Machine Head's first four albums earned the band a growing fan base in Europe, however the band would not have success in their native United States until later releases. The band drew controversy with its fourth album, Supercharger (2001), released three weeks after the September 11 attacks, which resulted in the album's only single, "Crashing Around You", and its music video (which featured burning buildings) being pulled from all media outlets. The band nearly disbanded in 2002 after negotiating off its label Roadrunner Records as a result of the controversy, however the band would eventually re-sign with the label.
Having experimented with elements of groove metal and nu metal in its early releases, Machine Head changed to a more traditional thrash metal sound and longer songs with its sixth album, The Blackening (2007), which drew critical acclaim and was chosen as Album of the Decade by Metal Hammer in 2010; the album's first single, "Aesthetics of Hate", also earned the band its first Grammy Award nomination. The band achieved similar success with its following two albums, Unto the Locust (2011) and Bloodstone & Diamonds (2014), before returning to its nu metal roots with the release of its ninth album, Catharsis (2018).
Machine Head has released nine studio albums, two live albums, one video album, 13 singles and 15 music videos. Four of the band's studio albums have been certified silver in the United Kingdom, and the band's highest peak on the Billboard 200 came with Bloodstone & Diamonds at number 21. To date, the band has sold over three million records worldwide.
Studio albums
Burn My Eyes (1994)
The More Things Change... (1997)
The Burning Red (1999)
Supercharger (2001)
Through the Ashes of Empires (2003)
The Blackening (2007)
Unto the Locust (2011)
Bloodstone & Diamonds (2014)
Catharsis (2018)
Blood Of The Zodiac
Machine Head Lyrics
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Could you please help
But was told
Take me from this altar
I won't falter
But I might fall
This bitter man would understand
A needle had
Been his saviour,
Been his god
So he tried to make a change
Tried to rearrange
Gun at his side,
Suicide
I can't help feel I been mistreated
Won't you listen to me
[chorus]
Despise all that I see
All that I feel
All that I want to be
Burned, blistered and raw
Tearing apart
All that is sane to me
A wise man half pariah
Half messiah
Came to seed
Rain down blood like fire
Born to sire
Racist breed
His dominance of ignorance
Was rhetoric that made no sense
Some believed in all the lies
But in my mind I know what's wrong
Way too fucking strong
Taste the revenge on my tongue
I can't help feel I been mistreated
Won't you listen to me
Despise all that I see
All that I feel
All that I want to be
Burned, blistered and raw
Tearing apart
All that is sane to me
And now is my time to rise
And now is our time to rise
Our time to rise
Ignorant, indignant
Promises made in
Vain
Rise, I can't see like you
Rise, I can't feel like you
Rise, never be like you
Rise, time for all us to
Rise.
The lyrics to Machine Head's song Blood Of The Zodiac speak of a bitter and desperate man who has struggled with addiction all his life, reaching out for help but finding none. He contemplates suicide, with a gun at his side, feeling mistreated and abandoned. The song also features a wise man, half pariah and half messiah, who speaks in rhetoric that makes no sense, and leads a racist breed to rain down blood like fire. The singer believes in rising above the ignorance and indignant promises made in vain, embracing revenge as they taste it on their tongue.
The song speaks to themes of addiction, desperation, and the search for meaning in a world of lies and broken promises. It reflects on the darkness of the human experience, while also calling for a rising up against the ignorance and hate that can dominate society.
Line by Line Meaning
A blind man asked an angel
A person who can't see asks for help from someone they perceive to be an angel
Could you please help
Can you provide help?
But was told
The request was denied
Take me from this altar
Save me from this situation
I won't falter
I won't hesitate or waver in my resolve
But I might fall
I could still fail
This bitter man would understand
An angry and resentful person has the ability to comprehend
Through all his life,
Throughout his entire existence,
A needle had
Addiction to drugs was his crutch
Been his saviour,
It was his source of salvation
Been his god
The addiction became his religion
So he tried to make a change
He made an attempt to turn his life around
Tried to rearrange
Tried to change his habits
Gun at his side,
Armed with a weapon,
Suicide
He chose to end his own life
I can't help feel I been mistreated
I feel like I have been wronged in some way
Won't you listen to me
Can you please pay attention to what I have to say?
[chorus]
These are the repeated lines of the chorus
Despise all that I see
I hate everything that's around me
All that I feel
All of my emotions
All that I want to be
My aspirations and dreams
Burned, blistered and raw
The intense pain and suffering I am experiencing
Tearing apart
Causing destruction and separation
All that is sane to me
All aspects of my life that I consider reasonable or logical
A wise man half pariah
A person who is both an outcast and respected for their intelligence
Half messiah
Half divine savior
Came to seed
Arrived to plant something
Rain down blood like fire
The figurative raining of blood
Born to sire
Born to produce offspring
Racist breed
A group of people who discriminate against others based on their race
His dominance of ignorance
The tyrannical rule of a lack of knowledge
Was rhetoric that made no sense
Empty, nonsensical dialogue
Some believed in all the lies
Many people believed the false statements
But in my mind I know what's wrong
I know that it's all incorrect despite other people's beliefs
Way too fucking strong
Far too powerful to ignore
Taste the revenge on my tongue
I am ready to take revenge
And now is my time to rise
I am ready to succeed
And now is our time to rise
We are ready to succeed
Ignorant, indignant
Unaware and resentful
Promises made in
Commitments declared in
Vain
For nothing or to no avail
Rise, I can't see like you
I have a different perspective and can't understand things as you do
Rise, I can't feel like you
I have a different way of experiencing emotions than you do
Rise, never be like you
I don't want to be like you
Rise, time for all us to
It's time for all of us to
Rise
Succeed and overcome our struggles
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM DUCE, DAVE MCCLAIN, LOGAN CONRAD MADER, ROBERT CONRAD FLYNN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind