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Supercharger

Machine Head - Supercharger Audio CD

A fair review of the Machine Head "Supercharger" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Machine Head reviews here, or go back to the Machine Head tabs.

Band: Machine Head
Title: Supercharger
Rating:

Release Date: 2001-10-02
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Declaration 2: Bulldozer 3: White Knuckle Blackout 4: Crashing Around You 5: Kick You When You're Down 6: Only The Names 7: All In Your Head 8: American High 9: Brown Acid 10: Nausea 11: Blank Generation 12: Trephination 13: Deafening Silence 14: Supercharger

Terrible for MH...Still better than most CD's out nowdays
Bulldozer was a pretty heavy track, there are probably 3 songs on here that I would probably be very fond of if they were not packaged in with this CD. This CD was pretty dissapointing expecially a few tracks on here really pissed me off. Having to associate the songs with Supercharger really brings down the value of them IMO. Still this CD's worse songs are still better than the Crap My radio station plays 20 times a day for 5 years strait. As a Machine Head fan I always Kinda looked at the burning red as a black eye, this album however I see as a gaping whole after passing out in a frat house. Still in the grand scheme of things sadly enough if you have friends that like main stream music this would most likely be the only Machine Head CD they would like.

Listen with an open mind
I back tracked and bought Burn My Eyes, and The Burning Red when it came out and enjoyed all 3 albums despite the big change in musical direction on The Burning Red. I've been listening to MH since a buddy of mine got a copy of The More Things Change from Columbia House, didn't like it, and gave it to me. When Supercharger came out, I didn't really like any track off of it the first couple of listens, but after I dug a little deeper, it really grew on me. This is my first album review and I decided to give my opinion on one of MH's underrated albums. I'll go track-by-track:

01 Declaration: Intro.

02 Bulldozer: I love the opening riff in this song. I saw them on their Ashes tour with chimaira this was the only song off this album they played and it was awesome. 4/5

03 White-Knuckle Blackout: Just a straight-forward heavy rock song. Nice break down towards the end. The lyrics are rather juvenile though. 3/5

04 Crashing Around You: I never could get into this song. I'm surprised they wanted to make it a single. The beginning of the song Robb sounds a lot like Fred Durst. 2/5

05 Kick You When You're Down: I love this song. The whole thing rocks and you can really nod you head to it. The only part I dont like is when he says "They will only kick you when you're down. " It just interrupts the heaviness of the song. 4/5

06 Only The Names: This song has a simplistic main riff, but MH always sounds good when they use harmonics, so that sort of saves it for me. A descent song, but not one of the best on the album. 3/5

07 All In Your Head: A good heavy song with a great chorus. Robb's clean vocals sound great. 4/5

08 American High: You either love this song or hate it. It's heavy, but is obnoxious at the same time. Has a rap metal, punkish suicidal tendencies vibe, and that's not necessarily a good thing. 2/5

09 Brown Acid: Skippable interlude.

10 Nausea: Another heavy song in the same vein as "All In Your Head," but with cheesier lyrics. I like the song regardless. 4/5

11 Blank Generation: A slower song, but with a really heavy breakdown towards the end. One of my favorites. 4/5

12 Trephanation: A crushing song with a simple, but effective bassline and double Bass kick pattern in the beginning and part of the verses. I love this track, very personal lyrics from Robb. 5/5

13 Deafening Silence: Fantastic song. A slow mover, but very powerful, the end is great. 5/5

14 Supercharger: Even the Burn My Eyes worshippers can appreciate this song. It has a tense buildup throughout and just explodes. It's just so heavy it's great. Doesn't sound like Nu Metal at all. 5/5

All in all this is another great album by a great band who will twice again out perform themselves with the fantastic "Through The Ashes Of Empires" and the soon-to-be legendary "The Blackening. " I just wanted to voice my opinion that this album is NOT a black eye on Machine Head's Career, and that with a few listens, anyone can appreciate the honesty and hard work these guys put into their music.

its not as bad as everyone says it is.
Its one of the best. I dont understand why everyone praises through the ashes of empires, and degrades this album, metal or no metal In my opinion Machine Head is far from metal anyway that doesnt mean that like them, I love this album. The older stuff is good but this one is a masterpiece also, if you want to hear a bad machine head album listen to through the ashes.

WHAT HAPPENED?
Many people disliked "The Burning Red" and called them sell-outs, but I appreciated the effort to make something different. I like Machine Head a lot. Then came "Supercharger". I have listened to it a dozen times, looking for that hook or spark that will get me to listen and love it. It never came. This is a bad CD by a great band. .

How is it possible that you don't like it?
Saw them live a couple of times. I've been a MH fan since the early beginning, back to 95 (94?) and the terrific burn my eyes. Probably the best band live I ever saw (still remember the show they gave in France in 95, opening for Suicidal Tendencies, everyone was exhausted after their show and ST could have stayed at home, no one seemed interested! Amazing!!!). Really amazing. Rob is such an incredible frontman, whaouh!! I saw them on the supercharger european tour as well. And I just don't understand why so many people spit at this release. Is it forbidden for a band to elvolve a bit and propose something more personal? Why do people always compare one release with the previous releases of the band? Do you take time to listen to the lyrics? I do. I really find this album great, songs like deafening silence really move me. I am personally touched by the subjects of many of the songs. But maybe you don't have feelings. It's a pity. This album is really outstanding. I can't help myself just singing along even after so many years. A must-have. Do not listen to what these stupid teenagers say. Make your own opinion.

You can see a complete list of all Machine Head discography, or go back to the Machine Head tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.