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)
Hole in the Sky
Machine Head Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The clouds liftin' the dawn inside my mind
Is the darkness casting a reflection?
Staring at a broken mirror wanting
Can't ever realize
You say that you believe
But do you know the reason why?
Centuries of pain, under a paper sword
Breaking dawn, I am reborn
Right the wrong, the ark of justice
Holding on, by a thread I'll
Carry on, and rise above this pain
How you gently strip my confidence away
How your sweet caress is black and blue and gray
Archers at the ready, bows drawn aiming high
Arrows in words from the sky
Buried songs
Anthems to a frozen sun
Her cold will strengthen
Fighting on (this war, no more)
Lift up your brother
Night is long (my heart, so dark)
Keep pushing through this pain
How you gently strip my confidence away
How your sweet caress is black and blue and gray
Archers at the ready, bows drawn aiming high
Arrows in words from the sky
The sky is darkest just before the dawn, so keep the faith
And wipe away your tears and I'll wipe the spit off of your face
A spirit's buried inside, you were meant to shine a light
Glow incandescent, let them fear the fire burning bright
Shine, burn your fire
Bright, burn away the pain
How you gently strip my confidence away
How your sweet caress is black and blue and gray
Archers at the ready, bows drawn aiming high
Arrows, pain
How you gently strip my confidence away
How your sweet caress is black and blue and gray
Archers at the ready, bows drawn aiming high
Arrows in words from the sky
The lyrics of Machine Head's song Hole In The Sky evoke a sense of disillusionment and despair, as the singer describes his experience of living in a world that is full of lies and empty promises. The title itself suggests a longing for escape, a desire to transcend the limitations of this world and find a higher plane of existence. The opening lines, "I'm looking through a hole in the sky/I'm seeing nowhere through the eyes of a lie," suggest that the singer is searching for a deeper truth, but is constantly frustrated by the falsehoods and illusions that surround him.
The rest of the song describes the singer's attempts to find meaning and purpose in a world that seems to have lost its way. He speaks of living in a "room without any view" and "living free because the rent's never due," suggesting a kind of aimlessness and lack of direction. The lines "The synonyms of all the things that I've said/Are just the riddles that are built in my head" suggest a frustration with language itself, as words seem to have lost their power to convey meaning.
Despite this bleak portrait, the song is not entirely without hope. The chorus, "Hole in the sky, take me to heaven/Window in time, through it I fly," suggests a desire for something beyond the mundane world, something that can lift us out of our despair and offer us a glimpse of a higher reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Go!
Let's start, let's go!
I'm looking through a hole in the sky
I'm searching for something that seems unattainable.
I'm seeing nowhere through the eyes of a lie
I'm finding that what I once believed is not true at all.
I'm getting closer to the end of the line
I know that I am approaching the end of something.
I'm living easy where the sun doesn't shine
I'm living my life in obscurity and darkness.
I'm living in a room without any view
I feel trapped in my current situation, unable to see a way out.
I'm living free because the rent's never due
I'm living my life without the burden of financial obligation.
The synonyms of all the things that I've said
The words that I've spoken mean the same thing, no matter how I say them.
Are just the riddles that are built in my head
The things that I think about are often confusing and difficult to understand.
Hole in the sky, take me to heaven
Let me find something better than what I have now.
Window in time, through it I fly
Let me move beyond my current situation and experience something new.
I've seen the stars disappear in the sun
I've seen things that are beautiful and bright being obscured by something more powerful.
The shooting's easy if you've got the right gun
It's easy to achieve your goals if you have the right tools and resources.
And even though I'm sitting waiting for Mars
Although I'm looking toward the future and thinking about what's next for me.
I don't believe there's any future in cause
I don't think that anything will come from my current actions or beliefs.
I've watched the dogs of war enjoying their feast
I've seen the negative consequences of conflict and aggression.
I've seen the western world go down in the east
I've witnessed the decline of powerful societies and cultures.
The food of love became the greed of our time
What was once good and pure has become selfish and corrupted.
But now I'm living on the profits of pride
Although I recognize the problems in the world, I am benefiting from them in some way.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Robb Flynn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@seanmarcy1183
Ok, so while I was jaming some
other Sabbath tribute tracks
it's come to my attention
that their is some question
as to who's version is better.
I think it's perfectly clear that
Machine Head kicks pantinas
I mean panteras ASS up one
side and down the other!!!
@TheOneLichemperor
I'm not sure why, but this cover has something about it that I love and makes it the best cover of this song! I certainly love the intro!
@TheEldorado1991
Regardless of what people think you can't deny that awesome bass distortion in the intro
@Hyperborean77
Great cover.
@florianzerr9007
I've heard this version first... I love it...
@lrb662003
Awesome.
@Marsell88
great cover!
@roueltaupa8418
I think this was during the time when machine head dabbled in nu metal.
@Heller103085
Yeah between burning red (which i didnt mind) and supercharger (which blew)
@ForestTiefling
heavens! i am so gushing at the drums from 2.20 on! >xD RAAAAH!
@comicguitar
You think? I love the unexpected changes in this one. Overall, I think Machine Head does fucking amazing covers