Machine Head

Machine Head formed in Oakland, California, in 1991, when Robb Flynn, unhappy with the direction of his band Vio-lence, recruited bassist Adam Duce. Guitarist Logan Mader and drummer Tony Costanza completed the first line-up, and Chris Kontos replaced Costanza during the making of the debut. A bedroom demo earned a deal with Roadrunner Records, and Burn My Eyes (1994) shipped nearly 400,000 copies, becoming the label’s best-selling debut.

Kontos was replaced by Dave McClain for The More Things Change… (1997). Mader then left and Ahrue Luster took his place on The Burning Red (1999) and Supercharger (2001). Phil Demmel, also formerly of Vio-lence, filled in during 2002, joined full-time in March 2003 and debuted on Through the Ashes of Empires (2003).

The Blackening (2007) entered the Billboard 200 at number 53, its track “Aesthetics of Hate” earned a Grammy nomination, and Metal Hammer named it album of the decade in 2010. Unto the Locust (2011) reached number 22 in the US. Duce was fired in February 2013, Jared MacEachern joined on bass that June, and Bloodstone & Diamonds (2014) debuted at number 21, the band’s highest US chart position. After Catharsis (2018), Demmel and McClain announced their departure in September 2018.

Guitarist Wacław Kiełtyka of Decapitated and drummer Matt Alston were announced in September 2019, and the band’s first concept album, Of Kingdom and Crown, followed on August 26, 2022. Reece Scruggs, formerly of Havok, began touring with Machine Head in November 2022, and the eleventh album Unatøned, the first to feature him, was released through Nuclear Blast and Imperium Recordings on April 25, 2025.

Current line-up: Robb Flynn (vocals, guitar), Reece Scruggs (guitar), Jared MacEachern (bass), Matt Alston (drums)