This weeks Robb Flynn acoustic happy hour 🥃🍻🍺🍷🍹(posted on Facebook Live) includes covers of Slipknot - "Snuff", Pearl Jam - "Black", Deftones - "Change", and Staind - "Outside", plus MH tunes "Is There Anybody Out There?" and "Circle The Drain"

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Bay Area metal icons MACHINE HEAD have released ‘Civil Unrest’, a 2-song digital single, featuring A-side, ‘Stop The Bleeding’ and B-side, ‘Bulletproof’, with the former featuring additional guest vocals from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman, Jesse Leach.  This pair of fierce protest anthems were both written days after the back-to-back murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery and many Hard Cases are championing as the "national anthem of 2020". They are not for the faint of heart. 

Attention Audiophiles: now available direct from Machine Head in glorious 24-bit, 44kHz highest resolution WAV format here at MACHINEHEAD1.COM .

The gritty performance video was directed and edited by Mike Sloat, shot on location on the streets of Oakland, CA, with Jesse’s part filmed in Kingston, NY with David Brodsky.  Watch the video below

Vocalist / guitarist Robb Flynn shares the inspiration behind the release, "I wrote and sang the lyrics on Wednesday May 27th 2020, the day that the four officers who murdered George Floyd were (originally) not charged with anything. This day was engulfed in protests and riots across America. I drove into Oakland, past large demonstrations already happening and in a fury wrote down everything I was feeling after watching the horrific footage.  Within hours, what I wanted to say, what I needed to say had been recorded in the song.”

“I decided to sing it over a song called ‘Stop The Bleeding’, that we had recorded back in December. 2018 with Jared [MacEachearn, MACHINE HEAD bass guitar] and Carlos Cruz [Warbringer] on drums.  

‘Stop The Bleeding’ features a guest appearance from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman, Jesse Leach, seeing Flynn and Leach trading lyrical lines that spit anger and frustration at current events. 

Flynn continues, “I had been speaking with Jesse for maybe 6 months about singing on the song, as it always had a little bit of a Killswitch vibe to me.  Unfortunately (or fortunately), our schedules hadn’t lined up, but with the subsequent lockdown from coronavirus, we had time to make it work. After what happened to George Floyd, I sent him the lyrics I’d written and he replied saying he was “100% on board”. Jesse is someone I consider to be a pioneer and in many ways, one of the men who changed the face of metal. His contribution to this song made it extremely powerful and it’s an honor to have him be a part of it.”

Jesse Leach mirrors the sentiment, stating, “Being asked to be part of this song is an honor. Yes, because it’s Machine Head, but more importantly, this is a message that needs to be heard and spread. These issues concerning abuses of power and racism are timeless. I have written about these previously and I’ll write about them again. I think Robb really nailed this one, both lyrically and sonically. My hope is this song helps awaken those who hear it. Robb has been a frequent voice of the voiceless in these times, so teaming up with him is a no brainer.

We need more of our Metal Community to speak out on social issues and help raise awareness, especially during these crucial times. Music is the soundtrack to our lives, it transcends language and culture. This is the reason we as musicians need to do our part to spark thought and discussion on these types of issues. We can make a difference through music and we can help stop the bleeding.” 
 
MACHINE HEAD are donating a significant portion of their streaming proceeds from ‘Stop The Bleeding’ to http://grassrootslaw.org, the organization representing George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.

The B-side, ‘Bulletproof’ is a new song, also recorded with Carlos and Jared back in December 2018.  Flynn adds, “The lyrics for ‘Bulletproof’ were finished in the aftermath of not only the Ahmaud Arbery murder at the hands of white supremacist, but everything twisting out of control in our World. The isolation and craziness of the pandemic, the lockdown protesters storming government buildings with AR-15‘s, as well as the blatant lies and conspiracies pouring out of our political leaders mouths, hour by hour, day after day.”

The songs needed something visually provocative as ‘sleeve artwork’, so the band looked to longtime collaborator Strephon Taylor who hand illustrated various elements from this moment in time, to make a powerful statement about America and the World.

Both tracks were produced by Robb Flynn (Machine Head, Roadrunner United, Sworn Enemy, Dress The Dead) and engineered by Zack Ohren (All Shall Perish, Suicide Silence)at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, CA, with the devastating mix being handled by long-time MACHINE HEAD collaborator and producer extraordinaire, Colin Richardson (Carcass, Trivium, Slipknot) , together with Chris Clancy at Audioworks Productions UK.  The tracks were mastered by Ted Jensen (Gojira, Deftones) at Sterling Sound. 

Short 10 second video, iPhone is fine, knee on the ground, fist up, sunset in background (about 6:30 or 7:30 PM your time) landscape mode, with your phone camera on the side 

Mail to: jason@roaringmouseproductions.com

Subject: Machine Head

Released 4 years ago today, ITABOT remains one of the single most popular and polarizing songs in the bands entire catalogue.  And not without good reason.  Released 5 months in the aftermath of the "Racism In Metal" video, the song tackled the same racism, disgust, and disconnect from the world as the video did, in a short 4 minute blast music, that some felt was equal parts sell-out and betrayal.  

Yet 4 years later, it stands unchallenged as the #1 song on Spotify for Machine Head.  In fact, at no time during that 4 years, has any song taken if from the number one spot.  No song off "Catharsis" topped it, "Do Or Die" didn't top it, and while "Circle The Drain" did manage to bump it for 2 weeks, it returned immediately.

It is a verifiable MONSTER in the live arena, with the crowd often singing the fierce protest anthem so loud, the band can barely be heard.

Today it's meaning is even more necessary.  It stands as a powerful reminder, as protests rage across our country, combined with the glaring inequality exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, that these words need to be screamed at the top of our lungs.

Do you remember hearing it for the first time?  Have you see Machine Head play this song live?  How has the song stood the test of time for you?

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Without these awesome guys and gals, you would have no Machine Head show, give a hand to our bad ass crew who we are all missing right about now! 

The Coronavirus has adversely affected the livelihoods of all of them, if you would like to donate to the crew that works their asses off for this band, you can do so in four different tiers at the link below. 

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Shout out to our booking agent Adam Saunders for being able to reschedule a nearly 2 month long tour through a staggering amount of countries.

While we are thrilled to announce these rescheduled dates and very much look forward to seeing you all, some dates were simply not possible to reschedule, and with the ongoing pandemic, we will be monitoring the situation closely to ensure the reality of doing them. Of the utmost importance to us is the health and safety of the Head Cases. We will not put you or others at risk, during this unprecedented time. As is quite obvious, nearly all of the dates we've listed are still in a "Shelter In Place" situation, with no public gatherings allowed over 10 people.  We are all hoping that this will be sorted out by then, if that is not the case by August, will make a decision as to whether we will be allowed to proceed.

Stay home, wash your hands, social distance, we will power through this friends.

- Machine Head 

BURN MY EYES 25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR EU 2020 TOUR DATES (**RESCHEDULED**)

OCTOBER
8th   -  PAMPLONA, Sala Totem
10th  - VALENCIA, Republicca
12th  -  MADRID, La Riviera 
13th  -  LISBON, Coliseu de Lisboa
14th   - PORTO, Coliseu de Porto
16th  -  MURCIA, Gamma
17th  -  MALAGA, Paris 15
18th  -  BARCELONA, Razzmatazz
20th  -  TOULOUSE, Le Bikini
21st  -  PRATTELN, Konzertfabrik Z7
23rd  -  HANNOVER, Swiss Life Hall
24th  -  WIESBADEN, Schlachthof
26th   -  LUDWIGSBURG, MHPArena
27th  -  HAMBURG, Edel-Optics Arena
28th  -  PRAGUE, Forum Karlin
29th  -  BRATISLAVA, Majestic Club
31st  -  BUCHAREST, Arenele Romane
 
NOVEMBER
1st   -   SOFIA, Universiada Hall
2nd  -   ATHENS, 117 Piraeus Academy 
3rd   -   THESSALONIKI, Fix Factory Of Sound 
6th   -   KIEV, Stereoplaza 
9th   -   MOSCOW, 1930 Moscow 
11th  -  HELSINKI, Telakka 
13th  -  STOCKHOLM, Fryhuset Arenan 

Burn My Eyes (Live-In-The-Studio 2019) back in stock at Ten Ton Trading Co.
Now available in both the U.S. and EU Online Store.

Numbered, collector's edition, colored transparent red with black splatter, heavyweight 180 gram vinyl in an ultra-deluxe packaging. Double gate-fold with 2 printed sleeves, and 2 separate white poly-lined inner sleeves to protect printed gloss inner sleeve.

Numbered #500-1000

** Items are NOT autographed

Matt Heafy (Trivium) does a hauntingly beautiful cover version of our track "Descend The Shades Of Night” 🤘🏻🖤👏🏻