Machine Head - Through the Ashes of Empires

IN GOOD to VERY GOOD CONDITION - STANDARD MINOR WEAR GIVEN ITS OVER 20 YEARS OLD - NO DEFECTS

Before the absolute masterpiece that followed, Machine Head's 2003 opus 'Through the Ashes of Empires' was a long-awaited return towards a more classic, thrash/groove metal style fans were yearning for. More in keeping with their first two records (which are bonafide classics in their own right), they ditched the nu metal experiment (which a lot of fans would argue just didn't work for them), and got back to longer, more epic compositions not too dissimilar to song structures on 80's Metallica records.

The first preview track arrived on a Kerrang! CD, titled 'Imperium'. It was a truly magical experience hearing it for the first time! Great memories were served up. Me and my brother, who shared a room at home, couldn't wait to get home from school to bust the track out on said Kerrang CD, and it was perfect. Big build up to groovy thrashy riffs, pinch harmonics that you know is classic MH, reminding us of their very first song, the indomitable 'Davidian'.

Then, out of nowhere towards the end of the song, a thrashy melo-death riff that fires out the carnage of hardcore speed drumming, guitar harmonics to die for, and an absolute pit -inducing end to the tune! We both headbanged like crazy, I had goosebumps! Machine Head were back.

All this was topped off by two sold out shows at the forever-missed and much loved, London Astoria. Me and my bro were at one of these shows, and as soon as 'Imperium' kicked in, it extended into complete feral carnage! From the first headbang in our room weeks earlier, to another headbang session at London Astoria, we kicked back at the bar with a great view, swigging the shots!

This was topped even further at the end of this album run, when MH announced a secret/surprise show at the iconic 600 capacity London venue, The Garage. They had booked it under the disguised moniker 'Ten Ton Hammer'. Except all MH fans knew this was essentially MH in disguise, given their 2nd album 'The More Things Change' opened with the classic 'Ten Ton Hammer', lol.

To see them play a savage set of new and old tunes, in a dingy London basement, was a night I'll never forget. Then onto 'The Blackening'... no-one was prepared for what was about to drop; the best metal album of the 00s.