Live Review: An Evening With Machine Head at O2 Brixton Academy London!

On the 11th April in Copenhagen Denmark, Oakland Californians Machine Head began this European “Evening With…” tour with Decapitated guitarist Wacław “Vogg” Kiełtyka once again joining Robb Flynn, Jared MacEachern and Matt Alston. Tonight that run comes to an end at O2 Brixton Academy in London England, a venue the band last played in 2019 before the global pandemic cut the “Burn My Eyes” 20th anniversary tour short, robbing us of the opportunity of witnessing the madness. Having impressed us last summer at Bloodstock Open Air Festival however, we weren’t about to pass up the chance to see them this time, the near three hour performance offering the opportunity to hear some deeper cuts from their discography they simply wouldn’t have the chance to play otherwise.

Tonight is so close to being sold out it’s painful with just a handful of seats on the balcony being available but hey, it’s a Sunday night and this is a grand auditorium so maybe that’s to be expected. There’s a two hour wait from the doors opening to the quartet taking to the stage, the swelling crowds entertained by a selection of Metal cuts over the PA in Jukebox that are utterly timeless with the occasional chant of “Machine Fucking Head!” to remind us what we’re here for. The lights are dimmed when Queen classic “Bohemian Rhapsody” begins and the entire venue is singing along in a moment of unity and good voice.

Raising the hairs on the back of the neck, the opening strains of “Imperium” call out from the darkness, the insanity beginning with five thousand people roaring “Hear me now!” back at Rob Flynn as the lights go up. A powerful statement piece that remains as loved today as it was when it was first heard in April 2004, the angry anthem is greeted, as always, by mosh pit madness. Doubling down with another classic, the four piece hit us with “Ten Ton Hammer“, flame jets circling the band shooting into the sky as every single person is singing along at the top of their lungs. Then comes “CHØKE ØN THE ASHES ØF YØUR HATE” and everyone on the balcony is on their feet, the circle pit in front of the stage erupting like a volcano. The Head Cases are out in force tonight and Sunday night feels like a Friday as beer cups get thrown into the sky, the energy between the crowd and the band nothing short of electrifying.

It may go unnoticed by some but the four piece have been making each night on this run unique by varying their set list, so while Manchester got “None But My Own” and Wolverhampton got “Struck a Nerve“, London gets “The Rage To Overcome” as just one example. That helps keep things fresh for the band themselves and it has to be said that each song is delivered with the same amount of pride and passion as the first time they were performed, riffs flying in all directions met with heads bang and horns raised. Flynn gives the audience the opportunity to choose between “Blood For Blood” and “Aesthetics of Hate” mid set, the crowd screaming louder for the second but it’s a close call. An acoustic rendition of “Darkness Within” is majestically soul stirring, Flynn taking a moment to mention the Acoustic Happy Hour performances that he did with MacEachern during the pandemic, touching on the depression he suffered before writing the piece that resonates.

Despite the longer set time there are still notable absences, “Beyond The Pale” missing in favour of “Catharsis” which goes down surprisingly well.  There can be no missing “Locust” or “BØNESCRAPER” however both greeted with roars, before a false ending in a monstrous rendition of the iconic “Davidian“, which finds everyone screaming “Let freedom ring with a shotgun blast!” threatens to bring the blood stained crushed velvet curtain down prematurely. Matt Alston’s drum rig is huge and so how Vogg manages to get up there is a mystery, but he is the one behind the kit for an encore of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne covers in medley form. It’s a relaxed moment that is so much fun before he switches back to guitar for a rapturous rendition of “Halo” that brings the house down. Tonight has been nothing short of incredible, a triumphant return to London from a band who are much loved despite the criticism they so often face. [10/10]