MACHINE HEAD

One of the classic albums everybody should own, if you´re into classic 70´s rock. Machine head was the peak of the band´s creative period (specially the mk II line up). This CD is an important link between hard rock music and prog rock. It was a landmark record, for the musicians´s astonishing musicanship was obvious, and they put it all to write songs that were not only powerful, but also quite unique and novel. It was their most succesful studio LP, and although its recording conditions were more than a little unusual (the lyrics on Smoke On The Water tells this story), their most influential.

Of course this is not symphonic in any way, but that was maybe a case of choice since Deep Purple could deliver any kind of muisc. The musicians were skillful, creative and inovative (and, in the case of Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore, bordering the genius status) enough to change the course of heavy music forever. More than anyone else (and I´m including Led Zeppelin among them as well) they contributed to forge the mix between heavy and prog.

Highlights are the classics Highway Star, Smoke On The Water and Space Truckin. But the album as a whole is very good and has no fillers. Production may sound not as good for today´s standards, but it was adequate for the time.

If you´re into prog metal, or simply is an open minded prog head, or just like good rock music, this is an essential addition. A masterpiece, no less.