Machine Head have always had a rather turbulent career. From the recent departure of long time bassist Adam Duce to their Russian roulette album’s. Some, being the finest examples of modern metal, ie The Blackening and others being monotonous and well boring. Namely 2012’s highly overrated Unto The Locust. Or just plain misfires like the infamous Supercharger… Now on album number eight and with new bassist Jared MacEachern begins a new chapter in the Machine Head cycle.

Throughout the album’s slow recording process Robb Flynn was documenting everything painstakingly from the word go. This kind of precision, that essentially lasted just over a year ensures that Bloodstone & Diamonds is not just Machine Head‘s new record but absolutely monolithic.  Giving the listener a straightforward answer to the questions posed by fans. From the moment the record starts “Now We Die” introduces string quartets abound this is Machine Head at their most grandiose. However Machine Head don’t forget where they come from.

What makes this band tick  are gems like “Killer & Kings” ensuring that all the ingredients for our perfect Machine Head recipe are all still there. Cue harmonics, artillery like drums and Flynn’s rousing speeches to the squadron of loyal fans. This is also potentially the most honest record the band has put out containing mature emotional interludes like “Damage Inside” being a perfect build up to groove laden  “Game Over“. Although it does seem that Flynn is laying it on a little thick with his usual desperation sounding introduction’s they do compliment the theme of the album. Each song distinctive enough to detail a different chapter in the tome that is Bloodstone & Diamonds. Be it from the different tone, guitar work, singing style or just song writing itself.

The marauding lead lines of “Ghosts Will Haunt My Bones”  contain some of the heaviest riffing in Machine Head‘s career. But overall the record is different. Something very much necessary to ensure that Machine Head weren’t trying to recreate past triumphs and essentially remain stagnant.  Of course there will be fans out there that will not like what they hear but this is the band being experimental, a spoken word piece “Imaginal Cells” near the end of the album gives a sense of maturity. Instead of trying to recreate the fire that was behind some of their best releases Machine Head have decided to write some truly different material to anything they’ve written prior, making it a fantastically defiant album that commands your attention.  The song writing itself is a key element that has changed, seeing the likes of “Night Of Long Knives” slowly creep under your skin. Flynn‘s slightly cheesy chanting of “You won’t see us come…” although at first slightly juvenile will have you muttering all throughout the day. Although Machine Head are still experimental on the album there are some songs that are very much more mainstream “Beneath The Silt” leaning much more to the radio friendly side with its down tuned verse, however it is also completely different from the rest of the album making it essential to the collection.

All facets are grandiose from the imposing artwork, the overall sound of the songs and even the name of the album itself Bloodstone & Diamonds, thought to be some of the hardest materials on earth. But most of all the album is interesting, slightly commercial yes, but never boring. Ever changing, throughout the lengthy listen we’re treated to so many different angles of Machine Head yet all the while they don’t lost sight of the band that they are. Reminding us that Machine Head definitely have the potential to be one of the biggest mainstream metal bands ever. Is the chamber of the gun loaded? In the words of Robb Flynn “Fuck yeah!!”