Machinery - Degeneration

Published Jan. 07 2007

*=Staff's pick	Salvation For Sale* Degeneration* River Red Blacker Than Pain* Unholy Demon Taste Of God Rectifier Falling Through The Grid* Satanic Hippie Cannibal

Genre	Thrash Metal	Michel Isberg	Vocals
Tracks	9	Michel Isberg	Guitar
Runningtime	46 Min.	Markus Isberg	Guitar
Label	Last Entertainment Prod.	Per Lindström	Bass
Release	16 Oct. 2006	Johan Westman	Drums
Country	Sweden	Fredrik Klingwall	Keyboard
Similar artists	Morgana Lefay, Annihilator, Nevermore

Degeneration is the thrashing debut from Swedish band Machinery, a band that formed in 2001 and has done about four demos prior to this full-length album. Some of the tracks from the bands demos can be found on Degeneration, and the band has also been featured on the compilation Thrashing The Masses Vol. 1 released by their label.

Have you ever searched for the missing link between Nevermore and Morgana Lefay? Well, neither have I but here it is in the shape of Degeneration from Machinery. This is a distinct hybrid between thrash and heavy metal with a good sense for melodies as well as with a technical approach and with, partly, almost progressive rhythms. Degeneration, the title song, is a good median value of the album as it starts with a heavy ongoing rhythm with explosive riffing that leads to a melodic chorus with a great flow and a song that combines aggression with emotion and a technical playing.

Machinery does a good work with making the album come out sounding varied and thought through, it has a raw and sharp edge combined with a good sense for melodies and a guitar-playing that at times seems to be heavily influenced by Jeff Loomis from Nevermore. However, I wonder if the biggest strength does not come with vocalist Michael Isberg. He has a dynamic way of singing and knows how to make good use of his vocal chords. As well as he at times goes to an almost growling mood, he also and mostly sing with a clear and harsh voice and when he in the track River Red sounds really close to Charles Rytkönen of Morgana Lefay, I am loving it.

River Red is further a track that is a bit held back speed- and fury wise and hence more nuances in the music from Machinery comes forward. Another song worthy of mentioning is Unholy Demon with its Nevermore heavy riffing, and I also am getting a touch of Mercenary with the shared vocals between growls and clean, and moreover the little epic touch the song has. To end this, it is to be said that it is well balanced with the guitars as they are not overdoing anything, they are good with throwing in variations in the riffs, and the playing in the leads and solo parts are of remarkable high class.

On the sad note the production sounds a bit thin in my ears, I would have prefered a richer, more dynamic sound as it tends to sound a bit weak as it is now. Even though this album does not make me fly through the roof, it is a mature effort and I can easily see this band getting some recognition in the future. Degeneration is very promising for a debut as no tracks feel like fillers as you listen to and enjoy them all.

Performance	Originality	Production	Vocals	Songwriting
8	7	5	7,5	7

Summary
7 chalices of 10 - Thomas