Machine Head, Suicide Silence, Darkest Hour @ Rams Head Live 2/2/2012
Ever since “Unto the Locust” came out last year I’ve been waiting for Machine Head to come to town. I’d seen them three times previously, but never as a headliner. For years I was disappointed by the fact that Machine Head doesn’t seem to get the respect they deserve. Things started to change in the right direction after “The Blackening” and “Unto the Locust” is an even bigger step forward. Yet I still can’t help but feel that Machine Head is under-rated by the metal community. At least there was no shortage of people at Wednesday’s show who feel the same way I do about the band.
Buke and I were expecting the show to open with Rise to Remain featuring Austin Dickinson, the son of Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson. We did not know at the time they had to drop off the tour because they lost their bass player and drummer. When we arrived at the show a band was already onstage and we thought it was Rise to Remain. But it quickly became apparent that it was actually D.C.s own Darkest Hour. We only caught part of the set, but they sounded pretty good and got the crowd pretty riled up considering how early it was in the show.
Next up was Suicide Silence I’m a more recent fan of Suicide Silence; I reviewed their latest album “The Black Crown” last year and liked it a lot. I was expecting a pretty wild set from these guys and I was not disappointed. I couldn’t find an accurate height online for singer Mitch Lucker, but the guy has to be at least 6’4” and rail skinny. He made an imposing figure as he prowled and slunk around that stage like a large predatory cat letting you know that this was his territory. And woe to the poor bastards in the pit; he owned them like a metal drill sergeant running his troops through their paces in boot camp with his constant demands for circle pits. He also did something I’ve been seeing more lately where he divided the crowd and had them waiting on his command to rush together at each other in what I’ve started calling the “Braveheart maneuver” which ultimately results in a giant writhing pit that looks much like troops crashing together in hand to hand combat. Suicide Silence brought a great deal of energy to the room and had an amazing stage presence. About this time I realized it was going to be a special evening.
Rams Head Live had been getting more and more crowded as the night went on, and by the time the lights went out heralding the imminent arrival of Machine Head the place was packed. The band hit the stage amid chants of “Machine-Fucking-Head” and right away launched into “Unto the Locust” album opener “I Am Hell.” I was now a great big bundle of happy.)
Machine Head played almost the entire “Unto the Locust” album (all except “Pearls Before the Swine”) as well as a selection of past material. One of the songs I was waiting to hear was “Aesthetics of Hate” which was Robb Flynn’s response to the article by the same name written by William Grim shortly after the murder of Pantera/Damageplan guitarist Dimebag Darrel Abbott. (Get ready, I’m about to take an extended aside from the review to rant here.)
While I was aware of William Grim’s article and that it was insulting and disrespectful towards Dime, I did not read the actual article itself until just now while checking some facts and I cannot begin to express with words how furious I have become. I write this with tears of rage welling in my eyes and a strong urge to do very bad things to one of the most ignorant and self-righteous egotists I’ve ever heard. I haven’t seen this kind of bullshit in print since the PMRC in the 80s. I thought this guy was some music writer that didn’t like Dime for some unfathomable reason, but no he is a real piece of work. He is a self-admitted elitist who says that heavy metal is not music, heavy metal fans are “semi-human barbarians” and that Haydn and Beethoven were further along the evolutionary trail than Dime. He basically blames Dime for his own death because it was inevitable that someone like him would end up that way. This is not so much an article as it is a manifesto. The first crazy bastard that springs to mind is Hitler. Grim dislikes many things about the world today and would be perfectly happy to see these things all wiped off the face of the planet. Please tell me this guy never runs for public office. I’ve uploaded a copy of the article text, I encourage you to read it.
While listening to Machine Head perform “Aesthetics of Hate” I thought to myself I would spit in this guys face (something that has never occurred to me to do to a person before), but now I’m inspired to so much more. If I may quote the song, “I hope you burn in hell” you son of a bitch. In reference to Dime, “his honor we’ll always uphold.” Towards the end of the song a giant silhouette of Dime leaning back far with his signature guitar in the air appeared on the screen behind the stage. I’m proud of Robb Flynn for not only defending his friend but for continuing to honor him years later. We could all use friends like that.
Other highlights of the set included “Darkness Within”, which began with Robb alone on stage with an acoustic guitar, and one of my personal favorites “Who We Are” which closed out the main set. They finished with a two song encore of “Halo” and “Davidian.” I cannot praise this set enough. Machine Head recordings are amazing but live the energy is doubled. Robb really seemed to make a personal connection with the crowd and we loved him for it. They played for a good long while yet it seemed far too short.
After exiting the building Buke and I went next door to one of the bars in the area to grab a drink. We were sitting outside (unseasonably warm weather this week) and Buke noticed someone walk by and into the bar that looked like Mitch Lucker from Suicide Silence (hard to miss that neck tattoo). We hung around trying to slyly watch what was going on in the bar (karaoke) and see whether there would be a chance to talk to him. Buke saw an opening and did a walk-by. I waited outside to see what would happen. They chatted briefly and then both headed outside. Mitch was very nice and took pictures with both of us. This is where I realized just how tall he is; I look at the picture and feel like a Hobbit standing next to him. Anyway, thanks to Mitch for taking the time to talk to us. It was a great ending to a great night. If you get the chance to catch this tour I highly recommend that you check it out.