Robb Flynn of Machine Head Speaks to ARTISTdirect

"I love when a record tells a story," admits Machine Head singer and guitarist Robb Flynn. "In some ways, it's like a dying art. Most people focus on a song here or there. There are still people out there who do love records. We try to do that."

Each one of Machine Head's songs functions as a tapestry of raw emotion woven together by Flynn's eloquent lyrics, intense vocal delivery, the inimitable interplay between he and guitarist Phil Demmel, and the rhythmic destruction articulated by drummer Dave McClain and bassist Adam Duce. Their stories manage to come to life blisteringly on stage. Their double-disc live epic, Machine F**king Head Live, preserves every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears encapsulated in those tales. It's a true beast of a live record and one of the year's best.

In this exclusive interview with ARTISTdirect.com editor in chief Rick Florino, Machine Head mainman Robb Flynn talks Machine F**king Head Live, "Darkness Within", what he's read lately, and more.

Check out the interview after the jump:

"Machine F**king Head Live" Gets Five out of Five Stars From ARTISTdirect!

 

"There aren't a lot of bands that last 10 fucking years let alone 17 years," declares Machine Head mainman Robb Flynn before launching into "Darkness Within" from the band's double-disc live masterpiece, Machine F**cking Head Live.

Morphing from shuddering clean vocals and guitar on the intro into a heavenly guttural chorus, "Darkness Within" stands emblematic of the band's grip on dynamics. The live recording retains the original's vulnerable ferocity bolstered by the crowd's haunting outro chant and singing. The audience enhances the experience just as it would at any Machine Head show. It's the "Head Cases" who get the spotlight here, and Flynn and Co. allow them to shine.

Let's not forget the players though. Flynn, guitarist Phil Demmel, bassist Adam Duce, and drummer Dave McClain comprise one of the tightest bands heavy metal has ever seen, and Machine F**cking Head Live solidifies on all 15 tracks with the force of a "Ten Ton Hammer".

"I Am Hell (Sonata in C#)" remains an epic massacre of the highest order for nearly ten minutes, while "Imperium" redefines the dual guitar attack for the 21st century with Flynn and Demmel ripping in tandem. "Beautiful Mourning" and "Be Still and Know" temper crushing and catchy as "The Blood, the Sweat, the Tears" practically induces an earthquake live. The Unto the Locust fare, "This is the End" and "Locust", was tailormade to slay live and does it ever. The recording bristles with raw thrash violence. Yet, the intimacy of "Halo" cruises into psychedelic territory with Flynn guiding the crystal ship.

"Davidian" rounds out the battering in proper form with Flynn screaming, "Headbang motherfucker" over his flawless riffing. Machine F**cking Head Live is on the level with Pantera's Official Live: 101 Proof and Slayer's Decade of Aggression: Live as an essential live record.

Cheers to another 17 years for the kings of 21st century thrash.

—Rick Florino
11.12.12


Originally posted at: http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/machine-head-machine-f-cking-head-live-album-review-5-out-of-5-stars/10297492 

 

Roadrunner Artists Talk Soundgarden with ARTISTdirect

You don't have to look far to feel Soundgarden's influence.

The Seattle legends altered the course of rock music forever with the thunderous wail of Louder than Love, the psychedelic grit of Badmotorfinger, the tuneful melancholy of Superunknown, and the irresistible darkness of Down on the Upside. They're pushing the genre forward once more with the release of King Animal [available November 13, 2012 via Seven Four Entertainment/Republic Records]. Waking the Soundgarden beast, it's everything listeners love about the band and so much more.

Given the band's importance, ARTISTdirect.com editor in chief Rick Florino spoke to everyone from Korn and Staind to Megadeth and Machine Head to Dead Sara and HIM about Soundargden. Of course, everybody had something to say about Soundgarden's impact.

This continues our "Artists Talk Soundgarden" feature!

See what Roadrunner artists had to say after the jump:

Heartist talks "Nothing You Didn't Deserve" with ARTISTdirect

Nothing You Didn't Deserve announces Heartist's arrival with a bang.

Merging metal intensity, a hardcore stomp, and rock 'n' roll swagger, the Orange County outfit blow the doors open when it comes to heavy alternative. They've got the kind of personal panache game-changers are made of. Infectious, inviting, and inimitable, Heartist stand out as one of the most thrilling new bands of the 21st century.

In this exclusive interview with ARTISTdirect.com editor in chief Rick Florino, Heartist singer Bryce Beckley talks Nothing You Didn't Deserve [iTunes link] and so much more.
Check out the interview after the jump:

Rob Flynn of Machine Head Shares his Top 3 Live Albums with ARTISTdirect!

Machine Head slay any stage that they invade.

Somehow, they've only gotten more fierce, fiery, and focused over the years, and their forthcoming two-disc epic, Machine F**king Head Live, illuminates that in flames and blood. Recorded over 2011 and 2012 during their tours in support of Unto the Locust, it's one of the best live records heavy metal has ever seen from one of its greatest live acts. You'll need to get it on November 13, 2012 to hear it for yourself though…

About the record, singer and guitarist Robb Flynn smiles, "The fan energy is key. The band aren't the stars of the record. It's the 'Head Cases'. This record is about the Machine Head freaks. It's our trip for them. It's their moment to get the spotlight. I'm fucking blown away by the sing-a-longs."

You will be too! On ARTISTdirect.com, we have a surprise coming Monday October 22 from the band. In the meantime though, as part of an on-going interview with Robb Flynn, ARTISTdirect.com editor in chief Rick Florino spoke to him about his favorite live records of all-time.

Check out the list below and stay tuned for more from Machine Head.

ARTISTdirect gives Heartist's "Nothing You Didn't Deserve" 5 Out of 5 Stars!

On their first EP for Roadrunner Records, Nothing You Didn't Deserve, Heartist carefully wire together a hardcore metallic attack with a delicate, emotional core.

However, they do so in their own deliberate manner, paving the way for one of the most powerful and pummeling debuts in recent memory. Electronics skitter to a halt during the intro of "Disconnected" before the song quickly descends into vicious riff violence courtesy of Jonathan Gaytan and Tim Koch. Then, like a roller coaster, Heartist rises and falls from malevolent to melodic with a potent six-string crunch. Singer Bryce Beckley screams with the best of them, but he's got a vulnerability that's vital to the sound on "The Answer" and "Where Did I Go Wrong?" Somewhere between Killswitch Engage's calculated and cutting metal precision and My Chemical Romance's swooning alternative, Heartist reign supreme.

In that sense, they bridge the gap better than anyone, and you can feel it on the final strains of the ballad "Heart of Gold". These six songs introduce one of heavy music's most dynamic new acts. Get ready to bleed with them.

—Rick Florino
10.16.12

 Originally posted at: http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/heartist-nothing-you-didn-t-deserve-ep-review-5-out-of-5-stars/10254534

Artist Direct gives The Amity Affliction's "Chasing Ghosts" 5 out of 5 stars!

The Amity Affliction "Chasing Ghosts" Album Review — 5 out of 5 stars

It's hard to stand out in heavy music these days.

The genre's reached a point of oversaturation. Even the subgenres—regardless whether it's deathcore or mainstream hard rock—have become overpopulated to the point of suffocation. However, there's always one band that strikes out on its own and does something downright revolutionary. For 2012, the originality crown goes to The Amity Affliction.

Their second offering, Chasing Ghosts, siphons technical heavy metal, gritty hardcore, skittering electronics, and pop melody into music that's decidedly real, raw, and refreshing. Commencing with the inimitably catchy yet brilliantly bludgeoning title track, the group skates a fine line between beauty and brutality that only Deftones and Killswitch Engage have managed to equal. The interplay of frontman Joel Birch, the screamer, and bassist Ahren Stringer, the crooner, is nothing short of hypnotic. At the same time, guitarists Troy Brady and Imran Siddiqi murderously riff 'n' roll along to Ryan Burt's punchy drumming. Orchestral synths creep below the surface of "Life Underground", adding a horror movie tension to the music, while "Greens Avenue" delivers a succinct crushing groove before another pristine hook from Stringer.

Watery piano begins "I Heart H.C." before another descent into madness, and the decisive duality of "Flowerbomb" proves remarkable. "Bondi St. Blues" exhales one final crushing breath to leave you battered in the best way possible and hungry for more.

