Machine Head – Liquid Rooms – Edinburgh – 6th September 2022

Torrential rain in the Scottish capital was not going to put a dampener of seeing Machine Head in a 700 capacity venue for the 2nd time in 8 years. The last time they were here was on the Killers & Kings Tour. Tonight’s affair is quite different, it’s Electric Happy Hour (ok it was 2.5 hours but who’s counting.)

In case you’re wondering how many Machine Head songs can fit into that time, the answer is 21. 22 if you include their version of the Slayer classic Reign In Blood.

The crowd was already mildly moist and rabid before the band had even hit the stage. Fuck me did Machine Head hit the stage. Opening with Davidian, Beautiful Morning and Now We Die.  It was at this point that I noticed 2 people with video cameras at the front of the stage who stayed there all night.

After a very short respite (a quick hello) it’s back to business with Volatile,  Struck a Nerve Take My Scars and Imperium. 

From the view point I had, the crowd were putting out more steam than a boiling kettle. The place had lost its tiny mind. Circle pits, wall of deaths and good old fashioned crowd surfing was aplenty. Security was at times overwhelmed by crowd surfers coming over the barrier. But I have to say they did a tremendous job. It was at this point I noticed go-pros mounted on the 3 mics at the front of the stage (Robs, Jareds and Waclaws) as well as on the drums. Fingers crossed some of the footage comes to light at some point. 

Rob explained that being as this a Happy Hour concert before they head out on a full tour with Amon Amarth, there is no set list. The show is being winged hence why only 2 tracks from the new album ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN were played (BECØME THE FIRESTØRM and the live debut of NØ GØDS, NØ MASTERS). 

This was a set of deep cuts and rarely played songs. I’ll be totally honest, they could’ve come on, just played Davidian and Ten Ton Hammer and I would’ve left happy. 

To see Machine Head play a club venue because they couldn’t get a Scottish date with Amon Amarth is always special. They were on top of their game and quite clearly having a great time as there were smiles galore from Rob Flynn, second lead guitarist Wacław Kiełtyka and James Hetfield look alike bassist Jared MacEachern. So much interplay between those 3 up front was incredible.  As for drummer Matt Alston,  he made his playing look effortless and appeared to be enjoying himself hitting the drums like a neanderthal. 

If you EVER get a chance to see Machine Head in a small venue, as Nike say, JUST DO IT .It’s magical. My neck still hasn’t been the same since.
Set List
Davidian
Beautiful Mourning
Now We Die
Volatile
Struck a Nerve
Take My Scars
Imperium
From This Day
Bulldozer
Elegy
Ten Ton Hammer
Is There Anybody Out There?
Darkness Within
Catharsis
BECØME THE FIRESTØRM
NØ GØDS, NØ MASTERS (Live debut)
A Nation on Fire
Aesthetics of Hate
I Am Hell (Sonata in C#)
Old
Raining Blood (Slayer cover)
Halo