Machines of Grace

Machines of Grace (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 31, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Machines of Grace
• ASIN: B002I75E3Q
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,738 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

14 tracks, 2009 release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You must buy this!!!!, October 1, 2009

By 

Mary L. Graves "movie fanatic" (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Machines of Grace (Audio CD)

Warning...This CD has something for everyone.
If you like the softer,melodic rock you have "The Moment","This Time", and "Breakdown". If you want to let you hair down, you have "Psychotic", "Soul to Fire" and "Bleed".
The vocals,drumming,bass and guitars are all top notch. If you can't find one song on this CD that doesn't leave you humming the chorus...you need to go back to listening to Wham!!!!
Not for fly-by-night "rock" fans!!!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rockin cd, August 1, 2009

By 

jercar2004 "jeramie" (alabama) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Machines of Grace (MP3 Download)

Just when you thought there would be a little wait for a new release from Zakk
here this comes and what a kickin release I just bought it from them on amazon mp3 version and every song rocks get it turn it up

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars - melodic hard rock featuring Zak Stevens of Circle II Circle and Savatage, May 13, 2011

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Machines of Grace (Audio CD)

This 2009 self-released, self-titled Machines of Grace album is an interesting one, as the band is new and old at the same time. Machines of Grace features former Savatage drummer Jeff Plate and vocalist Zak Stevens (also formerly of Savatage and now with Circle II Circle). Plate and Stevens - as well as guitarist Matt Leff - were in a band called Wicked Witch prior to joining Savatage, and Machines is more or less a revival of that band, as the album features songs that were originally written in the Wicked Witch days.

Machines of Grace's sound is hard to pin down. It's not the heavy power metal of Circle II Circle or the theatrical progressive metal of Savatage, nor is it the kind of hair metal you might expect from an early `90s band. The album straddles the line between accessible - almost mainstream - rock and melodic metal, kind of like Circle II Circle tempered with King's X and maybe Harem Scarem. This middle of the road approach means the album doesn't grab you right off the bat, but the songs definitely grow on you after a few spins. Stevens, of course, sounds terrific, and his vocals tend to dominate the album, but the musicianship is impressive as well.

Machines of Grace is not quite as good as the average Circle II Circle album, and it doesn't really come close to Stevens' work with Savatage (then again, nothing does). It is, however, a totally solid melodic hard rock/metal album that fans of Zak Stevens' powerful vocals are likely to enjoy. It should also appeal to fans of bands like Starbreaker, Jorn and Pretty Maids.