AN EVENING WITH MACHINE HEAD | LIVE REVIEW
Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union, Thurs 10 Mar
Upon entry to the Great Hall, I was pondering two things: firstly, how does the room smell this bad already? Secondly, why is tonight called ‘An Evening With Machine Head’? Was this going to be a more formal show from the thrash metal legends? Will Michael Aspel come out halfway through and remind us all just what a blinding career the Oakland four-piece have had, as the crowd gets all nostalgic and teary-eyed?
Not a chance. The first thing we were met with as we walked in was a huge, ominous, blood red backdrop sporting the band’s logo. It was a clear statement that this night would belong to Machine Head. Just one band doing what they do best: melting our faces with pummelling thrash classics that span over 20 years. Who needs a support band, right?
As the pre-show music faded out and the lights dimmed, the anticipation in the air mounted. Chants of “MACHINE FUCKIN’ HEAD!” grew louder, and finally we saw four silhouettes take their positions as the foreboding opening guitar chime of Imperium echoed around the hall. When frontman and guitarist Robb Flynn screamed out “HEAR ME NOW!” and the song’s crushing riff landed, all hell broke loose.
From that moment onward, Flynn had the crowd in the palm of his hand. He’s been doing this for over 20 years so he sure knows how to put on a show, as do the other band members. They’ve certainly earned the right to have this evening to themselves.
For the next two hours or so, the band tore through their back catalogue, playing fan favourites from each of their eight studio albums. Flynn had a huge grin on his face the whole time and seemed genuinely awestruck each time a circle pit would open up before him, and you could really sense how humbled the band were to still be getting this reaction; a feeling reciprocated by the assembled mass of sweaty guys and gals who hung on their every note.
As the last aftershocks of the crushing closer Halo finished reverberating, we all made our way into the cold Cardiff night knowing that, as always, we were given Machine Head’s blood, sweat and tears, and we loved every second of it.
words IAN ROGERS
