Machine Head - Supercharger

San Francisco's Machine Head haven't quite found a niche in the metal world. The sounds and ideas found on Supercharger are interesting and varied, as industrial mellowness mixes with punk fury, rap-metal leanings, and White Zombie-esque onslaughts, all captured deftly, thanks in part to producer Johnny K (Disturbed). Yet, while the album is an aurally pleasing, the songs lack memorable hooks. Singer Robert Flynn sometimes sounds like the Dead Kennedys' Jello Biafra, at other times like Jonathan Davis from Korn, especially on "Bulldozer." From the death-metal intensity of "Trephination" to the edgy punk of "American High," Machine Head have created an intense collection that, while revved up, runs out of gas quickly. --Katherine Turman Amazon.com

Terrible for MH...Still better than most CD's out nowdays

This CD was pretty dissapointing expecially a few tracks on here really pissed me off. 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. 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. August 14, 2008

Strike Two.

Horrid!
Dreadful!!
Unmemorable!!!
Unlistenable!!!!
I have nothing, absolutely NOTHING good to say about this tragedy of an album.
Start to finish, an utter disaster.
AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!
A sure fire stink bomb guaranteed to melt your stereo with it's utter worthlessness!!!
Garbage. May 28, 2008

Listen with an open mind

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. 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. 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. May 27, 2007

its not as bad as everyone says it is.

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. Its one of the best. 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. July 16, 2006

WHAT HAPPENED?

I like Machine Head a lot. Many people disliked "The Burning Red" and called them sell-outs, but I appreciated the effort to make something different. 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. September 23, 2005

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