Machine Head (heavy/groove/nu/thrash metal) started their most recent Burn My Eyes 25th Anniversary Tour in Phoenix, AZ (January 16th) at The Van Buren and since then all I could do was look at the calendar in anticipation for their January 30th tour stop at Center Stage in Atlanta. Why, you might ask? Well, let me tell you why this tour is very special for all Head Cases (this is a term used to describe fans of the band) out there. This show will actually consist of two (2) sets from Machine Head. The first set will consist of hits from the band over the years with the latest lineup of Machine Head performing. Currently, Machine Head is comprised of founding member Robb Flynn (vocals/guitar), Waclaw “Vogg” Kieltyka (guitar/backing vocals), Jared MacEachern (bass/backing vocals), and Matt Alston (drums/percussion).

Now since this is the 25th anniversary of their debut LP, Burn My Eyes, the second (2) set will be a happy reunion with most of the OG Machine Head lineup: Robb Flynn, Logan Mader (guitar/backing vocals), and Chris Kontos (drums/percussion) as they play the entirety of Burn My Eyes. Now to be fair, the LP was released in 1994 so technically the 25th anniversary was last year but, who really cares… 30 days into 2020 doesn’t matter to me or to the nearly sold out crowd in attendance at Center Stage for tonight’s show. I can still remember going with my friends up to Columbia, S.C. to a little club (I believe the name was Rockefellas’?) to see Machine Head play with Stuck Mojo while on the original Burn My Eyes Tour in 1995. What a night! Now I can experience it all again but this time I am behind the lens, capturing this moment for everyone who attends.

For their “hits” set, Machine Head gave us all a dose of what was to come with the new lineup. Hard, heavy, and full of energy, Machine Head completely leveled Center Stage with a barrage of songs that covered Machine Head’s nine (9) LP catalog. The smile on Robb’s face as the band took the stage said it all: Machine Head was still touring after 29 years as a band. That is a long time to dedicate to the constant grind of making an album, touring, resting, and repeat; but, Robb Flynn has been the man to do it successfully despite some bumps in the road along the way.

Take a look at the first set list… holy shit what mind-blowing start to the night!

Set list: 1st set

Entrance music: “Diary of a Madman” – Ozzy Osbourne

1. “Imperium”

2. “Take My Scars”

3. “Now We Die”

4. “Beautiful Morning”

5. “Locust”

6. “I Am Hell (Sonata in C#)

7. “Aesthetics of Hate” (w/ guitar solo)

8. “Darkness Within”

9. “Catharsis”

10. “From This Day”

11. “Ten Ton Hammer”

12. “Is There Anybody Out There?”

13. “Hallowed Be Thy Name” (Iron Maiden cover)

14. “Halo”

Now for what we all have been waiting for- Burn My Eyes from beginning to end, with three (3) of the original members from this era of Machine Head. Seeing Logan and Chris back on stage with Robb was pretty magical… not going to lie. And I am pretty positive by the crowd’s reaction to the band taking the stage, that they all felt the same exact way. Since the track “Real Eyes. Realize. Real Lies” was the music that they used as entrance music, Machine Head had been substituting a mix of various hard rock/metal classics such as Slayer’s “South of Heaven” and “Raining Blood”, White Zombie’s “Thunder Kiss ‘65”, and Rage Against the Machine’s “Bulls on Parade”. For Atlanta’s show, we were treated to a mash up of Accept’s “Fast As a Shark” / “Balls to the Wall” and then a heartfelt tribute to Reed Mullin (Corrosion of Conformity’s drummer who recently passed away at the age of 53) by playing C.O.C.’s “Loss for Words”.

2nd set list: Burn My Eyes

Entrance music: “Real Eyes. Realize. Real Lies.”

1. “Davidian”

2. “Old”

3. “A Thousand Lies”

4. “None But My Own”

5. “The Rage To Overcome”

6. “Death Church”

7. “A Nation On Fire”

8. “Blood For Blood”

9. “I’m Your God Now”

10. Mash up: “Fast As a Shark” – Accept / “Balls to the Wall” – Accept / “Loss for Words” – Corrosion of Conformity (R.I.P. Reed Mullin)

11. “Block”

Head over to Machine Head’s tour page and check out the remaining dates left on this tour before they finish up February 22nd in Anaheim, CA. at House of Blues. Now Machine Head did release a new single, “Do or Die” on October 15th, 2019, so a new album should be on its way, so keep an eye open on Machine Head to release more new material in 2020!

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25th Anniversary Tour- Burn My Eyes: Machine Head (Atlanta - Center Stage)