3rd Machine
The lovely chaps in 3rd Machine recently dropped me a letter enclosing a copy of their most recent EP, The Egotiator. Describing the EP as an evolution and big step forwards, this Dutch metal band have crafted an EP which interchanges heavy riffs with melodic interludes, a massive wall of sound from the drums and guitars with atmospheric parts and fragile, melodic vocals – which, if they’ve achieved it, sounds like one hell of a mix to behold. Based on everything they said, I figured I should get on and check this EP out for myself
As title track The Egotiator gets things in motion we’re lured into the track beginning with a dark synth line, the mood immediately adopting something out of that 90’s video game The Dig, and luring you in to listen harder. Building into the track as it grows, the synth pushes the boundaries of the opening moments here, suggesting that it’s going to be a heavy ride without giving too much away. This all changes as the track breaks, throwing us straight into a melee of hammering guitar lines, pounding drums, rumbling bass rhythms and more of that soaring synth. The mix which forms is heavy for sure, so heavy in fact that it’s going to make your floor shake, your walls crumble, and still have you reaching for the volume up button. As the vocals come in to complete the mix we’re shown the full force of the band, talking of killing, America, the land of the free, and combining it all with intricate guitar lines and more of that awesome pounding rhythm section. It’s hard to imagine a world where you haven’t heard this track once you’ve heard it once, it works into your head and stays there, kicking things off in the best possible style and making you want to hear more.
Luckily more comes in the form of Ditch The Hollow, once again building the suspense for the track as it grows and showing that it’s possible to sound heavy before even beginning the track. The build ups to the tracks here have been key as they’ve built on the suspense, forcing you to listen harder so that you’re fully prepared for the track getting going properly, and as it happens allowing you to fully embrace what you’re hearing. Powerful guitars combine with the hammering drums to form a sound which is groove orientated, packed with power and still melodic throughout. The size of the riffs on offer is terrifying, creating a crunchy, chunky sound which supports the track and shows why we should be paying attention to all of the bands coming out of Holland – but in particular these guys! Twisting and turning through the track it refuses to sit still, continually changing and evolving, presenting us with different sections and different moments but all the time keeping the sense of who you’re listening to at the forefront of things – it’s a mix which is sure to pull you in, make you listen, and hook you into the sound of 3rd Machine right up until the closing seconds.
Closing the EP with Void Of Fate we’re left on one final hurrah of a track, not bothering with any long intro this time and instead launching us straight into a riff fuelled melee of hammering guitar lines, pounding rhythms and more of those intricate lead lines. This final track on the EP is perhaps the heaviest of the 3, somehow taking the sound of the first three tracks and taking it to a new level, a place where groove orientated riffs combine with dark synth lines and hauntingly soft vocals to form a sound which is irresistible. This is a track which is going to kill on the live scene, the sort of thing which will hook people in and not let them go, the sort of thing which will secure these guys a slot as a must see band, and the sort of thing which is going to secure their reputation as a band we seriously need to be keeping an eye on moving forwards from here – a solid close to a solid EP.
When The Egotiator arrived from 3rd Machine I was struck by how well put together the packaging was, how professional it all appeared, but was wary as last time this happened, we didn’t feature the band on the site as frankly, the music was so poor – that didn’t happen here! This is an EP which is heavy, melodic, and the sort of thing which you’re going to return to time and time again. If you listen to one new band this month, make it 3rd Machine – you won’t be disappointed.
To find out more about 3rd Machine, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
As title track The Egotiator gets things in motion we’re lured into the track beginning with a dark synth line, the mood immediately adopting something out of that 90’s video game The Dig, and luring you in to listen harder. Building into the track as it grows, the synth pushes the boundaries of the opening moments here, suggesting that it’s going to be a heavy ride without giving too much away. This all changes as the track breaks, throwing us straight into a melee of hammering guitar lines, pounding drums, rumbling bass rhythms and more of that soaring synth. The mix which forms is heavy for sure, so heavy in fact that it’s going to make your floor shake, your walls crumble, and still have you reaching for the volume up button. As the vocals come in to complete the mix we’re shown the full force of the band, talking of killing, America, the land of the free, and combining it all with intricate guitar lines and more of that awesome pounding rhythm section. It’s hard to imagine a world where you haven’t heard this track once you’ve heard it once, it works into your head and stays there, kicking things off in the best possible style and making you want to hear more.
Luckily more comes in the form of Ditch The Hollow, once again building the suspense for the track as it grows and showing that it’s possible to sound heavy before even beginning the track. The build ups to the tracks here have been key as they’ve built on the suspense, forcing you to listen harder so that you’re fully prepared for the track getting going properly, and as it happens allowing you to fully embrace what you’re hearing. Powerful guitars combine with the hammering drums to form a sound which is groove orientated, packed with power and still melodic throughout. The size of the riffs on offer is terrifying, creating a crunchy, chunky sound which supports the track and shows why we should be paying attention to all of the bands coming out of Holland – but in particular these guys! Twisting and turning through the track it refuses to sit still, continually changing and evolving, presenting us with different sections and different moments but all the time keeping the sense of who you’re listening to at the forefront of things – it’s a mix which is sure to pull you in, make you listen, and hook you into the sound of 3rd Machine right up until the closing seconds.
Closing the EP with Void Of Fate we’re left on one final hurrah of a track, not bothering with any long intro this time and instead launching us straight into a riff fuelled melee of hammering guitar lines, pounding rhythms and more of those intricate lead lines. This final track on the EP is perhaps the heaviest of the 3, somehow taking the sound of the first three tracks and taking it to a new level, a place where groove orientated riffs combine with dark synth lines and hauntingly soft vocals to form a sound which is irresistible. This is a track which is going to kill on the live scene, the sort of thing which will hook people in and not let them go, the sort of thing which will secure these guys a slot as a must see band, and the sort of thing which is going to secure their reputation as a band we seriously need to be keeping an eye on moving forwards from here – a solid close to a solid EP.
When The Egotiator arrived from 3rd Machine I was struck by how well put together the packaging was, how professional it all appeared, but was wary as last time this happened, we didn’t feature the band on the site as frankly, the music was so poor – that didn’t happen here! This is an EP which is heavy, melodic, and the sort of thing which you’re going to return to time and time again. If you listen to one new band this month, make it 3rd Machine – you won’t be disappointed.
To find out more about 3rd Machine, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls