As some of you might be aware the band recently parted ways with longtime bassist (and founding member) Adam Duce. While the reasoning was somewhat unclear, the band pressed on, dealt with some lawsuits, signed themselves to a new label, and have now found an eager replacement named Jared MacEachern. The band has been running on full speed ever since. While MacEachern has been phenomenal for their live performances, we finally get to hear what the guy can do with a bass with the release of this new album.
Just touching on the signing of MH to a new label, Nuclear Blast is now called home to the four piece group and ultimately said goodbye to Roadrunner Records.
"I feel incredibly fortunate to say I have signed MACHINE HEAD — for the third time! They wrote one of the greatest metal albums of all-time as their debut and then turned around and beat it 13 years later.
Machine Head have produced some of the best material of their storied career over the course of their last three records, and like a fine wine, they just keep getting better with age. The songwriting in this band is beyond evolved compared to the majority of their peers, and as a lyricist, Robb Flynn is second to none. On the live front, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more commanding and dominating band." -Monte Conner (Nuclear Blast Entertainment)
You would also know that since social media and blogging have taken off, guitarist and lead vocalist Robb Flynn has been keen on getting his voice out there. Whether it's his thoughts, new information to share with the "Head Cases" (the common referral to Machine Head fans), or something worth sharing the music world (much like AFGM). So that being said, Flynn beat everyone to punch and dropped a s**tload of information regarding the highly anticipated new album titled "Bloodstone & Diamonds"! So rather than trying to give my own take on this album release, I thought it'd be better for you all to hear it straight from the mouth of the "General" himself.
"There you have it. The new album title in all its glory my friends.
I cannot even begin to tell you how proud we are of this album. It's been a heck of a ride. It looked like it might not ever happen again at one point, but man, this album is a milestone for us.
You're going to love it Head Cases.
Without getting too philosophical on ya, bloodstone and diamonds represent two of the hardest materials on earth, it is also a lyric from the opening track of the album "Now We Die". In many cultures the bloodstone has been used as an amulet to protect against evil, and is the symbol of justice. Diamonds are the hardest natural material on earth (which is how we feel about our music), and it also represents the diamond logo I drew 22 years ago (in my wife's apartment on Dover St. in Oakland) that has become the symbol for the band." -Flynn
"Bloodstone & Diamonds" will have an official release on November 7th, 2014 (November 10th in North America) via Nuclear Blast Entertainment.
1. Now We Die
2. Killers & Kings
3. Ghosts Will Haunt My Bones
4. Night Of Long Knives
5. Sail Into The Black
6. Eyes Of The Dead
7. Beneath The Silt
8. In Comes The Flood
9. Damage Inside
10. Game Over
11. Imaginal Cells (*Instrumental)
12. Take Me Through The Fire
"It was once again produced by your truly The General and Juan Urteaga, and like the last 7 out of 8 albums masterfully mixed by Colin Richardson. Additional tracking, editing, and mixing was done with heavy metal legend Andy Sneap and Steve Lagudi." -Flynn
Guest musicians include 2 different string quartets featuring the original Quartet Rouge that appeared on our last album "Unto The Locust". And a new all-male quartet which we featured on the song "In Comes The Flood". -Flynn
"String arrangements for 2 of the songs 'Now We Die' and 'Sail Into The Black' came courtesy of myself and Rhys Fulber who has worked with everyone from Sarah McLachlan, to Fear Factory, and the string arrangement for "In Comes The Flood" came courtesy of myself and ex-Worship and current-Bring Me The Horizon keyboardist Jordan Fish, who is a producer in his own right." -Flynn
"We worked with several artists to complete the 28 page (!) 'standard' CD booklet, as well as the 48 page (!) hardcover leather-bound Media-book that will serve as the special edition, including Rafal Wechterowicz, Marcelo Vasco, and long-time Machine Head art-collaborator Strephon Taylor. The theme was to have both CD and hardcover Mediabook look like an old Alchemy book from the 1800's, with weathered edges, sepia toned pages, and magic / masonic / alchemy themed woodcarvings throughout." -Flynn
Keep checking back for more information.
No comments:
Post a Comment