With blood on the floor and the competition in the dust, The Amity Affliction stand at the top. Chasing Ghosts is a flawless classic and the start of something big…

—Rick Florino
10.02.12

Originally posted at: http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/the-amity-affliction-chasing-ghosts-album-review-5-out-of-5-stars/10254240

Gojira Talks "L'Enfant Sauvage" and Look Back on "From Mars to Sirius"

Shrouded in mystery and mystique, Gojira reign supreme right now as far as modern metal goes.

The French outfit went beautifully and brutally "wild" on their 2012 epic, L'Enfant Sauvage. Revolutionary implications emanate from every track on the eleven-song body of work, yet there's an elegant level of secrecy. Nothing's quite as it seems under the mind-numbing polyrhythms and bone-snapping riffs. Often, vocalist and guitarist Joe Duplantier drafts lyrical images that belie that intensity with just the right amount of poetry. It's a dark art that very few have excelled it similarly—most notably on Tool and Metallica come to mind. That's how good they are…

In this exclusive interview, Gojira main man Joe Duplantier spoke to ARTISTdirect.com editor in chief Rick Florino about L'Enfant Sauvage, looked back on From Mars to Sirius, and so much more.

What's your take on L'Enfant Sauvage now that it's out there?

I actually just got a chance to forget about it for a month [Laughs]. I enjoyed a break and took some vacation. It was really good for me. Since we started to compose and record the songs and then go through the whole mixing and mastering process, it was very consuming. I co-produced this album. Right after we finished everything, we jumped on tour for a couple of months. I had so much going on. It's like giving birth to a baby. I took a break recently. It was two weeks, and I just came back. I feel a little more fresh. I really think it's our best album. I'm very happy with the way it turned out. I cannot wait to go on tour and play some headline shows with the full production and lights. I look forward to rediscovering the songs. When you compose a song and record it, it's one thing. When you start to play it live, it really starts to come alive. People can experience the songs, and that's the interesting part.

What's your favorite song on the record?

I like "The Fall". It's the last song. It's very dark, slow, and heavy. That's probably my favorite because it's so dark.

Where were you coming from lyrically?

I wanted to paint chaos, you know? It's like a painting of chaos. It's a deep feeling that humanity is destroying everything, and it's total nonsense. A lot of things don't make sense in this world, and I wanted to express this without really thinking if there's a solution or proposing what I think about it. It's a bunch of images put together, and the music really inspired me to come up with the lyrics for "The Fall".

Was "Born in Winter" evocative of the season? Was it written during that time?

Yes, it's also a song about hope. Birth is a beautiful thing. Winter is the hardest season. It's cold. My first baby was born while I was doing this album. A lot of came from that. My daughter was born in winter. It inspired me. The idea behind the song is even if you are born in winter, there will be a summer one day and things are going to be better. It's a little bit of hope in the cold.

Do you read often while you're writing?

In general, I don't read a lot. There was a time when I was reading a lot of books. I don't write a lot either. I struggle. I have a lot of things I want to express that are turning in my head. I always have a notebook and a pen. It's usually completely empty [Laughs]. A lot of it happens in the studio when I put all of my ideas together and, finally, the song is born at the last minute.

If L'Enfant Sauvage were a movie or a combination of movies, what would it be?

It would be a mix between Star Wars and Dead Man. Jim Jamursch's Dead Man with Johnny Depp is a very dark movie of a guy who's walking through life, but he realizes he's dead at the end. It's very strange. I love it. It's a transition between life and death like a dream. It's surreal. I say Star Wars too because there's always this battle between good and bad. At the same time, you don't know if all of this is real or if it's just imagination. That's where Dead Man comes in.

Do "This Emptiness" and "My Last Creation" fit the album's overall vision for you?

Yes, for a couple of weeks, we talked about this a lot. We asked, "Should we make another long album?" We really wanted to keep this album short because the songs are so intense already. I think about Master of Puppets. It's eight songs, and they're brilliant. When you finish the album, you want to go back to the first song and listen to it again. Sometimes, we have a tendency to put out long albums. At the end of the album, you're exhausted. I love all of the songs on The Way of All Flesh, but you're tired at the end [Laughs]. We wanted to make a punchy, dynamic album. They fit with the whole because they were treated as part of the album. Until the last minute, we didn't know which would be part of the sequence.

What are you listening to now?

I listen to a lot of electronic music like Massive Attack. Then, there's this English producer named Ben Ash. He's a young producer doing a lot of interesting stuff. He has a project called Two Inch Punch. I'm listening to this. I met him, and that's how I got into his music. I listen to hip hop and electronic music as well as a little rock. I also listen to Queens of the Stone Age. I don't listen to a lot of metal in general. Sometimes, I like to crank Meshuggah really loud in my apartment [Laughs].

