Machine Head UNATØNED
Released Apr 25, 2025 Nuclear Blast
Early read 2 professional reviews Updated Nov 30, 2025
Mixed-to-negative consensus
Early read based on 2 professional reviews. Machine Head's UNATØNED arrives with flickers of the band's old thrash fire but settles into a divided critical picture, earning a 53/100 consensus across 2 professional reviews.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
ATØMIC REVELATIØNS
2 critic mentions
“Second track and true album opener “Atomic Revelations” is one of the rare occasions where the guitarwork is somewhat satisfying” — Sputnikmusic
UNBØUND
1 critic mention
““Unbound” are clunky but fun enough to qualify as highlights” — Sputnikmusic
ØUTSIDER
2 critic mentions
““Outsider”, “Addicted To Pain” and “Shards” are some of the feeblest compositions” — Sputnikmusic
Full critic consensus
Machine Head's UNATØNED arrives with flickers of the band's old thrash fire but settles into a divided critical picture, earning a 53/100 consensus across 2 professional reviews. Critics consistently point to concise, high-energy moments such as “ATØMIC REVELATIØNS” and “ØUTSIDER” as standout tracks that capture the record's groove-meets-thrash ambitions, while other songs expose limp riffs and lyrical missteps that dilute the album's impact.
Across professional reviews, the critical consensus highlights a tension between return-to-form gestures and a perceived decline in songwriting. Kerrang! praises the compact adrenaline of “ATØMIC REVELATIØNS” and the melodic punch of “ØUTSIDER”, calling those tracks fleet-footed successes that justify the band's thrash leanings. Sputnikmusic offers a bleaker read, salvaging “UNBØUND”, “THESE SCARS WON'T DEFINE US” and “BØNESCRAPER” as intermittent bright spots but admonishing the record for recycled ideas, placeholder choruses and moments of lyrical cringe.
That split produces a mixed but specific verdict: critics agree UNATØNED contains several essential short-form tracks that revive Machine Head's pit-ready energy, yet they also note a dilution of the elements that once made the band vital. For readers asking "is UNATØNED good" or seeking the best songs on UNATØNED, the review consensus suggests selective listening - the album is worth sampling for “ATØMIC REVELATIØNS”, “ØUTSIDER” and the handful of groovy highlights, even if the full collection fails to cohere for all critics.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
LANDSCAPE ØF THØRNS
ATØMIC REVELATIØNS
UNBØUND
ØUTSIDER
NØT LØNG FØR THIS WØRLD
THESE SCARS WØN'T DEFINE US
DUSTMAKER
BØNESCRAPER
ADDICTED TØ PAIN
BLEEDING ME DRY
SHARDS ØF SHATTERED DREAMS
SCØRN
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 2 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Machine Head's UNATØNED finds Robb Flynn back on defiantly unfettered form, and the best songs here prove the point. Chief among them is “ATØMIC REVELATIØNS”, a thrilling 221-second blast that compresses grandstanding choruses, groovy hooks and surging thrash into a concise triumph. Equally compelling is “ØUTSIDER”, which pairs pit-stirring rhythms with enormous melodies and fast-spat verses to great effect. These tighter, fleet-footed tracks make the case for the album's strengths more than its aesthetics do.
Key Points
-
The best song, "ATØMIC REVELATIØNS", is best for compacting grand choruses, groovy hooks and thrash into a thrilling shortform.
-
The album's core strengths are concise, fleet-footed songwriting and a return to punchy, melodic thrash energy.
Themes
Critic's Take
Still, the reviewer names “Bleeding Me Dry” as having a vaguely impactful chorus and breakdown, and therefore one of the more memorable moments on the record. Overall the sentiment is clear — these are highlights by contrast, not by ambition, and they only intermittently rescue an otherwise diluted album.
Key Points
-
The album’s core strengths are production punch and occasional nostalgic hooks, undermined by weak songwriting and cringe lyrics.