MACHINE HEAD have shared another brand new song, ‘Circle the Drain.’ Listen here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To_4s0WE8vo and pick up your download here https://nuclearblast.com/mh-circlethedrain.
In March 2018, MACHINE HEAD frontman/guitarist and visionary, Robb Flynn began having ideas for a new song. Over the following 6 months, a crazy series of events would lead to what would become this new track, but not without unsuspecting detours and downright sad events as the band in its ‘then current’ form, fell apart. These two video diary clips document the ‘making of…’ ‘Circle The Drain’.
Part 1 – https://youtu.be/Cz2clO10Lcs
Part 2 – https://youtu.be/EIYTQAEEH90.
Guitarist / vocalist Robb Flynn describes the song as the anti-Valentine’s Day song. “The song is inspired by an acquaintance of mine who returned from Afghanistan only to have his relationship fall apart with his girl. She had messed around on him, then got paranoid about him messing around on her, and drove him crazy. We had a conversation on Valentine’s Day and he said to me “they were just circling the drain”… the phrase struck me. A few days later I incorporated it into the song I’d been working on. It was a strange parallel with my life at the time, having recently had two band members quit, and even more bizarrely, two long-time couple friends of my wife and I, also divorce. It was break-up season, and it played out with friends taking sides, people not being invited to certain events anymore, social and emotional pressure, and all the typical stuff that happens when a relationship goes bad. Watching this guy pull through it, helped me pull through my own upheaval. The lyrics to ‘Circle The Drain’ came out of that frustrating time. It’s a sad song about relationships gone bad, but accepting that it’s over, and making yourself move on. I wrote it in a more metaphorical tone, as I didn’t want it to be about my life, but to be about anybody’s life who may be going through a rough time like that. It may not be a song that connects with everyone, especially those in a solid relationship, but if the day ever comes when your life goes awry, this song will be a lifeline for you, something to help pull you up out of that dark place. The irony that he and I had the original conversation on Valentine’s Day, and are now releasing it on Valentine’s Day isn’t lost on me, it really is the anti-Valentine’s Day song.”
The song was once again produced by Robb Flynn (Machine Head’s Through The Ashes Of Empires, The Blackening, Bloodstone & Diamonds), and co-produced by Zach Ohren (All Shall Perish, Suicide Silence, Machine Head) at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland. Joel Wanasek (Attilla, Bloodline) once again handled post-production duties, while Russ Russell (At The Gates, The Wildhearts, Dimmu Borgir) over at Parlour Studios UK handled the beefy, guitar-heavy song mix. Finally the track was mastered by the same gentleman who mastered “Through The Ashes Of Empires” Greg Grimaldi at Oasis Mastering. “Circle The Drain” features the drumming of Navene Koperweis (Entheos, Whitechapel, Animals As Leaders, Animosity).
In late 2019, the band also dropped a video for the new song ‘Do Or Die’ through Imperium Recordings x Nuclear Blast. Watch and listen to that track here.
MACHINE HEAD are currently on the last few dates of the US leg of their “An Evening With” Winter 2020 tour. With increased demand for tickets, the band make a return to the UK and Europe for a second string of shows this Spring. The current tour features three hours of music spread over two sets, while celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Burn My Eyes. Part One features a battery of fan favourites from the band’s vast catalogue, including “Imperium,” “Halo,” “Ten Ton Hammer,” and “The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears.” This set features frontman/guitarist Robb Flynn and bassist Jared MacEachern, performing alongside new members, Vogg Kiełtyka and Matt Alston on guitar and drums, respectively. Part Two of the show features the band’s classic debut album Burn My Eyes played in its entirety for the first time ever on tour. Taking the stage for this part of the set are original members and Burn My Eyes-era alumni, drummer Chris Kontos and guitarist, Logan Mader.
Tickets for the upcoming UK and EU dates are available now from https://www.livenation.co.uk/artist/machine-head-tickets. A very limited amount of VIP packages per show are also available. Click to http://machinehead.vip for details.
MACHINE HEAD ON TOUR:
APRIL 2020
Sun 19th – Spain, ZARAGOZA, Teatro de las Esquinas
Tue 21st – Spain, SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Capitol
Thu 23rd – Portugal, OPORTO, Coliseu de Porto
Fri 24th – Portugal, LISBON, Coliseu de Lisboa
Sat 25th – Spain, MADRID, La Riviera
Mon 27th – Spain, MALAGA, Paris 15
Tue 28th – Spain, MURCIA, Gamma
Wed 29th – Spain, VALENCIA, Republicca
MAY
Fri 1st – Spain, BARCELONA, Razzmatazz
Sat 2nd – France, TOULOUSE, Le Bikini
Tue 5th – Germany, LUDWIGSBURG, MHP Arena
Wed 6th – Germany, WIESBADEN, Schlachthof
Fri 8th – Germany, HANNOVER, Swiss Life Hall
Sat 9th – Czech Republic, PRAGUE, Forum Karlin
Sun 10th – Slovakia, BRATISLAVA, Refinery Gallery
Tue 12th – Romania, BUCHAREST, Quantic Club
Wed 13th – Bulgaria, SOFIA, Universiada Hall
Fri 15th – Greece, THESSALONIKI, Fix Factory Of Sound
Sat 16th – Greece, ATHENS, Piraeus Academy
Wed 20th – Ukraine, KIEV, Stereoplaza
Fri 22nd – Russia, MOSCOW, Club 1930
Sat 23rd – Russia, ST PETERSBURG, A2 Green
Mon 25th – Finland, HELSINKI, The Circus
Thu 28th – Sweden, STOCKHOLM, Fryshuset Arenan
Fri 29th – Norway, OSLO, Sentrum Scene
Sat 30th – Denmark, AARHUS, Train
JUNE
Mon 1st – Germany, HAMBURG, Grosse Freiheit 36
Tue 2nd – Netherlands, UTRECHT, Tivoli Vredenburg
Wed 3rd – France, LILLE, L’Aeronef
Fri 5th – UK, LONDON, Alexandra Palace
Sat 6th – UK, BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy
