MACHINE HEAD Guitarist Discusses 'Unto The Locust' Album In New Interview

July 7, 2011

Metal Mark of SkullsNBones.com recently conducted an interview with guitarist Phil Demmel of San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

SkullsNBones.com: "Unto The Locust" is one of the most anticipated metal albums in a very long time. Did you feel any extra pressure when writing this record due to the success of "The Blackening"?

Demmel: I'm not sure we feel the pressure as much as we're aware of the situation: following up such a highly-acclaimed record. Each record we start writing is more important than the previous. Our creative sides want to not only improve on what we've done, but expand and incorporate ideas that we're currently experiencing. Regardless of what "The Blackening" had accomplished, we would strive for the same.

SkullsNBones.com: We've all heard the incredible "Locust" single, but is there a favorite track of yours that fans should really be excited for on the new album?

Demmel: Since each song off the new record "Unto the Locust" is so different from each other, as my mood changes a lot! so does my favorite song. Currently it's a song called "Darkness Within", it's the song off this record that is more of a departure than anything off "The Blackening".

SkullsNBones.com: Robb [Flynn; guitar, vocals] has said that "Unto The Locust" is all about music as a religion. Do you agree with that statement? If so, what is the first commandment?

Demmel: I agree to a degree. I was brought up in a fairly religious home. Over the years I've developed my own take and am forging my own "walk of faith." My whole life, music has had a predominate presence. My mom sang with a folk group and in the church choir. We had a piano and at young age I turned to songs that emulated what I was going through.

SkullsNBones.com: A lot of fans agree that when you joined the band in 2002 that you re-energized MACHINE HEAD and brought one of the great metal bands of our time to a whole new level. What are your thoughts on that?

Demmel: I agree that there was a re-energizing. I joined the band at its lowest point (unbeknownst to me) and was so excited that I think they fed off of it. They were in transition with a lot of things at that point and I think the four of us getting together was, for lack of better word, fate. I needed them just as much as they needed me. Perfect timing and an amazing combination.

Read the entire interview from SkullsNBones.com.

"Locust" song audio stream:

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