MACHINE HEAD Frontman: 'When We're Writing, We're Not Timing How Long The Song Is'

Amy Harris recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Robb Flynn of San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Amy: First, I wanted talk to you about the upcoming new album, "Unto The Locust". I actually listened to part of it. The first song was "Locust" that you guys put out. I was curious about the story behind it and just tell us a little bit about the new album.

Robb: The single came out and it was an advance mix part of a [Rockstar Energy Drink] Mayhem [Festival]/ iTunes sampler. The song is about locusts. Locusts are a metaphor. The story of locusts when they fly in swarms. They can fly but they can't control the direction they fly in. They kind of float in the wind and then they land and cause all this havoc and destruction. They fly away and leave you in the aftermath. The song is a metaphor for a type of person who sometimes comes into your life and has a similar effect.

Amy: The song is pretty long, but it's definitely not the longest song you guys have ever had. You guys are kind of known for that, with over nine- or ten-minute songs on the last album as well. Your fans embrace that. Is there a reason that you keep the songs longer?

Robb: When we're writing, we're not timing how long the song is. We're just going with the vibe of it and going with what it feels like it needs. I think the beauty of music is that it can take you on a journey. I think that there is a theory in the music industry that three- or four-minute songs are the only things that are going to connect with people, but that sells people short. I think people's minds can take them on a journey. I like all the ups and downs of the longer songs. Our masters are METALLICA "Master Of Puppets" era and the ZEPPELINs and the SABBATHs, the seven-minute songs and that kind of vibe. That's what we grew up on and that's what we like. "Victim Of Changes" by JUDAS PRIEST is eight minutes long and totally awesome.

Amy: You guys are a touring band. You toured for two to three years for the last album. What are your plans for this one? What did you do with all the down time after being on the road for three years? How did you adjust back to being home or off the road?

Robb: We took a three-month break and after the second month, I was chomping at the bit to get back to writing and so was Dave [McClain], our drummer so he and I started jamming. In the studio, we had a new jam room. After two months, I was ready. I felt I had taken a break and I had musical ideas already going. But it was nice to be home for awhile. Yesterday was our first show in 15 months. It was a good break that we had. After taking that much time invested in the band and touring, it was good, not that we weren't working, we've been recording and we've been writing. It was good to have that break.

Amy: You guys have toured with SLAYER, METALLICA, and MEGADETH, all the biggest names in rock and metal. Have you ever had any conflicts on the road with other bands?

Robb: No, most bands are pretty chill. They are a lot more chill than most think they are. They like to hang, they like to drink. I mean everybody likes to have fun. I'm sure little things come up here and there. I find that in metal, there is a lot more camaraderie. There was a period when we were touring with a lot of radio bands, or we would end up on these radio shows. A lot of these bands that are pop bands, they are a pop band that are trying to differentiate into metal. They don't really know much about it. They don't have the background. They're not legit metalheads. They are more like, I don't know, something else. Those bands are the hardest to deal with because they have the radio mindset. We don't really get along with them.

Read the entire interview from Amy Harris.

"Locust" performance footage: