Machine Head made all the heads bang with In Flames and Lacuna Coil.
On Wednesday April 9th, the Bay Area Metal juggernauts Machine Head played a brutally heavy headline show at The Observatory North Park in San Diego, California. Machine Head is the brainchild of lead singer/guitarist Robb Flynn, who founded the band in 1991 and is the sole original member. His incredibly powerful vocals, crowd interaction, and aggressive guitar playing were on full display at this show. You could clearly here him yelling and screaming so loud that his natural voice seemed somehow even louder than the PA in the venue. Flynn’s guitar playing was insane as well with some very aggressive leads along with impressive fast flying solo sections. Machine Head is touring in support of their newest album Unatoned which just recently released on April 25, 2025. The heavy intense single “Unbound” performed on this night was a crowd favorite sing along even before the album’s release.
The opening bands on this heavy night included Italian rockers Lacuna Coil who have been pumping out their unique brand of melodic metal since 1994 and have always made San Diego a part of their touring schedule. Lead singer Cristina Scabbia was as beautiful and powerful on stage as ever, with her soaring haunting vocals piercing the band’s heavy metal chugging. Also on the bill was another veteran heavy metal act, Swedish hard rockers In Flames, who are truly on their own a headline metal band. This group got some of the biggest mosh pits of the night with their dedicated fans packing the venue alongside everyone there to see Machine Head. Singer Anders Friden was a powerhouse, with his extreme growling vocal style perfectly complimenting the power of this incredibly talented group of intense musicians. This concert almost felt like a co-headline experience with these amazing other bands sharing the bill.
Machine Head’s set on this night included thirteen songs from throughout their career. Highlights of the set included the incredibly drum powerful “Locust,” what an absolutely intense song with incredible visuals as well. Another new song was performed called “These Scars Won’t Define Us” which featured some incredibly detailed guitar work. Machine Head’s new album Unatoned seems like it could be a new heavy metal masterpiece and it’s a highlight for a group that has been performing for this long. Rob Flynn and his band mates in Machine head were such an impressive force to witness on stage, for any fans of heavy metal or heavy music this tour is a must watch. Here’s hoping Flynn brings his incredible stage presence and intense playing back to San Diego sometime soon.