There's a lot that can potentially happen with the L'Enfant Sauvage songs live.

It's true! For the first time, we're going to change some stuff in the songs. You're right. It's inspiring to make these songs evolve and do something special live. Maybe the end of the song will take a new turn. There are a lot of epic endings that are invitation to changing.

What do you think of now when you look back on From Mars to Sirius?

It's a good record. It came at a time where we needed something for us to breakthrough. We were a French band performing in some other countries in Europe. That album was good for us. There are some solid songs on it. We can't imagine a setlist without three songs from it, which is big because it's like seven-years-old.

—Rick Florino
09.26.12


 Originally posted at: http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/gojira-talks-l-enfant-sauvage-and-look-back-on-from-mars-to-sirius/10254161

At The Skylines featured on ARTISTdirect's "See the Music" series!

At The Skylines, who recently released a 4 song acoustic EP entitled To Build An Empire (pick it up here), is being featured on Artist Direct's "See the Music."

Here's what they had to say:

In the latest installment of our exclusive See the Music series, ARTISTdirect.com sat down with rising stars At the Skylines, who are from our own backyard in Southern California. They opened up about the song "The Amazing Atom," revealing the deeply personal origins of the song.

It's about being a child of divorce.

Vocalist Chris Shelley said the song was written "around the end where my parents severed all ties. I moved into my mom's house and I wanted to write a song that my dad can listen to and know it's about him."

The song was recorded six times, but it has become the band's anthem, since it's what kids love and go crazy to in the live setting. They are never going to record it again, since it's been done over and over for years now. We're fine with that, as long as they keep playing it live.

The band's new digital EP, To Build an Empire, is out now, as is their full-length, the criminally underrated The Secrets to Life. It's one of our favorites of 2012, so if you've slept on it, wake up people! Check it out now. We never lead you astray here at ARTISTdirect.com.




Go check out the full interview at: http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/see-the-music-at-the-skylines-the-amazing-atom/10254132

"Chasing Ghosts" and "House of Gold & Bones" are the most anticipated albums of the fall!

Artist Direct named The Amity Affliction's "Chasing Ghosts" and Stone Sour's "House of Gold & Bones Part 1" among the most anticipated albums of the fall! 
Here's what they had to say:

Stone Sour - House of Gold & Bones Part 1

I’ve heard that people who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Therefore, people who live in houses made of Gold and Bones (or any houses for that matter) should listen to Stone Sour! How would you like to have a house made of Gold and Bones? I bet it would be the flashiest and creepiest house on the block. All these ramblings aside, expect big things from a band that knows how to intertwine melody and intensity with the best of them. This is already a contender for album of the year as far as we're concerned as it's the first-half of the group's double-disc concept epic. [October 22, 2012]

The Amity Affliction - Chasing Ghosts

The Amity Affliction remain one of the most exciting bands to infiltrate heavy music in over a decade. They fuse soaring, searing melodies to absolutely crushing grooves. We have a feeling we're going to be Chasing Ghosts forever as soon as this one drops. [October 2, 2012]

Check out the full article here: Feature: The Most Anticipated Albums of the Fall

 

Artist Direct Reviews The Amity Affiction's Single "Chasing Ghosts"

Artist Direct Reviews The Amity Affiction's Single "Chasing Ghosts"

ARTISTdirect Reviews The Hvy Mtl Festival With Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, Gojira and More!!

ARTISTdirect Reviews The Hvy Mtl Festival With Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, Gojira and More!!

ARTISTdirect Reviews Slipknot's Concert At The Comcast Center!!

ARTISTdirect Reviews Slipknot's Concert At The Comcast Center!!

ARTISTdirect Talks with Jesse Leach Of Killswitch Engage!!

ARTISTdirect Talks with Jesse Leach Of Killswitch Engage!!

ARTISTdirect Talks About Discovering Slipknot With Korn, Rob Zombie, Slayer, Anthrax, Buckcherry, Staind, Flyleaf And More!!

ARTISTdirect Talks About Discovering Slipknot With Korn, Rob Zombie, Slayer, Anthrax, Buckcherry, Staind, Flyleaf And More!!