40. Machine Head - "Of Kingdom and Crown"

The return of Machine Head. Their first album in four years and their first since their long-standing line-up of Flynn, MacEachern, Demmel and McClain dissolved in the fall of 2018. Though to be honest, for many moons now though Machine Head has been Rob Flynn’s passion project. So he regrouped, brought in new personnel (in the shape of Matt Allston and Vogg from Decapitated) and got back to being the primal force that they are.

“Of kingdom and Crown” is a sprawling concept album inspired by the many hours that Rob spent watching “Attack on Titan” with his sons. It is by a country mile the most ambitious thing the band has ever attempted and in the main, they manage to pull it off. It still sounds like Machine Head but a much denser, more complex and technically proficient Machine Head. Once again, they have successfully altered their sound without losing what makes them, them. 

Yes, it could have been done with a little bit of editing (it’s probably about 10 minutes too long) but it is certainly the most diverse and textured album that they have ever made. Whilst it still does not hold a candle to the utterly extraordinary “the Blackening” this is still the most vital and exciting that Machine Head have sounded since then.