7/17 - Comfort Dental Amphitheater - Englewood, CO (Denver, CO)
7/19 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater - Maryland Heights, MO (St. Louis, MO)
7/20 - Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
7/22 - Comcast Center - Mansfield, MA (Boston, MA)
7/23 - Parc Jean-Drapeau - (Heavy MTL) - Montreal, QC
7/24 - Comcast Theatre - Hartford, CT
7/26 - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center - Darien Center, NY
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

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
- 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

Visit their official website at www.machinehead1.com for a chance to win tickets, and stay tuned for more updates.

Related links:
Machine Head's Official Site
Purchase Locust on Amazon
Purchase Locust on Itunes

Machine Head Announce Album Title, Release Date and European Tour

As we all know, Machine Head is currently working on their seventh studio album and are preparing to embark on the Rockstar Mayhem Festival! After releasing the first cut from their album, "Locust", the Machine Head camp seem to be steering their new album to the right direction both sonically and lyrically. Their new album is set to be released on September 26/27, 2011 via Roadrunner Records and its titled "Unto the Locust". Here is the Official press release:

Off on the distant horizon what appears to be a massive cloud can be seen blackening the sky. As it gets closer it becomes obvious that the "cloud" is no cloud at all, but a massive swarm preparing to descend on the shores of Europe and the U.K.. "The Eighth Plague" tour will make land on November 2nd and rip a swath across the landscape with a magnitude heretofore unseen.

MACHINE HEAD, in support of their newest crushing release "Unto The Locust" (out September 26/27, 2011) will collide with the land and lay waste to every city in their path. Accompanied by very special guests Bring Me The Horizon as well as DevilDriver and Darkest Hour, "The Eighth Plague" tour promises to be the most exciting, hard-hitting tour in recent memory.

"This will no doubt be the heaviest show you're going to see this year" states Machine Head frontman and guitarist Robb Flynn. "A lot of the greatest shows of our last touring cycle were in Europe and the U.K., so the prospect of this lineup combined with these crowds has us extremely stoked to get out there and tear it up! New material, great venues, killer fans... we absolutely cannot wait!"

Adds Bring Me The Horizon vocalist Oliver Sykes, "We're proper excited for these dates with Machine Head! We were listening to them before we even started BMTH, so to be going on tour with them is blowin' our minds! These will be our last U.K./Euro dates before we take a break to record our next album as well, so it's gonna be mental! We honestly can't wait."

Says DevilDriver vocalist Dez Fafara, "We always love touring in packages that offer a diversity of styles of metal. This is yet another one of those packages. I would like to personally thank Robb Flynn for inviting us to the party. See you in the fucking pit."

"We are so excited to announce our upcoming winter European tour with Machine Head, Bring Me the Horizon, and Devildriver" exclaims Darkest Hour vocalist John Henry. "European audiences are true purists when it comes to their love for metal music and great metal concerts, so there's no better place in a world for this tour to go down. It will take us to cities we haven't been to in a decade, as well as a few new ones. Meeting new friends and exploring other cultures has always been something we enjoy as a band, and getting to explore some of these places with this great bill for the first time is both a great privilege and an honor. If you can make it out to one of these shows please do, you won't be let down."

After over a year hiatus from touring, busy writing, recording and crafting their newest masterpiece, Machine Head cannot wait to be back in Europe and the U.K. on stage before some of the most diehard fans metal has to offer. A relationship forged with years of relentless touring is about to be reignited. Tickets go on sale June 24th. Give yourself Unto The Locust or be left to wander aimlessly in the aftermath.

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
- 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

Related links:
Machine Head
Purchase Locust on Amazon
Purchase Locust on Itunes

Premiere of Machine Head's "Locust"

The mighty Machine Head has a new song for your ears to indulge themselves with. Maybe they just want to tease your ear drums by making them excited about their upcoming 7th studio album, which is expected to be released this September via Roadrunner Records. The truth is that with the results of Machine Head's last two albums (Through the Ashes of Empires & The Blackening), the band is under a lot of pressure to deliver yet another masterpiece to their worldwide fan base.

"For the past two records [as well as] this one, we've really been writing for ourselves. And we don't really have a set plan; we didn't really sit down and even go, like, 'We had a bunch of long songs on the last record, we've gotta do a bunch of short ones.' We had some time off and we started itching to get back in and start writing — just whatever was flowing out. And it's killer, man; it's super-exciting. We're all really, really excited about what happened, what came out. We feel like we've got another kick-ass album on our hands and we can't wait for everybody to hear it." - Dave McClain

Without further due, here is "Locust"!



Related links:
Machine Head
Purchase Locust on Amazon
Purchase Locust on Itunes

Machine Head to Debut Brand New Track

This past April we had the privilege of interviewing Machine Head's frontman Robb Flynn and drummer Dave McClain, while at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards. During the interview (you can watch the interview below), we discussed their new album, which they had just started recording at the time. Here is what they had to say about it at the time:

"We've been in there for three days. Dave McClain's been laying down the drums, killing it, and we're getting going on the journey. In July we're out on the [Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem [Festival] tour, and then the record drops in September." - Robb Flynn

"For the past two records [as well as] this one, we've really been writing for ourselves. And we don't really have a set plan; we didn't really sit down and even go, like, 'We had a bunch of long songs on the last record, we've gotta do a bunch of short ones.' We had some time off and we started itching to get back in and start writing — just whatever was flowing out. And it's killer, man; it's super-exciting. We're all really, really excited about what happened, what came out. We feel like we've got another kick-ass album on our hands and we can't wait for everybody to hear it." - Dave McClain


Machine Head will debut a brand new song this June, here is the OFFICIAL press release:

"Normally, one would be wise to avoid a plague of locusts. Prophets warn about them and they occur in the Bible. However, in the Summer of 2011, metal fans and headbangers are going to happily succumb to a "Locust" in the form of a brand new track from Bay Area metal icons MACHINE HEAD.

The band, which released the back-to-back, modern classics, 2004's Through the Ashes of Empires and 2007's The Blackening, are aiming to unleash their third masterwork in a row on September 27th via longtime label Roadrunner Records. The as-yet untitled new album is being recorded at JingleTown Studios in Oakland, with frontman Robb Flynn producing, and it is sure to level anything and everything that happens upon its path.

Machine Head will prepare for the release of their new album by appearing on the main stage of the Rock Star Energy Drink Mayhem Festival for key dates (while headlining the Extreme Stage for others) this summer; the tour kicks off this July. This is the band's second tour of duty on Mayhem, as they appeared on the festival during its inaugural run in 2008.

An advance mix of "Locust" will be on sale at iTunes on June 14th and will be included on an iTunes Mayhem digital sampler. Download cards for the digital sampler will be distributed at every date of the REDMF so fans can redeem the song after being summarily kicked in the face by Machine Head's always devastating live show.

"We've been working on the record for a few weeks now, and when the opportunity to be a part of the free Mayhem sampler came up, we did not want to pass up the chance," said Machine Head vocalist/guitarist Robb Flynn. "We're so pumped for our fans to hear the new music that we're so proud of."

Flynn went a little deeper about the meaning of the song, saying, "'Locust' is a metaphor. Locusts fly in a swarm, but they can't control which direction they fly; they float on the wind, they land, cause massive destruction, and then float away on the wind to leave you in the aftermath. The song is a metaphor for a type of person that sometimes comes into your life and has a similar effect."

Musically, the song is the essence of what Machine Head have been doing for nearly two decades. "It feels like the culmination of what we've been doing for the last 17 years: power grooves, patented Machine Head harmonics, crushing guitars and dark melodies, but taken to a new level," Flynn said. "It's a natural progression from The Blackening, but different than anything on that record. In the past, when we debuted a new song, it was usually the fastest, thrashiest tune. This time we wanted to go with something just straight-up heavy."

The song is eight minutes in length, which is not unfamiliar territory for the band. Flynn even joked, "We still can't seem to write a damn song under six minutes. But Machine Head aren't writing music for the radio or MTV. This is for us. This is for the metalhead who let's music take him on a journey. This for the metalhead for whom music is the only thing that matters, to whom music is a savior. This is for the music fan who's going to study every detail of the artwork, go online and find the lyrics and memorize every word, and let it take them away from their f---ed up life for a while. It's for the music freak, who maybe just wants to get hammered, air-guitar and sing at the top of his lungs, and act like an friggin' idiot while starting a moshpit in their living room with reckless abandon. Because that's who wrote this song, and those are the only people we care about connecting with."

Flynn finished, "We know you'll be as excited about it as we are. So, Head Cases, on June 14th, check out 'Locust.'"

Machine Head rode a wave of incredible success in the '00s, one that is certain to carry them through this new decade. They were nominated for a Grammy for Best Metal Performance –their first-- for "Aesthetics of Hate" from The Blackening and were invited to tour with Metallica in the US and Europe, and also joined Slipknot, Slayer and Megadeth on tour dates. They have also headlined some of the biggest festivals in Europe, performing as a part of Wacken (Germany) and Download (England.)

"Locust" is a true metal anthem from these metal torchbearers, and it's erected upon the band's signature, crunchy guitar tone, pummeling riffage, a thunderstorm of percussion and Flynn's militaristic barks. "Locust" is one of those cathartic, "gets the red out" type of songs that will incite mosh pits across the globe and cause the listener to be purged of all their anger (and exhausted from rocking the hell out) once the last note fades out.

Prepare to suffer unto the "Locust" on June 14th and beyond."







Photo credit: Mitchell Damien Maurer

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Machine Head defines the present of Heavy Music

The day we say the video for Machine Head's "Davidian", we immediately ran to the record store and purchased their epic album "Burn My Eyes". Ever since then we have been hooked on the power and heaviness that these Bay Area badasses deliver time after time. What we have always admired about Machine Head is that they are not afraid of taking measured risks, which ultimately has helped the band keep their music fresh, yet focused on their ultimate goal: kick everyone's ass through chaotic, precise and meaningful music!

Throughout their successful career Machine Head has gone through ups and downs, various lineup changes, and plenty of blood, sweat, and beers. Their discography is proof that the band has reinvented themselves throughout the years and their overall attitude makes it obvious that they will continue to do so. After the success of their legendary album "The Blackening", which scored them some epic tour dates with Metallica, the band has entered the studio to record their 7th studio album (due this September). The band plans to have the record completely done by July, which is when they will be part of the Rockstar Mayhem Festival alongside Megadeth, In Flames, Godsmack, Disturbed and more.

After talking to Robb Flynn (singer) and Dave McClain (drummer) at the Revolver Golden Gods "Black Carpet", we have no doubt that Machine Head will make ear drums explode when they release their new record. Interviewing them made it evident that they are at the climax of their careers and that they have plenty of fuel to burn for years. Here is the EXCLUSIVE interview, in which we discuss the impact of Heavy Music today! \m/





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