In a recent interview with Chris Garza, guitarist of SUICIDE SILENCE, MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn opened up about the band’s upcoming album, Unatoned, set to be released on April 25 via Nuclear Blast/Imperium Recordings. This marks the band’s highly anticipated eleventh studio album, following their 2022 release, Of Kingdom And Crown.
Reflecting on his songwriting approach, Flynn shared the challenges of following up a record that resonated deeply with fans. “My last album was like a huge renaissance for the band. It just was fucking crazy,” he explained, recalling the success of Of Kingdom And Crown, which earned the band headliner status at Hellfest and marked their first-ever concept album. Flynn acknowledged the high expectations surrounding the new record, with many fans hoping for another concept album. However, he emphasized that replicating the success of such a pivotal record was impossible, noting, “Nothing’s ever gonna live up… that moment for so many people.”
To maintain a fresh perspective, Flynn set specific boundaries for Unatoned, particularly focusing on song length and musical complexity. “The last record had a bunch of long songs, so I was like, ‘I don’t want any song longer than four minutes on this record,'” he revealed. Additionally, he wanted every song to feature unexpected chord changes, similar to the way SLAYER would incorporate multiple chord shifts within a track. This structure led to the creation of a more concise album, with 10 songs and two instrumentals, totaling 41 minutes—the shortest album in MACHINE HEAD’s history.
As for the album’s sound, Flynn clarified that while Unatoned isn’t their heaviest record, it boasts plenty of melody. The last track on the album, Scorn, holds a particularly special place for Flynn. “It’s like, I’ve been trying to write a piano ballad for four albums in a row now, and I failed four albums in a row,” he said, expressing his pride in finally achieving it with Unatoned. Collaborating with Joel Wanasek and Jordan Fish (formerly of BRING ME THE HORIZON), Flynn was able to craft the song he’d longed to create, blending melancholy piano with powerful lyrics. He further detailed how the lyrics, written in a moment of personal frustration, were paired with a simple guitar arrangement that would eventually be transformed into the final piano-driven ballad.
Describing the process, Flynn revealed that he wrote and recorded the vocals for Scorn in just two takes. “I just picked up a guitar and I just said, ‘I’m gonna play four chords here and I’m just gonna make this up as I go,’” he explained. The track is the last song on the record and stands as an outlier in terms of its sound, but Flynn sees it as a unique and special piece of music for MACHINE HEAD.
Flynn also discussed his creative journey with MACHINE HEAD, stressing that while he may not know the “right” business decisions, his focus has always been on music. “Alls I ever wanted to do was just play guitar and write songs,” he said, emphasizing his commitment to creating music that resonates with fans. Although he acknowledged that newer, heavier bands like LORNA SHORE and SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL have taken metal in a more extreme direction, Flynn expressed confidence in MACHINE HEAD’s unique sound, which continues to evolve while staying true to its metal roots.
Unatoned was recorded between July 2023 and December 2024 at Flynn’s Jam Room, Sharkbite Studios, and Drop Of Sun Recording. Flynn co-produced the album with Zack Ohren, who also handled engineering. Mixing and mastering were carried out by Colin Richardson and Chris Clancy at Audioworks UK, with Ted Jensen overseeing the mastering process. Additionally, Flynn once again enlisted Seth Siro Anton to design the album’s artwork. The track Landscape Of Thorns stands out as the only song produced by Flynn and Joel Wanasek, who also mixed the single alongside Zack Ohren.
With its blend of melodic elements and deep emotional introspection, Unatoned is poised to be one of MACHINE HEAD’s most unique and defining records to date.
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