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)
Ten Ton Hammer
Machine Head Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am the blame that gets placed quick
Detect the crack within your lie (your lie)
I'll be the wrath of your disdain
I'll be the fear in you engrained
Become the facts that you deny (deny)
I hate deep down inside
And like broken glass you'll shatter
With bloody fists I'll batter
Like a ten ton hammer, son
1'll be the trembling in your breath
Trickle of blood upon your flesh
You'd love to watch me take the fall - FALL!
I'll be the thing that you despise
'Cause I'm the path to your demise
And I'm a be there standing tall - TALL!
I can feel this pain is real
I hate deep down inside
And like broken glass you'll shatter
With bloody fists I'll batter
Like a ten ton hammer, son
I can't stand or take another day my friend
You could learn a thing or two
I can't stand or take another day my friend
You could learn a thing or two
I can feel this pain is real
I hate deep down inside
And like broken glass you'll shatter
With bloody fists I'll batter
Like a ten ton hammer, son
The lyrics in Machine Head’s song Ten Ton Hammer seem to express a feeling of anger and aggression towards someone, possibly someone who has wronged the singer. The words “I am the thing that makes you sick,” and “I am the blame that gets placed quick” imply that the singer is aware of the negative impact they have on this person. Further on in the song, the lyrics suggest that the singer wants revenge as they express “I’ll be the wrath of your disdain,” and “Like a ten-ton hammer, son, with bloody fists I’ll batter.” This imagery of violence and destruction emphasize the singer's anger and determination to take down whoever has wronged them.
The lyrics also suggest that the singer might have been hurt or deceived by the other person. They express, “Detect the crack within your lie,” and “Become the facts that you deny,” emphasizing that they feel that they have seen through the other person's lies and deceptions. The singer suggests that they feel pain, hate, and a desire to seek revenge, making it seem like the song is about someone who has gone through some kind of emotional turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the thing that makes you sick
I am the source of your sickness and discomfort
I am the blame that gets placed quick
I am the one who is quickly blamed for things going wrong
Detect the crack within your lie (your lie)
Find the weakness in your lies and false image
I'll be the wrath of your disdain
I will be the focus of your contempt and disgust
I'll be the fear in you engrained
I will be the cause of the fear that is permanently embedded in your consciousness
Become the facts that you deny (deny)
I will force you to face the reality that you have been denying for so long
1 can feel this pain is real
I can sense the realness and intensity of this pain
I hate deep down inside
I harbour a deep hatred within me
And like broken glass you'll shatter
I will cause you to break and shatter like glass
With bloody fists I'll batter
I'll hit you with brutal force, injuring you severely
Like a ten ton hammer, son
I'll hit you with the force of a massive hammer
1'll be the trembling in your breath
I will be the cause of your breathlessness and trembling
Trickle of blood upon your flesh
You will bleed from the wounds inflicted upon you
You'd love to watch me take the fall - FALL!
You would like to see me fail and suffer - FALL!
I'll be the thing that you despise
I will be the object of your hatred and contempt
'Cause I'm the path to your demise
I am the way to your eventual downfall and ruin
And I'm a be there standing tall - TALL!
I will be there, standing tall in the midst of your defeat
I can't stand or take another day my friend
I cannot endure another day of this situation
You could learn a thing or two
You could benefit from learning something from me
I can feel this pain is real
I can sense the true and intense nature of this pain
I hate deep down inside
I harbour a strong hatred within me
And like broken glass you'll shatter
I'll make you break and shatter like glass
With bloody fists I'll batter
I'll hit you with brutal force and cause you to bleed
Like a ten ton hammer, son
I'll hit you with the force of a massive hammer
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM DUCE, DAVE MCCLAIN, LOGAN CONRAD MADER, ROBERT CONRAD FLYNN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
youduarf
I accidentally bought this album in 1997 thinking it was Rage Against the Machine. Best thing to happen to a 12yo
Lucas Fitzsimmons
@E c ĺĺĺl
E c
@Laurel Ave good times my friend
Laurel Ave
@E c holy fuck! Memory unlocked!
David B
I bought it along with Burn My Eyes and The Burning Red (when it came out) in '99... NO REGRETS
christopher williamson
The first concert I went to was machinehead end of tour for this album in stl. Vision of disorder opens at Mississippi Nights and was the best show that could have happened to me for metal.
Hurri Cane
Whether they're playing Groove Metal or Thrash Metal Machine Head is just pure win.
Северная Звезда
@Chase C. And technical-melodic metalcore
Chase C.
Groove Nu-Thrash
Luc a
@Paul Romero unfortunately yes