Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"You Tell A Thousand Lies, Been Told A Thousand Times...", April 20, 2002
Lyrics. One major thing I look for in good metal are lyrics. One of the things that drew me here, but I'll address that later... Many have called this album a masterpiece. I don't QUITE agree. I don't personally think it's a masterpiece. However, Machine Head's Burn My Eyes IS extremely great. It's a hair or two shy of being a mastepiece in my eyes. That is no small thing. Why do I say so? Let's take a track from the CD and analyze it, shall we? Let's take "Davidian". The song begins with an explosive drum intro, then fills in with a nice, heavy riff. No, the riffs are not the heaviest EVER, like some say. But... when I first that beginning, I was hooked! The song continues on for some time, then speeds up and Rob Flynn starts singing. Yes, singing! I call that singing. Using his voice. And, he does have one set of pipes on him. Only when the music paused and the famous line delivered, did I feel the lyrical power at work here. "LET FREEDOM RING WITH A SHOTGUN BLAST!!!" That line is great! Simple and well delivered, it made me listen to the whole album through just in hopes of finding more good tidbits of soul-touching words. I found many such excerpts. Not only that, but the music is still pretty heavy nonetheless, and thrashes and crunches in the proper spots. The double bass drums thunder along, and the solos are nice and sludgy-sounding. Burn My Eyes might not be a masterpiece to me, but I clearly understood why many people thought so. Every song deserves a listen. Find your own favorites. Enjoy the CD. I'm surprised at how recent this is. 1994? Wow...Good lyrics, nice solos, evenly heavy guitar and bass. Fast speed. Burn My Eyes is great. An ALMOST masterpiece. Get it!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Burn My Eyes . . . brilliant - enough said, October 27, 2001
To review this album, is like reviewing the Bible of metal albums. The album begins with an insane drum fill from the hands of Chris Kontos, and crashes in soon after with the rest of the band: Davidian has begun. This song alone, has to convince any listener, that what Machine Head is/was about, is power. This album, in my mind, and I'm sure I'm not alone when saying this, is one of, if not the single best examples of metal today. Robb Flynn's vocals are unprecedented. Not only can he growl with the best of them, but he proves that he can truly sing (I'm Your God Now, Nation on Fire, . . .). The Logan/Robb guitar work is brilliant. They combine their efforts in some awesome solos, and along with drummer Chris Kontos and bassist Adam Duce drive this album from strength to strength. Though I have to point out, that if you happen to be a drummer, and listening to this album, you will be amazed. Chris Kontos is brilliant. If you don't believe me, then get this album just to hear him alone, I guarantee you that you will thank me afterwards. But if you listen to the follow up albums you will be soarly dissapointed by the drums, this is because Chris only played on Burn My Eyes. Though I have to admit that the drumming on The More Things Change (1997), is far better than the drums on 1999's The Burning Red, which marked a visible change in MH's musical direction, and style. It should also be noted that this album was previously the biggest selling debut by any band on the Roadrunner label, although that achievement has since been surpassed by the 9-man army more commonly known as Slipknot. So, I guess what I'm trying to get across to you, is that this album is unbelievable. Vivid lyrics. Powerful guitars. Insanity on drums. This album, is one of those that will stand the test of time with the likes of Metallica's Master of Puppets. I only wish Machine Head would go back to their roots and write some more music in the same vein as this monster, but I suppose you can't have everything. So I highly recommend this album. If you have never heard the Head before, and you want to get some of their material, this is the way to go. I promise you. 11 tracks. 11 tracks that will forever change your sense of musical appreciation, and your perception of just what metal should be.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A tyrannical titan of an album, June 22, 2002
With "Burn My Eyes," Machine Head ratcheted up the intensity of early thrash metal to create a monstrous masterpiece of epic proportions. Call this oversimplification if you will, but this album is heavy, heavy, heavy. However, there is far more to it than just heaviness. "Burn My Eyes" is also distinctive, diverse, and intelligent. And did I mention it's heavy?
Right from the beginning, Machine Head make it clear what you, the listener, are in for. Opener "Davidian" is a chugging monster with massive riffs, lots of bass, and precise drumming, and as far as memorable choruses go it's hard to beat Robb Flynn shouting "Let freedom ring with a shotgun blast!" The next two songs follow the same pattern, so it's somewhat of a surprise when the band starts out slow on "None But My Own." But it works, just like everything else of the album. Just listen to track seven, "A Nation on Fire." The verses are pretty slow, but the song builds in intensity through the pre-chorus and and another insanely anthemic chorus (perhaps no album has more memorable refrains than this one). And then, four and a half minutes in, when the song would have every right to end, it takes off on a blindingly fast thrash fest. But whatever speed the band is at, be it fast, slow, or midtempo, it's always suitably caustic and grinding for a thrash album.
Everything I've mentioned above would be at least enough for a four-star rating, but what really sets "Burn My Eyes" apart are the lyrics. Although Machine Head talk about societal problems, in the grand tradition of such thrash pioneers as Metallica and Megadeth, the lyrical content of "Burn My Eyes" is often anything but negative. My personal fave, "A Nation on Fire," is a perfect example of the band's lyrical bent. Despite the fact that it details the decay of American society, the song's real message is that even in the face of social decay, people must find strength within themselves. Lines like "I won't break, it gives me strength," and "I won't go down, stand my ground" give the song an uplifting, redemptive message that is lacking in so much of today's radio-ready complaint rock. Machine Head preach persevering through problems rather than simply whining about them, a fact that gives "Burn My Eyes" its true power.
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by Machine Head 
