Alright, gang! I’m going to another show this coming weekend, and it’s a big one. This current Machine Head tour, which also features the likes of In Flames, Lacuna Coil, and Unearth, was simply one I could not miss. And now that we’re only a couple of days out, it’s time to fire up the hype train. These are names that were hugely important in my earlier metal listening days and when you fast forward all the way to 2025 they’re still churning out some awesome shit. Let’s go down the list. To start, UNATØNED is out tomorrow, and so far everything I’ve heard on it has been great. From there, we all know how much I adore Foregone. I simply refuse to skip an In Flames show if they make it anywhere near me. That still holds true. Sleepless Empire, the latest from Lacuna Coil, is quite solid and packs some serious punch. And then Unearth gave us The Wretched; the Ruinous from 2023 and the Bask in the Blood of Our Demons EP from last year… okay, I haven’t actually listened to either of those yet, but I’m sure they’re a good time!

My point being, Saturday night at the House of Blues Boston is going to rule. I have a silly rule where I don’t listened to the bands I’m about to see live just because… I don’t know, I want to go in as fresh as I can or some shit. It doesn’t matter. I obliterated that rule this time around. Allow me to share some of the playlist that has dominated my ear holes lately. (Oh, and if you don’t like reading my words, here’s the shortcut.)

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Unearth – “Endless” (2002)

Taken from their second EP, I’m pretty sure I discovered this song on one of those random sampler CDs in a magazine. And you know what? Over two decades later it still rips. And that closing is so damn tasty. Funny enough, this marks both the first and last Unearth song I listened to until… well, the one that’s about to follow below.

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Unearth – “Into The Abyss” (2023)

Okay. It’s official. I’ve been missing out. This fucking slaps. I dig the guitar tones, the steady builds, the melodic interludes. They pack a lot into a few short minutes and I like every moment of it. The closing minute is frankly chilling. Bonus points because I recognize the area in which this video was filmed. I think. Like, 90% sure. The Joshua Trees west of Death Valley with the High Sierras in the background? Maybe? Good spot.

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Lacuna Coil – “Unspoken” (2002)

Man oh man did the duo of Comalies and Karmacode get a lot of burn back in the day. It was truly an exercise and an effort revisiting the beauty of those two albums and picking a single track to include here. I landed on “Unspoken” simply because I think it’s catchy as hell. A quick burn but the rising and falling energy is so tasteful. Cristina Scabbia sure does sound killer start to finish as well, especially those more isolated verses.

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Lacuna Coil – “Gravity” (2025)

You’re probably a noticing a trend with this playlist already, but in all fairness I can’t hype up a new album right off the rip and then not include something from it. This probably isn’t even my favorite track on Sleepless Empire, but I really appreciate the balance between heavy and melodic (those growls are intense). Lots of depth. Lots of layers. Lots of intensity. Still pretty! So, lots to love.

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In Flames – “Ordinary Story” (1999)

Dammit! Limiting myself to two In Flames songs is a pain in the ass. Ugh. I think I’ve touched on just about everything over the years, but Colony is an album I feel doesn’t get enough credit. Or, at least some of the songs don’t – because let me tell ya, there are some absolute gems on this thing. “Ordinary Story” might be my favorite of the bunch. The jumps from verse to pre-chorus to chorus get me every single time. So damn good.

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In Flames – “My Sweet Shadow” (2004)

Alright, I’m not moving all the way forward with this pick only because we’ve talked a lot about Foregone since it’s release. Don’t worry, I am well-aware of the general consensus on where Soundtrack ranks in the overall IF discography. But for a number of reasons, “My Sweet Shadow” will always hit me just right. The opening passages send me every time, and once again the way In Flames’ transition into their choruses is simply perfect.

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Machine Head – “Aesthetics Of Hate” (2007)

…How good was The Blackening? So fucking good. Yep, this was another track I discovered on a sampler. But unlike some others, this track made me leap for the album that contained it. It left that much of an impact on me. RIFFS, man. And the way this thing shifts about halfway through is absolutely mesmerizing. Probably my favorite Machine Head song ever.

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Machine Head – “Now We Die” (2014)

…But then I kinda forgot about Machine Head for a few years. And by a few years I mean until 2014’s Bloodstone & Diamonds. “Now We Die” was the opening track to that collection, and it sure did suck me in for many of the same reasons. It’s packs a wicked punch, but some of these segments are catchy and melodic in a way that makes this super easy to get stuck on. The sequences in the latter half of the track are particularly impressive. It’s one hell of… an anthem? Sure! …To kick off an album with.

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Machine Head – “These Scars Won’t Define Us” feat. In Flames, Lacuna Coil, Unearth (2024)

Am I the best or the absolute worst for closing with this collaborative song? …Yes. Whatever. I think it’s fun. Saturday Night at the House of Blues Boston is going to rule.

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I’m out, gang. This tour runs for a couple more weeks, so here’s the full schedule with ticket links should you want to catch one of the remaining dates. I’ll follow up with some words and images about the show in the coming weeks. Until then!

“Ein Bier… bitte.”
– cmb