This Day In Music History: December 16, 2003 – Machine Head comes back from the brink on “Through The Ashes Of Empires”

After the 1994 release of their landmark debut album Burn My Eyes, Machine Head were immediately tapped as one of the most promising metal bands in the game. And for good reason, the album was a powerfully direct and heavy groove metal album that still maintains a heavy influence today. Unfortunately, it proved difficult to follow up – and 2001’s lackluster turn to nu-metal, Supercharger, fell flat both critically and commercially. That makes its follow-up, Through The Ashes Of Empires, even more of an accomplishment. It’s still a tremendous record from a band that was (unwisely) thought to be on life support.

Foreshadowing the excellence that was 2007’s The Blackening, album opener “Imperium” is unequivocally one of the band’s best overall songs. It’s one that really sets the tone for TTAOA, as its 6+ minute runtime isn’t wasted at all. A total riff-fest the whole way through, drummer Dave McClain’s fills are a particular highlight.

Interestingly, the band’s nu-metal influences aren’t quite gone here, but they’re a bit stronger than MH’s previous records in terms of structure. 2nd track “Bite The Bullet” isn’t one of the record’s stronger tracks, but does succeed in terms of it being a compact track that also isn’t filler. What certainly isn’t filler is both “Left Unfinished” and the feedback-drenched “Elegy”, the latter of which presents an unsettlingly sludgy groove the whole way through before shifting into a solid chorus.

Through The Ashes Of Empires was only the beginning. A comeback album that reestablished Machine Head as one of the most important metal bands, it was the beginning of their second wind that truly bloomed on The Blackening. An album that brought them back from the brink, TTAOA remains one of Machine Head’s most vital records.