Oakland's Machine Head is back with its sixth release of blistering, smoldering, and streetwise metal. Arguably the band's finest work to date, THE BLACKENING digs back to the band's technically-savvy, thrashy roots and brings them to the present with brilliant production. Produced once again by guitarist/vocalist Robb Flynn and mixed by legendary knob-spinner Colin Richardson (Carcass, Bullet For My Valentine), the sleek-sounding album presents eight tracks of bruising metal, rife with attitude and passion. Adding fuel to the band's aggressive fire is guitarist Phil Demmel, who was Flynn's bandmate and co-guitarist in the legendary Bay Area thrash outfit Vio-Lence. From the Dimebag Darrel-inspired "Aesthetics of Hate" to the sobering "Beautiful Mourning", THE BLACKENING is designed to be an instant classic.