Register Forgot login?

© 2002-2024
Encyclopaedia Metallum

Privacy Policy

Deep Purple > Machine Head > Reviews
Deep Purple - Machine Head

Deep Purple in Metal - 100%

Xyrth, April 4th, 2022

I won’t say ‘forget about the rock’, because Deep Purple in Rock is as magnificent as this 50 year older titled Machine Head (if you’re thinking about the groove metal band, you’re doing it wrong), but this is, arguably, Deep Purple’s closest venture to the still developing heavy metal genre. My belief is that, unlike Black Sabbath, Purple never really crossed over from their hard rock shores to the heavier side of metal, but I won’t deny that they did contribute enormously to its evolution, in second place after Iommi and co., but probably more so than Led Zep, Uriah Heep or others. Perhaps Budgie or Sir Lord Baltimore were more (proto)metal, but they remained a little bit too underground in comparison to the seminal Hertford quintet. Visibility is influence, and Deep Purple were already a top rock music act by 1972. Their sixth studio LP, Machine Head ended up becoming their best-selling album, as the masses of rock fans worldwide were getting prepped for heavier sounds.

Perhaps, no record from 1972 starts with such a groundbreaking number as “Highway Star”, with its highly influential, constant, driving rhythmic riffs, the basis for many future heavy/speed metal tunes. While Purple’s rhythmic section was not as aggressive or groundbreaking as Sabbath’s or Led Zep’s, they provided with a solid foundation for the melodic instruments to shine. The magnificent solos by Lord’s organ and Blackmore’s guitar would also be emulated by countless Euro power metal bands from the 90s onward. This is among Deep Purple’s heavier and faster songs, and they contributed more to the faster paced side of metal, as opposed to Sabbath’s heavier doomy style. It is also one of their better-known songs, but there’s another one from this very record which claims that title. “Smoke on the Water” is one of all rock music better-known songs, with an iconic set of simple but catchy riffs, the starting point for many would-be-guitarists since the day it was released. It ended up being one of the typical over-played songs in radios and bars worldwide, but still is a great tune, recalling the tribulation the band endured as they wanted to record this very album.

“Pictures of Home”, “Lazy” and “Space Truckin’” are the other high-octane tracks on this quintessential release. The first one is a bluesy hard rocking number, with another dual set of tremendous guitar/organ solos, and even a short and sweet bass guitar solo by the constant Roger Glover. It’s also one of Ian Gillian’s most impressive performances here, and I’d place it second in terms of intensity to “Highway Star”, even though “Space Truckin’” might be heavier, perhaps even heavier than the opener itself. The organ and bass intro is almost Sabbath-esque in terms of heaviness, and Gillian screams at his most deranged level on this one. The chorus section is one of the most headbangeable moments in the whole LP. Of chours this 4-minute version would be totally crushed by the 20-minute incarnation on the similarly seminal Made in Japan release, but its original form still is energic and amusing as it is. As for “Lazy”, it is the most ‘progressive’ composition here (classic prog rock was at the height of its powers in 1972, and in fact I rank some progressive LPs of that year even higher than this Purple one), with a lengthy organ intro, that soon evolves into a boogie rock number filled with great solos. In fact, the song is almost instrumental, with Ian Gillian finally making his appearance well past half the track. But again, his presence does lift the song higher, especially near the end when he hits those high notes.

The remaining two songs, “Maybe I’m Leo” and “Never Before” might not possess the golden status of the aforementioned ones, but they’re great regardless. The former might be the more blues-oriented track here, comfortably residing in its mid-paced rhythm for its entire 5 minutes of duration. It’s a more laid-down track, but Lord’s organ and Glover’s bass manage to provide an extra coat of heaviness most tracks of that day and age didn’t have. The rock’n’roll-ish “Never Before” has a bad-boy swagger to it, totally transporting you to a dark 70s smoke-filled pub swarming with broken-hearted blokes, rocking their heads as the booze flows down their throats. I understand the argument of depriving Machine Head of masterpiece status due to this pair of songs, in a similar manner to “Trapped Under Ice” and “Escape” from the 12-year younger Ride the Lightning for many people, but I don’t see a major decline in quality with either of those two. I can also get that 50 years later, this might sound too basic for some folks out there, when bands like Deathspell Omega or Fleshgod Apocalypse exist. But metal clearly wouldn’t have come to be what it is if not for records like this one, and not that there where many like this one half a century ago. Saying that influence is overrated is ridiculous, but people do tend to forget about the origin of things and blindly declare the current state of things as the rule. In any case, Machine Head remains fun and amusing for rock and classic metal enthusiasts, and newer bands will continue to cover its songs and take cues from it as long as popular music exists.

Wow! This is a Fucking Mind-Blowing Thing! - 99%

ballcrushingmetal, July 25th, 2018
Written based on this version: 1972, 12" vinyl, Warner Bros. Records

Landmark would be a mandatory adjective for purposes of describing how great is this album from every possible angle. But still, it is non-sufficient. Purple's sixth release would become an unskippable release for every single band pretending to play the music that invaded an entire planet for almost a couple of decades: heavy f'n metal. It also became a valuable reference for all those making their careers as shredders. In other words, it was a starting point for almost everything in metal.

A very solid line-up and a well-established songwriting style marked the band's trajectory, and their concept represented a step forward from what other similar bands created. In general, Purple's developed a heavier sound that resulted more dynamic and energetic. And if you put Blackmore's hyperactive neoclassical guitar playing in the formula, then the final product ends up being a mind-blowing thing. All these features make up the opening track, the legendary "Highway Star", which is the first speed metal number ever played (even "Paranoid" wasn't that fast), as well as the first metal song including a guitar-keyboard duel. Further, the riff played throughout the same is majestic.

"Smoke on the Water" is also a highlight of bestial proportions. The song is not as fast as the opening number, but it is still heavier than hell while its guitar riffs are killers of high respectability. Its lyrics relate to an accident that took place in a Frank Zappa concert in Montreux, Switzerland, in which Montreux Casino was burnt to the ground. Is further description needed for this song? Not at all. Then, intensely closing the album, the thrashy "Space Truckin'" provides a speed metal discharge that is not as memorable as in the opening song.

The rest of the album is not different from what they have written in previous albums. Perhaps, the energetic "Pictures of Home" would be the most remarkable and distinctive number from that section. Having said that, "Machine Head has stood the test of time, and remained as a quintessential release along with Black Sabbath's sophomore effort. This is the kind of album that as a metalhead you should proudly own in whatever format you can find.

You can also read this review in the Antichrist Magazine
http://antichristmagazine.com/review-deep-purple-machine-head-1972/

No smoke without fire - 84%

gasmask_colostomy, January 25th, 2017

So I'm sitting here separated from this album by 45 motherfucking years and considering comparing it to whiskey or cheese or wine, since age has not dimmed this a great deal, but distilled much of its quality and made it more potent to taste. The ravages of time have not ravaged Machine Head in the same way as they have ravaged Judas Priest's British Steel, which I recently reviewed and found a bit dated. I am prepared to admit (ashamedly, it must be said) that I don't know which version of this album I have, but I would hazard a guess that I have the original mixes, which sound clean and studio-recorded rather than immediate and live-recorded, as most people seem to say about the Roger Glover re-release. In any case, the songwriting, musicianship, and ingenuity displayed on this here disc is enough to recommend it to all but the most fleeting of rock fans.

Note that it's the word rock and definitely not the word metal that defines the environs of Machine Head in music's amphitheatre, nor is it simply a case of faster, louder, heavier that steers it away from the subject of this website. The beats that Ian Paice lays down certainly never approach the urgency of latter, purer, bands such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, while the choices made in the studio and on Ritchie Blackmore's amp sound starkly different from the "scooped" sound that would later rise to prominence, nor is the guitar emphasized or distorted as much as Tony Iommi's from Black Sabbath's early days. All this results in a fairly relaxed listen by early heavy metal standards, only 'Highway Star' and 'Pictures of Home' injecting some pace into proceedings, while the blues influences of 'Maybe I'm a Leo' and 'Lazy' can appear busy though never heavy. That's no complaint, of course, since the more spacious feel of such an album gives precedence to the individual chops of each member, of which Machine Head boasts some of the very best.

In the first place, this isn't particularly a guitar album, although Blackmore does bust a few great riffs and has plenty of time soloing, settling into familiar rhythmic holding posts at other moments to allow the other instrumentalists to shine through. Blackmore's work on 'Highway Star' is the most innovative here, not only in terms of the main riff, which is a "speed metal" staple (not that fast and not really metal, but the intent is there), but also a lot of the other work, such as the neat chugging riff he pops in at 1:58 to lead into the solo section, which has a gritty tone and an awesome double-speed note that proves what a steady picking hand he's got. Then the spiralling melodies are simply dazzling and were taken up later by a great deal of trad and power metal outfits, plus the solos later in the song make use of some unusual note patterns that prove far more memorable than the normal rock scale noodling. His comrades Roger Glover and Jon Lord take prominence in many of the other songs, Glover's bass occasionally dominating and taking the lead position from the others. Despite the rather obvious solo in 'Pictures of Home', the bass work stands out in 'Lazy', swooping and reverberating in multiple patterns while the song goes along at low ebb and then settling into more stable rhythms as the band takes off in a more specific direction. Most of Glover's work is stellar and Lord - though with fewer opportunities - manages to remind us why his passing was such a sad moment for the music world, combining with Blackmore in dizzying feats of duelling solos. As for Paice's drumming, I have already mentioned a tendency to play rock beats, though his ability to shape the softer and slower songs is remarkable, opting for a jazzy flexibility over a simple pounding of the skins. His contribution can be witnessed to greatest effect in the rise and fall of 'Lazy'.

Ian Gillan gets a separate mention because I'm sure he must have felt bored at times when Purple performed these songs, since his time in the limelight is comparatively short, barely visible for half the album. Most of the songs include lengthy jam sections, at which time he could probably have left the stage for a piss, or a smoke, or even walk down the pub and order a drink. His performance suits the record though, coping well with the variation of softer and slower textures, draping 'Never Before' and 'Pictures of Home' with charisma rather than the famous shrieking power for which he is known. The one song that he fails to bring credit to is the point on which I have remained quiet - 'Smoke on the Water'. Here, Gillan attempts to add excitement to the steady beat of the track, narrating the classic story of the fire near the recording studio, yet there isn't the sufficient punch either from his voicebox or the combined efforts of the rest of the band. Thus, it seems that the song containing the most famous riff in rock music is probably the weak point of the album, containing neither gripping instrumental passages nor a strong enough focal point until too late in the running time: the attempted nostalgia of Blackmore's solo comes to the end and Gillan finally gets a verse out with an ounce of conviction. The riff too - is that really the best we've got?

Happily, there aren't many problems with the other songs and they tend to also have more detailing from each band member to leave treasures to unearth for several listens. The cocky strut of 'Maybe I'm a Leo' is an immediate factor, as is the memorable theme to 'Pictures of You', while the bonehead rush of 'Space Truckin'' also presents more from the first experience than later visits. Perhaps the most rewarding song in which to indulge multiple times would be 'Pictures of You', since it seems to cover all bases, yet 'Highway Star' narrowly comes off as strongest from a fairly consistent set. What all this means for Machine Head as a whole is that it's reputation can be slightly misleading, particularly due to the unfair weight of opinion towards 'Smoke in the Water', whereas in fact the greater rewards lie just below the waterline in the sidelined album tracks. General consensus indicates that the original mix is an impediment to fully enjoying the music, though that's not to say that you won't have a good time and be fascinated whatever version you hear.

The Machine - 99%

Ritchie Black Iommi, January 24th, 2012

This record is what you want it to be. For many people, it's the first metal album ever (in terms of performing, sound, and production). For others, it's a simple hybrid attempt of trying to look different. Nonetheless, the influence of this album in the development of metal music is gigantic. I'll do a review, song per song, but won't stop too long in details for irrelevancies. I'll go straight to the point.

The fillers (I consider them "fillers" because, even if they are pretty good songs, their influence is not quite as remarkable as the ones I'll review carefully): Maybe I'm a Leo, When a Blind Man Cries, and Never Before do their duty in every sense. The first one is a straightforward rocker that's punchy, heavily passed and a beater. It does no more than that and it works well. The second one is a traditional ballad like many bands have done before and keep on doing. The third one tries to be a groovy song and somehow manages to survive correctly between several masterpieces on this record.

Now, Deep Purple's everlasting legacy (on this album) begins with the opener, Highway Star, and say no more. Speed and power metal are meeting right between the power chords and soloing, blasting rhythms, and virtuoso singing. Dude, don't lie to me, headbanging is a must with this piece, so be it, and remains to this day Deep Purple's most powerful song.

After Maybe I'm a Leo, you will find an underrated song. Nonetheless, it's a personal favourite and another metal-developer piece: Pictures of Home. The drumming intro plus the guitar tune plus the symphonic arrangements added by the keyboard plus the lyrical theme takes this song to the higher positions in Purple's repertoire.

Many things were said about Smoke on the Water: overplayed, way too simple, way too light sounding, whatever, but every rocker in the world played this thing at least once on a guitar. Nuclear warfare shall come and after our extinction, roaches will learn to play the guitar, and guess which song will be the first one they will cover? Yeah, you are correct! Go ahead, try to create a catchier and, at the same time, heavier riff than the one created by Ritchie. You can't, can you? So please, a little bit of respect here.

And now we find two stage staples by MKII: Lazy and Space Truckin. Both are very different songs and at the same time are the field for long jamming and improvisation. The first song, if this is possible, is a "heavy blues" attempt. Blackmore's guitar struggles against Lord's keyboards while Gillan tries to make way with his harmonica. With Glover and Paice giving a great background, you should enjoy this song a lot and you will never get bored of it. Every life performance by Deep Purple is a little surprise with this piece. The second song is another spillover of light metal development; a powerful riff, powerful singing, powerful beating, everything is very powerful. Power, dude!

Machine Head gives you everything: catchy songs between powerful tunes. A total machine, able to do whatever you expect from it. It's so metal and so traditional at the same time. A necessary masterpiece in your collection, no doubt about it. This Machine REALLY works.

Nhorf compares M.H. and I.R. and concludes that... - 87%

Nhorf, April 18th, 2008

A classic! That's what this album is, a classic in every sense of the word. The influence this piece had in other bands is also enormous, many of today's speed and heavy metal acts wouldn't play if this record hadn't came out. Yes, it's that influential.

First of all, the ability and skills of the musicians are unquestionable.
Ian Gillan is one of my favourite singers ever and is a major influence to so many vocalists – ask Bruce Dickinson, for example, about his influences and you will see. The guy can hit almost any note he wants to; a pretty good example is the pre-chorus of Highway Star, where he screams like he is going to die. Albeit the fantastic performance, I still prefer the one on In Rock. In fact, I'm having a hard time deciding the percentage that I will give to this piece - I mean, I love this record, but I also love In Rock, so it's hard for me to decide which album I will give the best rating. Meh.

About the guitar playing... I think everyone here knows who is Ritchie Blackmore, the guy is an idol to thousands and thousands of guitarists, his solos are pretty damn impressive and about the riffs... Well, he is one of the best “riff-makers”, if you ask me - just hear the unforgettable first one on Smoke and Water... Priceless. Many times, the guitar solos are accompanied by some keyboard ones, very much a la Dream Theater, courtesy of Lord, another legend.
The bass playing is very good too and audible, that's the most important thing, as I can't hear the bass guitar on the majority of the records I know.

And now, another legend and one of my favourite musicians ever... Ian Paice. Yes, I play the drums so I can tell you that that guy influences me a LOT. He isn't playing anything ultra-complex on the record, but his playing has “feel”, you know, he doesn't sound like a robot trying to play hard things (like the majority of the skilled drummers of today). Each line he plays adds something more to the song, from the fast fills of Space Truckin' to the drum solo sections of Pictures of Home. He is also very PRECISE - yes, precise is another word that perfectly fits his style. I'm also having a hard time choosing his best performance: if it is on Machine Head or on In Rock... I think I'll decide for the latter, where he adopts a more progressive approach to the tracks in spite of the more straight-forward one (but good, nevertheless) on this piece. I still don't know which one is the best, Machine Head or In Rock.

And what about the songwriting? Well with In Rock the band composed more progressive songs, with lengthy solo sections, lots of tempo changes and such. With Machine Head, the tunes are simpler and catchier, but awesome too. The songs are divided into two categories: the mid paced ones, comprising tracks like Never Before and Smoke on the Water, and the faster ones, like Space Truckin'.
The first one, Highway Star also falls in the latter category; this is one of the most well known songs of Purple's catalog and for a damn GOOD reason. It begins with a crescendo and then Ian Paice begins to play a simple beat. After that, Gillan screams like a madman and begins to sing in a very raw, aggressive way. What a versatile singer, indeed. After the infectious chorus, we reach the highlight of the track: Lord's keyboard solo, the be-all end-all of the keyboard solos, in my opinion. After a guitar solo, the song ends. Well, and is this tune an early speed metal classic? Hm, I think so!

Maybe I'm a Leo is a bit different and weaker, in fact it is the weakest song of the record - very forgettable, really. However, after the drum solo that marks the beginning of Pictures of Home, you know the band will not disappoint you further; indeed, the track has a main riff that is catchy and amazing (I'm not sure, but I think that I prefer it to the riff of Smoke on the Water). The chorus will remain in your head for weeks. There is a bass solo (bass solo, whoahh *jumps with happiness*) during the middle section and then the song fades away... But wait, Ian Paice begins to hit the snare again, and a few seconds later the song returns with a bluesy guitar solo, which is the perfect ending for one of my favourite Deep Purple tunes.

Never Before is a pop-ish track, but not a filler, though. It is a competent tune that leads us into the classic Smoke on the Water. Well, this song is far from being the masterpiece that many claim it is, but it is still a good tune, with one of the catchier guitar riffs ever; it's also pretty mid paced.
And then, another excellent track begins, the fantastic Lazy, a song that bears resemblances with In Rock. It has a very progressive structure with some intricate soloing. It begins very well, with some keyboard sounds that lead us into a very bluesy instrumental that clocks at around two minutes; despite the length, it never gets boring. Around the two minutes mark, Ian Gillan begins to sing about... a lazy man. Ok, it's not the best subject ever to write lyrics about, but hey, the chorus is actually pretty funny.

“You're lazy, you just stay in bed,
You're lazy, you just stay in bed,
You don't want no money,
You don't want no bread”

After the chorus, there is a fantastic... harmonica solo. Yes, very in the vein of Sabbath's The Wizard, but a bit better in my opinion. After the obligatory repetition of the chorus, the song ends.

Space Truckin' works greatly, closing the album and being a speed metal (or, at least, “speed rock”, if that genre exists) take. The chorus is anthemic, showing Ian Gillan's more aggressive voice, so aggressive that is even comparable to his vocal performance on In Rock's opener, the all-mighty Speed King... Wow, and I made yet another comparison between this record and In Rock... Great.

Anyways, the production is decent: you got to bear in mind that Machine Head was released in 1972! The sound of the drums isn't the best ever too, a bit low in the mix sometimes, but, again, it's 1972, we can't expect any better.

So, after all the comparisons between Machine Head and In Rock, what do I conclude? Hm, I conclude that I CAN'T CHOOSE between them. Damn. I think I'll have to give the same ratings to both albums. One is more progressive and the other more straight-forward, but both are amazing pieces in their own way.

87 points - Classic...

35 years later, it is regarded as a landmark. - 82%

erickg13, November 6th, 2006

When someone says Deep Purple, what is the first thing that comes to mind? “Smoke on the Water” for most, which is quite sad, simply because Deep Purple is so much better than that single hit.

After toiling around with various musical adventures, Deep Purple finally put all the pieces together on “Machine Head”. Quite Simply “Machine Head” delivers the goods.

Two main things that stick out are Ian Gillan and Ritchie Blackmore. Ian Gillan cements his spot among the best rock singers of his era with his performance on songs like the hit “Smoke on the Water”, “Highway Star” and “Space Truckin’”. And guitarist Ritchie Blackmore provides guitar work far beyond his era, with some neoclassical solos and heavy bluesy riffs.

Of the 7 songs, there are really no duds, but “Highway Star”, “Smoke on the Water”, and “Space Truckin’” are the best by far. Also, for those lucky enough to get the 25th Anniversary Edition, you will find the Roger Glover remixes disc very interesting. “Smoke on the Water” defines the album, but without supporting songs such as “Maybe I’m a Leo” and “Space Truckin” this wouldn’t be as good of an album.

Overall, “Machine Head”, is a really good album which was essential in the formation of early heavy metal, albeit this is much more of a hard rock album. While this album won’t blow you away, it is a classic in its own right.

An Essential Heavy Rock Album - 90%

StoneMaiden, October 2nd, 2004

DEEP PURPLE Machine Head
April 1972 (release) – 37:25
Produced by DEEP PURPLE
Martin Birch, Engineer

Recorded using Rolling Stones mobile studio housed in a truck, the recording spaces various rooms in an abandoned hotel in Montreaux, Switzerland. All songs are credited Blackmore/Gillan/Glover/Lord/Paice.

‘Highway Star’ features an open sounding mix, possibly due to the large open rooms used for recording. Ian Gillian’s vocals soar and Blakemore’s leads sear. The organ sound is distinctive and heavy, as Jon Lord plays his Hammond organ through a Marshall. Blakemore’s guitar lead sits forward and is centered. The organ is placed right, bass leans left, and drums are spread in the stereo mix. There is a distinctively 1970’s thump to the kick drum, captured with an AKGD-12. The song is about driving, and the song has drive – it’s all about energy and freedom, the groove and roaring momentum and grunt that would lay the foundations for heavy metal. ‘Highway Star’ not only sounds like an engine going full-throttle, it gets you in the gut like an engine going full-throttle. This is kinetic music.

‘Maybe I'm a Leo’ features great shuffle drums, with great stereo placement, especially the way the rolls on the toms pan across. ‘Pictures of Home’ kicks of with a trite polka-like disappointing bass-line, like a deliberate ploy to lull the listener into a false sense of security before the solo blows them away. Vocals sound overdubbed both homophonic, and with harmonies. Great heavy drum placement, and the alternate panning of the guitar is very engaging.

“Durh Durh Durh – Durh Durh, Durh Durh” - ‘Smoke on the Water’ is all about THAT RIFF. Blakemore’s classic chromatic riff is monolithic. There’s a sense of tiered dynamics, but also actual crescendos on the faders. Guitar and vocals sit centre, drums are panned stereo, and bass sits left, organ right.

‘Lazy’ is pure blues-boogie, dominated by organ effects. The placement is simple and emulates a live performance in focus. Organ opens centre, then is placed right, and guitar sits left, yet then the guitar moves to centre for a solo, then the organ re-takes the centre for another solo. When they play together they’re panned guitar (L) and organ (R.)

‘Space Truckin' features another classic riff, hinting at a convolution of Black Sabbath’s ‘Iron Man’ riff, but livelier, less doomy. The sound is really fat, with bass and organ placed centre and playing in unison. There are some psychedelic head-games in the panning for this song. The higher organ voice is placed right, the ‘rhythm’ part placed left. The guitars are quite hilarious, with fret noise panned right and harmonics panned left, which really shows off Blakemore’s sense of drama and humour in this heavy metal science fiction anthem.

© Talie Helene 2004. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduced on 'Encyclopaedia Metallum' with permission of the author.


Contact the author: Talie Helene
PO BOX 6036, VERMONT SOUTH 3133 AUSTRALIA
doomprincess_at_darksites.com

Get the Roger Glover Mixes - 78%

OlympicSharpshooter, August 29th, 2004

Let us get this outta the way first. I'm reviewing the Rhino Special Edition, which means the 78 up there is the blurred average of the two discs. The originial mix is timid and really unbecoming of a band with the energy and the power of Deep Purple, an Achilles heel that undermines the claim that Machine Head is the best Purple record, that being In Rock or Perfect Strangers, let alone one of the greatest rock albums of all time. It's a mix that, I feel, takes a record stuffed with some really good songs and renders a great many of them sorta, vanilla and somewhat lacking in true rock 'n' roll fire. I give that original record a 70.

However, those Roger Glover remixes are out of this world. A live edge, whip-crack of electricity over the jazz-metal genius of Ian Paice, the warm throbbing bass of Roger Glover, the neo-classical grace of John Lord's keyboards, the inimatable guitar alchemy of Ritchie Blackmore, and the personable yet technically adept vocal stylings of Ian Gillan. Truly, all of these men are at the top of their game, and this album is only hampered by the occasionally weak songwriting. I give this record an 86.

Machine Head starts off with a formidable bang, "Highway Star" the last stop on Purple's speed metal express, killing previous attempts like "Speed King" stone dead forever. It's better than "Fireball", better than "Burn", the last word in speed metal 'til "Tyrant" and "Call for the Priest" (itself an upratchet of "Speed King"). Strangely, "Highway Star" isn't really all that fast, the song's blistering solos lending more to that impression. Miracle build-up of raceway keys, nimble bass, and tricky fast soft-touch stuff from Paice, the song rising early and reaching plateau after plateau, first being the smash introduction of the vocals, simple stupid lyrics made hallowed by brilliant melody and excellent phrasing. From there a dizzying offering of solo spots, Lord and Blackmore trading amazing runs in a series that only "Pictures of Home" and "Child in Time" can touch from the early catalogue.

Also on this record comes the birth of Rainbow, "Pictures of Home" trampling "Immigrant Song" under a cavalcade of power metal themes, the drum intro from hell (disc 2 version), and hellishly adept playing from the most virtuosic rock band in all the lands. This has a picturesque scope to it, grand IMAX vistas and churning depths of creativity wherein the wellsprings of metallic invention may be seen and perhaps tasted through the flawless lighter-than-air heavier-than-mountains lead duel.

"Never Before" is just a ton of fun, funky and catchy, a little commercial but above all Purple. It's the universal whipping boy on this record, but it doesn't deserve that because it's got far more good qualities than droopy, boring blues-based sewage like "Maybe I'm a Leo". Not that there's anything wrong with a blues-base mind you.

The original version of "Smoke on the Water" makes me bored outta my skull, the charm of Roger Glover's bass only carrying me so far, the length and breadth of that being the intriguing intro, thick-skulled riff leading us into another of those extended introductions where we introduce each instrument to the spotlight one at a time. The rest just plods. Again though, the killer remix job on disc 2 improves it, lame-duck original solo replaced with a counter-intuitive and yes, incredible solo from Ritchie, totally strange yet perfect within the music. We get a little bass solo, a nice, straight-forward story morphed into high-drama by the newly sparkling vocal mix.... the new version is well worth a listen.

"Lazy" is.... well, I'd call it cyborg-blues, the keyboard introducing a spacey vibe that continues into the next track, bouncy blues swallowed up by the organ like the great whale in Pinocchio. Yeah, it's bores me to tears, and the intolerably long live jams on this tune even worse, but hell, they sure can play. Also, Gillan sounds a mite-bit hystrionic here.

"Space Truckin'" is ostensibly the last song here (on the original LP it closes the record) and the band wisely places it after the similarly organ-mad "Lazy", same feel but good. This is actually fairly heavy, no "Bloodsucker" but hell, it ain't trying to be. The lyrics make no sense, but the almost acid-rock freak out of the chorus, pin-wheeling vertigo of spiralling riffery, and the sheer bravado of the performances carries the eternal stoner classic home.

Bonus track, the B-Side from the "Never Before" single is an emotional ballad that doesn't really go anywhere, the verse of "Child in Time" hyper-extended and without the pay-off. Also, it really doesn't work in this position as ending an album with a ballad is a difficult proposition that requires a really extraordinary piece of carry it off (see "Space-Dye Vest" from Dream Theater's Awake). This song is not that piece.

So yeah, there you have it. Pretty strong with two songs that I consider amongst the best ever written. I'll say it one more time: get the remixes, they are infinitely superior. Well, about sixteen percent better anyway. Machine Head furthers Purple's initial influence factor on metal, and as Boris said, if early Priest tickles your fancy, explore one of the most obvious predecessors on here on the even better In Rock.

Stand-Outs: "Highway Star", "Pictures of Home", "Never Before"

Heavy Metal got no heavier in 1972! - 95%

Dead_As_A_Door_Nail, November 27th, 2003

One of the most influential albums in the history of heavy metal? Yeh, I'd say so. It laid the groundwork for all those NWOBHM bands and and basically all of speed metal, and without Deep Purple, in general, but especially in this album, you wouldn't have any of that. And if you ask me, Deep Purple are the earliest form of power metal. Think about it: A guitar player who opened the doors for all those neo-classical players, an operatic singer, keyboards, and later in their career, fantasy based lyrics. Deep Purple were ALOT more important than you thought, huh?

"Highway Star". Can you say "the first speed metal song ever created"? It's fast, it's aggressive, it's over the top, it has a furious main riff, and oh my god...the solos. Jon Lord may be a keyboardist, but him and Ritchie Blackmore put most dual guitar teams to shame. Some great ualing solos between them here. A MASTERPIECE.

After the fast ride of "Highway Star", we got the slower, groovier, more blues-based, "Maybe I'm A Leo". Sure, it's not very fast and it's more rock-ish than the previous track, but hell, a good song is a good song, and it delievers. It kinda serves as a rest break for what came before it, and what's coming next...
......Which brings us to "Pictures Of Home". We're greated by an insane drum intro and then slapped silly even further with a nice riff by Mr. Blackmore. Some very cool, distorted, heavy keyboards are displayed here, some very infectious melodies. Three things though, that really jumped out at me during this song is A.) the solo. Just great. Ritchie Blackmore rules. B.) Ian Gillan's inspired vocal delivery. It's melodic and it shows off his talent very well. And C.), That bass solo towards the end is really cool. Not the best i've ever heard, but it jumps out at you. It does the trick.
After that, we get another break with "Never Before", the first single released for this album, and you can tell with the simplified melodies and riff work. But it does it's job. It doesn't dazzle you, but it amuses you, maybe the weakest song here, but it's still pretty good.
And of course, Deep Purple's best known song and quite possibly one of the most recognizable riffs in the history of music: "Smoke On The Water". It is an awesome riff and should be remembered, and it's also the best thing in the song. The whole song is catchy and sticks with you for quite awhile, and it just screams "hit single", but the riff is best thing in the song.
"Lazy" is, for the most part, a big instrumental exercise, with a verse or two chiming in towards the end, which prevents it from being a full-on instrumetal, but most of it is, and it kicks ass! Very cool keyboard arangements by Jon Lord, good, solid rhythm by Ian Paice, and as always, a high quality job in the guitar department by Ritchie Blackmore.
And finally, perhaps the heaviest song here, and one of my favorites, "Space Truckin'" Some very odd lyrics, but that's not what makes this song special. Great riffs, neat keyboards, especially at the intro, solid drum beats, it all works as one cohesive unit. It all comes together as one bad ass heavy metal tune.

Well, there you have it, one of the most important albums in heavy metal history by one of the most important bands in heavy metal history. If you like Priest, Accept, or any NWOBHM, or you just want to explore the roots of some of meal's best bands,you owe it to yourself to go out and buy this gem.

Oh...Fuck...Yes... - 94%

ThunderheaD, June 8th, 2003

What an overlooked classic this album is! Not only in the world of heavy metal, but in 70's hard rock as well. People were so busy praising all those other bands that people seem to forget that at times Deep Purple could rock just as hard as Sabbath and their technical ability at times could surpass Zeppelin. Deep Purple released many great albums in the early 70's, but none quite so tight, quite so well-written, and quite so heavy as Machine Head. And what a great album title as well.

One of the absolute highlights of the album, and one of the things that separated Purple from the other bands of the erea, was the relationship between Blackmore's guitars and Jon Lord's keyboards. Their trade-off solos are mindblowing, but the riff like sounds Lord pulls out of his keyboard are amazing as well. No band has ever utilized the keyboard as well as Deep Purple on this album.

Now to the songs. The first song on the album....lets all get down on our knees and bow to the mind-blowing greatness of Highway Star. Like Boris said, this was the first speed metal song, and remains one of the greatest metal songs ever. The lyrics are rather cheesy, but the riff under the verses is crushing and Gillan proves why he is one of the greatest rock singers ever. There is solo after solo and they are played to perfection. By far the highlight of the album. Maybe I'm a Leo is a lot slower and bluesier but still a very enjoyable song. Gillan once again sounds great and the solos are once again remarkable. The third song is Pictures of Home. The drum intro is absolutely brutal and leads straight into pummeling riff after riff. This song isn't quite as heavy as Highway Star, but this song is practially perfect. Great riffs, great vocals, and perfect solos.

Never Before is probably the lowlight of the album, and ironically was the first single off the album. You could tell that they tried to simplify this song a bit so it would be more appropriate as a single, because the riffs are a lot simpler. However, the vocals and solos save the song (do you see a patern forming here?). Smoke on the Water. Everyone has heard this song a million times, so I won't explain this one too much. That riff, that riff, that riff. 'Nuff said. Lazy is next and is a borderline instrumental. This song takes a few minutes to build up and then we get a little bit of singing until we get more solos. This song isn't quite as strong as some of the others. Although it has the great bluesy feel that Maybe I'm a Leo had, it is probably the most dated song on the album.

The last song on the album is Space Truckin' and seems to be overlooked. This song is, along with Highway Star, the most metal song on the album. It starts off with a heavy keyboard riff and then the keys and guitars come in and together play a heavy as fuck riff. The chorus is punishing with pummeling drums and guitar riff. Also along with Highway Star, the lyrics are cheesy as hell, "We had a lot of luck on Venus, we always had a ball on Mars."

What more can be said about this album? It contains seven classic songs, it is an extremely influential metal album, and the playing and songwriting is top-notch. If you are a metal fan, buy this fucking album.

A huge evolutionary step - 86%

UltraBoris, August 24th, 2002

[note: I have the 1972 vinyl with 7 tracks, so I will be reviewing that]

Wow - this album is for the most part above average heavy metal that would've ruled had it come out in 1982. But, add to that its historical importance, including the fact that to start off the album we have none other than the first EVER speed metal song!!!

Yes indeed, I cannot possibly praise Highway Star sufficiently. Those riffs, those solos - nothing quite that absolutely mind-blowingly fucking FAST had ever been done. Not even Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" had that constant, driving riff insanity, combined with Ian Gillan's vocal track perfectly complementing the rhythm guitar work... then not one but TWO magnificent solos - both Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord push the envelope of heavy metal lead work in new, impressive directions here. Tipton and Downing, take notes! It's interesting how it's really a guitar vs. keyboard duel, but good God does it work effectively! The soloing in that song is just fucking incredible. Everything about that song is - think of "Hell bent for Leather", "Fast as a Shark", "Freewheel Burning, "Painkiller", etc etc... none of that would've been possible without this.

Now, how do you top that? Not with the rest of this album - though the rest is still very, very good. "Maybe I'm a Leo" is a far more bluesish rock-and-roll number but still contains three damn soloes - (anyone wanting to write an album that begins with "Pain" and ends with "Killer", TAKE NOTES!), and then we get to "Pictures of Home", which has some great keyboard work, and also Ian Gillan's vocals are at the top of their game. And that's NOT mentioning yet another amazing solo by Blackmore.

"Never Before" is a bit lighter again, and probably the most forgettable song on the album, since the instrumental work is far less "out there" in the shredding sense, and instead just kinda meanders in a more "uhh so what were we doing again?" sense, like Iron Butterfly gone wrong. Then, we get to "Smoke on the Water". Everyone knows this song. Yes, that one damn riff kicks ass, but then the next one, the one people don't remember quite as much, is also pretty damn intense - almost a thrash metal riff going on under the verses, and then there is a really nice guitar solo to be found here. Yes, Blackmore is pretty much rewriting the books on how to do lead guitar. (People in bands whose names contain the word "Judas", pay close attention!)

Then, we have the nearly-instrumental "Lazy". There's like one verse, and that's by far not the highlight of the album. The highlight has to be Lord on keyboards. Nah, it's Blackmore on guitars. No, it's Lord. No wait, it's Gillan on harmonica. Riot had a horn section once, here Deep Purple has harmonica to provide counterpoint to the shredding of Blackmore and Lord. Oh yeah, which one's better? Blackmore. Lord. Can't fucking decide! Both put in some more killer lead work, both in series and in parallel here - they're totally fucking insane, way way ahead of their time. This album doesn't nearly get as much credit as it should, it fucking shreds in every possible way! (People that wish to write songs like "Let us Prey", there will be a quiz later!)

The last song is "Space Trucking" - more straight-up heavy metal, again something that would not have looked out of place on an NWOBHM album, or even an early Accept release. The riff work is something that even Tony Iommi would be proud of. Probably the heaviest song on here.

So yeah, what to say? Other than that this is one of the five most important heavy metal albums of all time. And it's also incredibly enjoyable. Anyone that listens to a certain band known for songs like "Ram it Down" - GET THIS ALBUM NOW!!!