FROM THE CRYPTS - CELEBRATING PAST ALBUM RELEASES in the HISTORY of HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL…
On November 7, 2014, Machine Head released their eighth full-length studio album Bloodstone & Diamonds in Europe via Nuclear Blast (November 10, 2014 in the UK & US via Nuclear Blast).
It is the first album to feature Jared MacEachern who replaced founding bassist Adam Duce in 2013. Although it does not feature a title track, the album gets its name from a lyric from the opening track and second single, Now We Die.
Background:
The album was once again mixed by Colin Richardson with additional tracking, editing, and mixing by Andy Sneap and Steve Lagudi. All album art was done by Travis Shinn. It is the band's first album not to be released on Roadrunner Records.
Like with previous Machine Head releases, the album's lyrics detail political and social themes, particularly civil unrest, dissatisfaction and injustice, often with violent conclusions. The song Night of Long Knives is not about the Röhm-Putsch, but instead the Manson Family murders in Hollywood in 1969.
Imaginal Cells is an instrumental featuring samples from the audiobook Spontaneous Evolution by Dr. Bruce Lipton and Steve Bhaerman.
Release Formats:
The album was released in multiple formats, including Media Digibook, Standard CD, Double Vinyl (in 9 color variants, and Exclusive Box Set with MediaBook, and Guitar • CD • and Surprise Gear Used in the Recording of the album.
Critical Reception:
The album was met with universal acclaim by music critics, with Dom Lawson of The Guardian writing;
"Striking an exquisite balance between brute force, insistent melody and bold experimentation, this is the finest mainstream Metal album of 2014 by a huge margin."
In the first week of release, the album debuted at No. 21 on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming the band's highest charting album ever.
Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells
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