Machine Head @ Open
A colossal set in a room full of craziness
I barely know where to begin when it comes to describing last night’s Machine Head show, so vast was its scale. This was my third time seeing them in Norwich, each time in a different venue, and with memories of an incredible night at the Waterfront two years ago fresh in my mind, this felt like it was going to be something really special.
There was a palpable sense of anticipation in the air, especially on seeing the impressive stage set and after what felt like a long wait (got there too early didn’t I), the lights dimmed and Ozzy’s Diary Of A Madman let us know the show was about to begin. This tour is billed as An Evening With Machine Head and that’s exactly what we got – no support, with the promise of a two hour set. Once I’d got over the initial thrill of the brilliant light show though it felt like something was missing. The sound mix was a bit off, it wasn’t loud enough and everything felt a bit too clean and polite, not what I want from a big league metal show. That feeling remained for almost an hour of the set, then they dropped The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears and suddenly everything began to fall into place. The bass was heavier, the sound was louder and the crowd more intense. The next highlight surprisingly was Dave McClain’s drum solo – I’m not really a fan of solos but Dave’s was brilliant, combined with some amazing lights it just further upped the intensity. By the time we reached Killers & Kings then Davidian with its filthy sludge fest riffing, the transformation was complete from too tame opening into in your face punishing groove metal.
The highlights kept on coming – Robb Flynn never once taking his foot off the gas, whipping the crowd into circle pits, urging us to “headbang, motherfuckers!” Phil Demmel’s guitar playing was brilliant as ever – reminding us just how good a musician you need to be to play this kind of music. Some of the songs were extended and it was on these moments that the power of the music really impressed me, as much as on the shorter, faster songs.
By the time we had been doused from the ticker tape cannons and the set ended they had been playing for an unbelievable 2hrs and 45mins. Easily the longest headline set I have ever seen, but it never felt too long and they paced it brilliantly. In retrospect of course it took a while to build up, of course it got louder as we got deeper into the set, of course the crowd grew rowdier and more passionate – how else were they going to do it? They’ve been on the road for over a year and Machine Head knew exactly what they were doing with us.
Perhaps that Waterfront show still has the edge, just for its sheer sweaty intensity, but to see this bunch of modern metal legends, playing a colossal set to a room full of craziness is another Evening With Machine Head that will live long in my memory.
@StuPres
