Hellalive

Capturing the brutal majesty of Oakland metal veterans Machine Head, performers at London's Brixton Academy back in 2001, Hellalive provides a fine opportunity to take a look at the career of one of heavy rock's most underappreciated acts. While Machine Head have never been able to top their fantastic debut, 1994's Burn My Eyes, here they serve up totally blistering takes on the brooding "I’m Your God Now," the pogo thrasher "Old," and the Ministry-style jackhammer "Davidian." "The Blood, the Sweat, the Tears" carries the gruesome, thick heaviness of Pantera like a torch. And on "Crashing Around You," frontman Rob Flynn launches into a chilling spoken introduction that broadens into an anthem to the gray, dispossessed ranks of old-school heavy-metal. "I used to think I was the only weirdo in the world that has thoughts like this," he remarks. "But now I know I'm not alone." --Louis Pattison