Supercharger (Limited Edition) [Digipak] - Machine Head

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Tracklisting for Supercharger (Digipak) as follows:

1. Declaration
2. Bulldozer
3. White-Knuckle Blackout!
4. Crashing Around Your
5. Kick You When You Are Down
6. Only The Names
7. All In Your Head
8. American High
9. Brown Acid
10. Nausea
11. Blank Generation
12. Trephination
13. Deafening Silence
14. Supercharger
15. Hole ...
...Blood, The Sweat, The Tears (Live)*
18. Desire To Fire (Live)*

* Bonus Tracks

Unfortunately I would have rated the album with 1 star, had the bonus tracks not been available. They make you realise just how good the band are barring maybe 'Ten Fold'. There is nothing wrong with the production on 'Supercharger', the album from a sound perspective is perfect. It's just the bad directions some of the music takes, ... more

Machine Head are an absolutely fantastic band, don't get me wrong. But this, this is a shambolic release. They alienated a lot of hardcore fans with this one, as they slowly descended into Nu-Metal esque lyrics over a not so in your face selection of music.

Starting off on quite solid ground with the ten ton hammer that is 'Bulldozer' after a brief 'Declartion' with war sirens and mega-phone/Screamed vocals. You first think 'I like this, it's heavy but melodic and the lyrics aren't too bad...' It seems as if this track could have been lifted right off of their previous effort 'The Burning Red' as the lyrics are almost rapped, something that really annoys when you hear it!!!

'White-Knuckle Blackout' starts with a great bluesy riff that goes into a Leftfield verse thats, ohh... not so good!!! With potential lost in the clean melodic parts the song is only saved by its heavier moments. There are far too many squealing guitar effects layered onto the clean moments that really dont suit these guys, what a shame!!!

Why? should be the title to 'Crashing Around You' the albums main single. Why did Robb think for a second that anyone would like this song, there are instant comparisons to the much better but still unusual rap-metal flavour of 'From This Day' from the past effort. This song just sat in a heap with all the other Nu-Metal plodders of the time.

'Kick You When Your Down' good punked up track with a fast paced riff that opens the song. Except for that damned organ playing as Robb sings the title to the track leading into the chorus. Again this track has some Rap-Metal Icing on a rotten cake, another miss guided shot.

'Only The Names' Here we can appreciate what the (No longer a member thank God) guitarist Ahrue Luster was trying to do to Machine Head, he wanted the band to float into Leftfield. Balladry clean sounds and less of the heavy stuff, not suited to these guys at all and a track that can easily be skipped. This one is like an awful Nu-Metal version of 'Death Church' from the bands first album.

'All In Your Head' and no this isn't a Kosheen cover song. Instead we get a charged up song about an American Highschool that pains the frontman. Unbelievably like 'From This Day', but just pure Rap Metal nonsense over a great guitar riff. It is somewhat catchy however, and is probably the best track to remember from this album if you like singing in your head (It's 'all in your head' get it, no... ok forget that one).

"I was that kid getting drunk after school..." What? where's the brutal Machine Head gone?, and why does Robb Flynn sound like Tarzan? well his answer was "I was singing the riff to the song...it just happened to sound like tarzan" yeah right, it's the most stupid song intro that the band have ever done. If you want this not so 'Supercharger' summed up in one song, this is it 'American High'!!!!!!

'Brown Acid' Sounds exactly that way too. At only 1 minute in length, Robb may as well be forcing one out on the loo, because thats what it sounds like. The worst instrumental I've ever heard and a pointless gap.

'Nausea', A spacey track that plods with guitar effects and Robb singing his way through Ahrues strange noises. Has a really good lead up to the chorus with a monster riff errupting. But the verses are a bit naff! It does have quite a nice guitar solo about 3/4 of the way through, and the band do seem to be getting into the swing of things...

'Blank Generation' this is Machine Head in Lulably sleepy mode, only bursting a litle, not a bad track though some of the clean moments come off quite well here. The build-up to the chorus is quite an explosion and an interesting part of the track that almost has a groove to it, then Robb ruins it with "...to the hollywood world, we made out of barbie dolls hearts, after we melted em down, so we could make a new start..." it goes on and gets worse which ruins the track, but the riff that roars underneath when it kicks in is a monster!!!!

Bass intro and whispered aggressive vocals punch away with flailing arms. Then the double bass drums thunder in, pounding the dust from the very meaning of life. The albums second strongest point is here, what a track too. It's high paced with a chorus that screams to the point. The middle eight is almost a Slayer riff, but exactly what you want to hear and a welcome break from the monotony that has gone in the majority of tracks before. Ends with the sound of rain that leads into the next track...

...'Deafening Silence' is another leftfield track that is actually quite good. It has some good lyrics and guitar riffs, but best of all the clean parts sound right alongside Robb's singing. One thing though, I'm glad Machine Head never decided to retain this sound on their following releases.

'Supercharger' rounds out the album as the last track (The rest are bonus tracks limited to the Digipak Version). It's a welcome ending and a very punchy one with a similar opening as in the intro 'Declaration'. The riffs are aggressive and the title seems perfectly justified. A good ending to an album which is a slight let down for fans on the whole.

Now we come to the four bonus tracks only available on the Digipak version, firstly we have the punky/aggressive and at times Leftfield cover of 'Hole In The Sky' originally by Black Sabbath. This one's an impressive cover where Machine Head aren't afraid to try their own thing.

Then we get a studio floor picking called 'Ten Fold' and what a heavy rap-metal track is too. It's a good'un, but only just. It would have been more appreciated than some of the tracks that were included on the regular album. The riffs are jagged and punchy with crisp cymbals and thunderous bass drums.

To finish off the Digipak there are two live tracks, and they are the best songs off of 'The Burning Red' with 'The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears' and 'Desire To Fire'. However good that 'The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears' is live, it's a shame that 'Desire To Fire' plods in this live version and has no where near the power of the studio version. However after the tracks on 'Supercharger' these two are actually a welcome break, and a reminder that Machine Head can do 'Heavy'.

The Digipak version of this album is housed in a bright orange cardboard gatefold (Brighter than almost all of the spines on any of my other 500 CD's) with the graphics in grey, white and black layered on top. The package is striking, if you have seen it then you'll know what I mean, it looks like it means business (Shame it doesn't). Lyrics are produced in the booklet should you want to sound like Tarzan or sing about an agrivated childhood.

There are pictures of the band inside the booklet with everyone looking normal except Flynn looking like he's 'Supercharged' in a bad way!!! I wouldn't recomend this album to anyone who hasn't heard of Machine Head, they have produced and provided the music industry with several Jems, but this ain't one of them. For those clasping to new metal with a loving for 'Korn's' childhood oriented lyrics and havent heard this, you may just like it!!!

Tracklisting for Supercharger (Digipak) as follows:

1. Declaration
2. Bulldozer
3. White-Knuckle Blackout!
4. Crashing Around Your
5. Kick You When You Are Down
6. Only The Names
7. All In Your Head
8. American High
9. Brown Acid
10. Nausea
11. Blank Generation
12. Trephination
13. Deafening Silence
14. Supercharger
15. Hole In The Sky*
16. Ten Fold*
17. The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears (Live)*
18. Desire To Fire (Live)*

* Bonus Tracks

Unfortunately I would have rated the album with 1 star, had the bonus tracks not been available. They make you realise just how good the band are barring maybe 'Ten Fold'. There is nothing wrong with the production on 'Supercharger', the album from a sound perspective is perfect. It's just the bad directions some of the music takes, and some of the smaller things in some of the tracks that sadly ruins what could have been, and promised to be a great Machine Head album. 

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