Machine Head - Live Review

Note: Please treat this comment as an opinion of a real Metal-Lover.

Sunday, November 18, 2007 a very rainy and windy day in the capital. The Ambassador, an old theatre, is a well-known and popular live venue, providing space for approximately 2000 people. The show was sold out and the promoters have decided to separate the balcony view and the ground floor due to alcohol serving permissions. The balcony was reserved for over 14's with no alcohol served and the ground floor for over 18's with the serving of alcohol. I have approached the bar to check out the tabs, four kinds of beers on tab but priced at over 5€ for less than a pint. I have decided to stay dry this evening.

Around 7.50pm, the first band - GAMA BOMB - has entered the stage and the music should be a kind of thrash metal. The sound was quite bad and the music was more boring than fascinating. This band maybe feel that "their big archetype is SLAYER", but actually there are far, far away from that direction. After 20 minutes changeover the next band, EVILE has entered the stage and their thrash metal was as unspectacular as the gig of GAMA BOMB. Therefore i do not want to waste more words for a gig, which i already cannot remember one day after.

Another 40 minutes of changeover and the headliner of the evening, MACHINE HEAD were going to play their set. You know, what you can expect from a MACHINE HEAD gig but that night the word which burned in my head was "disappointment". The setlist was focused on the current output "The Blackening", but some old titles like "Imperium" or "Ten Ton Hammer" were played as well. The band and Mr. Robb Flynn himself played so many mistakes and his speeches between the songs ware completely unnecessary. A "thats so fucking amazing" after every song gets quite annoying. In total, 80 minutes set but 30 minutes of speeches. The sound was not the best one either. Not a gig which i will remember in future but it was my last MACHINE HEAD concert. The prices for official merchandising were an impertinence. All shirt motives were close to the latest album cover and were priced between 30€ and 60€. No thanks.

-Beavis