This month, Machine Head released an official video for “Chøke øn the Ashes øf yøur Hate” from their upcoming tenth studio album “Øf Kingdøm and Crøwn”, which will be released on Friday 26 August 2022 via Nuclear Blast Records X Imperium Recordings.
Their pre-pandemic 2018 album Catharsis received mixed reviews with some reviewers calling it the worst album the band had recorded and others noting that while the anger and rebelious spirit remained it lacked coherence. That was certainly my take—the album failed to grab me immediately and took more than a few listens to begin to appreciate.
The band has been through a bit of turmoil since the last album with guitarist Phil Demmel and drummer Dave McClain departing in 2018 to be replaced by Wacław Kiełtyka and Matt Alston, respectively, the following year.
But if “Chøke øn the Ashes øf yøur Hate” is an indication of the quality of the new material, bring on August! This song strikes out immedaitely with a true-to-form Machine Head riff, pounding drums and Rob Flynn’s barking vocals, following a familiar song structure with a slower, bass-driven middle-8 that builds again to pound out to the end. Short and sweet! Speed, aggression, if little surprise. More of this please.