Athens may not be the capital of the global metal world, but more and more big metal bands are including it in their tour schedules. So, Machine Head made the smart move to stop by Athens on their recent tour — and we were lucky enough to witness them live!
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)
The night kicked off with Fleshgod Apocalypse, the Italian symphonic and melodic death metal band. It was my first time seeing them, and I have to say, I was blown away by their mix of symphonic brilliance, melodic structure and pure death metal aggression. Veronica Bordacchini’s vocals were outstanding, and her presence really elevated the band’s performance to another level. Their setlist was solid, and every member gave a passionate performance that drew the crowd in and got us pumped for the rest of the night. Francesco Ferrini led the way with his piano, holding the balance between melody and brutality perfectly. Watching Fleshgod Apocalypse live was a truly immersive experience, and it definitely raised our excitement for what was coming next. When they left the stage, the anticipation for Machine Head was sky high.
And then… boom! Machine Head stormed the stage, opening with the compelling “Imperium” and Floyd Live Music Venue exploded like a volcano. Saying the crowd went wild would be an understatement. Robb Flynn and the rest of the band were on fire from the very first second. Flynn played his guitar like a madman, sang with raw emotion and connected with the audience like a true frontman. He gave it his all — joking, drinking beer and tossing plastic cups into the crowd between songs. Watching him perform up close was a blast. The rest of the band was just as tight, playing with precision and heart. They were the perfect foundation for Flynn to go all out and give one hell of a show. Machine Head’s setlist was killer — full of classics like “Old”, “Ten Ton Hammer”, “Aesthetics of Hate”, “Darkness Within”, “Outsider”, “Davidian” and the mighty “Halo” for the encore. The sound was loud and crystal clear, the energy never dropped and the crowd showed nonstop love and respect for the band. This show had everything — intensity, power, great music and even giant balloons falling from above! Machine Head gave us exactly what we came for: a night to remember. Few bands can deliver this kind of energy and excitement, and they did it big time.
Everyone who was there will remember the madness, the music and the magic of that night.
A phenomenal gig by a phenomenal band! Machine Fuckin’ Head!
