Confession time: I’ve never been fully sold on Machine Head. Sure, they’ve had some excellent moments, but for the most part, they were a band I could take or leave. Then came Of Kingdom and Crown, a record that ditched the try-hard theatrics of Catharsis and dialled in a leaner, sharper focus. It was the first time in years I found myself genuinely interested in what Machine Head had to say.
Unatøned picks up that thread and runs with it. Opener “Landscape of Thorns” explodes out of the traps, followed closely by “Atomic Revelations”, both delivering that signature MH ferocity while packing choruses big enough to fill an arena. Flynn sounds the best he has in years — one minute spitting venom, the next crooning like some grizzled baritone bard, before taking flight with melodies that hit surprisingly hard.
“Unbound” is an early standout, launching with a snarling riff before dropping into a Pantera-grade stomp that’s built for some serious neck action. “Outsider” throws a curveball with a percussion-led intro straight out of Korn’s “Got The Life” playbook, before it tears into classic Machine Head riff warfare. The pattern emerges quickly: bludgeoning verses, soaring choruses — and you know what? It works.
Not every track is pedal-to-the-floor mayhem. “Not Long for This World” strips things back with a mid-tempo, radio-baiting ballad (albeit one with a dark heart), while “These Scars Won’t Define Us” rips it all wide open again, ready-made for pits and festival fields. There’s even a brief, moody electronic interlude before “Bonescraper” steamrollers in with a thick, swaggering groove.
The band aren’t afraid to experiment either. “Bleeding Me Dry” hints at a softer, more atmospheric side, layering in electronic textures and introspective melodies without losing the grit. It’s a direction Machine Head could afford to push harder next time around.
The final salvo of “Shards of Shattered Dreams” and “Scorn” leaves things on a high, cementing Unatøned as one of the band’s strongest showings in years. There’s a newfound swagger here — the sound of a band who’ve stopped chasing trends and remembered what they do best.
Is it flawless? No. But Unatøned is a solid, confident, and genuinely enjoyable record that reminds you why Machine Head were ever worth caring about in the first place. For the first time in a long time, I’m curious to see where they go next. 4/5
Oran O’Beirne
www.overdrive.ie 2025
