Machine Head at the PlayStation Theater

Robb Flynn

Vocalist/guitarist Robb Flynn, born as Lawrence Cardine in Oakland, California, joined the Bay Area thrash metal band Forbidden (originally Forbidden Evil), as a senior in high school and played in this band from 1985 to 1987. He wrote four songs which appeared on Forbidden's debut album, but left before the album was released in order to join guitarist Phil Demmel in local thrash metal rivals Vio-lence. In 1991, Flynn formed Machine Head; Demmel reunited with Flynn in Machine Head in 2002 at a time when Machine Head almost disbanded. Machine Head presently consists of Flynn, Demmel, bassist Jared MacEachern and drummer Dave McClain. Machine Head's ninth studio album, Catharsis, was released on January 26, 2018.

Machine Head performed for two hours and 45 minutes tonight at the PlayStation Theater, with no support act or intermission. This was far longer and stronger than metal bands traditionally play. Coming on stage to the recorded sound of Ozzy Osbourne’s "Diary of a Madman," Machine Head ripped into the longest set list of the tour so far, including "Blood for Blood," which the band had not played since performing at the Limelight in 1994, and "Desire to Fire," not played in America since 2001. The set featured at least two songs from each of Machine Head's albums, and summarized all the band's movements, from groove metal, thrash, nu metal, and punk to its newer, more melodic sound. Flynn noted that this variety alienated some of the band's former fans, thanking those that remained faithful. In reality, however, Machine Head's versatility within metal proved to be the band's asset during this lengthy performance. Flynn screamed, growled, rapped and sang cleanly, guitars wailed and shredded, as the band uncompromisingly adhered to its integrity. The set featured sociopolitical commentary as well: new song "Volatile" was a pounding anthem dedicated to Heather D. Heyer, who died during a 2017 protest against neo-nazism and white supremacy; another new song, "Bastards," was written the day after the most recent presidential election and was inspired by a conversation Flynn had with his sons. The band performed plenty of hair spinning and moshable songs, but competently proved that metal was an expansive genre. Few metal bands could achieve this goal as adeptly as Machine Head did tonight.

Visit Machine Head at www.MachineHead1.com.

Setlist:

1. Imperium
2. Volatile
3. Now We Die
4. Beautiful Mourning
5. The Blood, the Sweat, the Tears
6. Crashing Around You
7. Desire to Fire
8. Guitar Solo
9. Darkness Within
10. Catharsis
11. From This Day
12. Ten Ton Hammer
13. Is There Anybody Out There?
14. Locust
15. Bastards
16. Drum Solo
17. Bulldozer
18. Killers & Kings
19. Davidian
20. Behind a Mask
21. Elegy
22. Take My Scars
23. Aesthetics of Hate
24. Game Over
25. Blood for Blood
26. Halo