Reviews

Machine Head – “Do Or Die” [Song Review]

Machine Head’s newest single, “Do or Die” (out October 11th on Imperium X/Nuclear Blast), is a killer song, but Robb Flynn’s poseur-egomaniac act isn’t sitting well with everyone.

Published

4 years ago

10/29/2019

Micha Kite

Article Views: 666

First off, this is a KILLER song. There’s a damning, heavier-than-fuck chorus, and a bone-crushing breakdown that any idiot can catch on to. But let’s back up. Problem is, Robb Flynn has a chip on his shoulder heavier than any guitar riff he has ever constructed. He’s a shit-talking egomaniac. Not only does he call out some historic bands in his rapid-fire/rap-influenced lyrics, but he forgets where he came from in the first place: “there’s not a metal band I ain’t influenced, now I’m calling out the judas.”

Let’s start from square one. Bay area thrash metal. You helped form Forbidden. One of the greatest NWOBHM-influenced thrash bands of all time. Next, you jumped ship into Vio-lence and, with the help of Phil Demmel, wrote one of the most groundbreaking thrash albums of that era. Let’s skip the drug stories and your hood antics and enter Machine Head; which is blatantly influenced by Sepultura mixed with Fear Factory, point-blank!

Robb Flynn and the boys.

Monte Connor picked up on it and ran with it because you used a tried-and-true recipe that was a full-force smash. Then, after a while, you shifted with the winds of change, joining the hip crowd and became Coolio with your nu metal sound which Phil Anselmo even called you out on, but we won’t quote what Phil had to say about that period of Machine Head.

So now in 2019, you’re trying to get us to believe that you’re the godfather of all things thrash metal with great, new offerings? You, sir, are the biggest poseur of them all. At least Vio-lence is having fun again sticking to their guns. You’re trying to outwit everyone with a new single which showcases how pissed off you are. Why? Because you’re lost. Why the necessity to re-record “Burn My Eyes”? I guess the first try sucked? BTW, great job on “Do or Die”. I’m sure the Hot Topic crowd will enjoy the sing-along chorus and buy your t-shirts at the counter with your predictable breakdown, but not this old badger. I remember every step of your journey.

Run Time: 3:43
Release Date: October 11, 2019
Record Label: Imperium X/Nuclear Blast

“Do or Die”; it seems like Machine Head is leaning more towards the latter.

Related Topics:Do or Die fear factory forbidden machine head metal nuclear blast records phil anselmo puregrainaudio review song review thrash

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Micha Kite

I was born in the late 60's amongst hippies and bikers. Cut my teeth on 70's rock and roll surrounded by motorheads and potheads, and in the 80's spread my wings and flourished as a guitarist. In the 90's I became a semi-professional musician knocking on death metals door, as well as entering the world as a freelance writer. In the 2000's I moved to Hollywood and watched the music industry crumble in front of my dreams and then took a break. Now, in the early 2020s I'm ready to rock again… or swing, blues, bluegrass, country, jazz, classical, etc. Its not so much a job to me anymore, but a great way to express myself and have a good time, and, "I know, its only rock and roll but I like it".