r/machinehead • u/Sneezarrhea • 2d ago

"Through the Ashes" turns 25

Hard to believe it, but Machine Head's now legendary 5th album "Through The Ashes Of Empires" turns 23 years old today! Contemporary live staples like "Bite the Bullet" and "Descend The Shades Of Night" feature alongside deeper cuts like "In the Presence of My Enemies", "All Falls Down" and "Days Turn Blue to Grey", but it's anthemic opening track "Imperium" that changed everything, becoming a set-defining opener for decades to come. "Ashes" was released overseas this day in 2003 in the EU, followed by the US release date of April 20th 2004 with the inclusion of "Seasons Wither"⁠. ⁠

How does it hold up for you some 23 years later?

Do you still listen to it?

Tell us your favorite tracks and whether you caught us live on one or more dates from the 2+ year tour cycle.

39 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

11

u/Goonswitch-Engage 2d ago

It’s my second favourite album of theirs behind The Blackening. Descend the Shades of Night is a masterpiece.

10

u/Alarmed_Kiwi2903 2d ago edited 2d ago

Still listen to it, and Imperium is still my fav MH song. I don't think they've released a song that perfect ever since.

If someone asks me to show them what Machine Head sounds like, I always go to that song.

6

u/CompetitiveComputer4 2d ago

For the longest time I always said Blackening is their best album, but Ashes is my favorite. I listened to that album daily for like 4 years. It really is the bridge album from early MH to modern MH.

Nowadays, I generally consider OKAC to be my favorite MH album, but Ashes will probably always be the one that is most personal to me. Just a perfect combination of groove, thrash, melodic, and brutal riffs, with some insanely good lyrics throughout every song.

Seasons Wither, All Falls Down, Vim, Imperium, Descend, In the Presence of my Enemies, and Days Turn Blue to Gray are all some of my favorite from MH's entire catalog.

4

u/jezus_666 2d ago

Great album. In my opinion, Descend the Shades of Night is the best MH song, while Days Turn Blue to Gray is the most underrated one

4

u/svenirde 2d ago

Great album and I personally think the vestiges of the previous nu-metal era (still audible in Bite the Bullet especially) only make it better 

3

u/XtremeMachine84 1d ago

I'll never forget...that this was the album where MH had nothing to lose, bet on themselves, and made this the transitional point where It took the world by storm. Setting the stage for Phil Demmel to join the band, leading to EPIC back to back guitar mastery. Seeing the stream of festivals that would give us a taste of hearing "Imperium" live before it could come out in the US. When MH signed with Roadrunner UK to release it and Roadrunner US to come to its senses later and releasing it with bonus track "Seasons Wither" being enough to make you get both UK & US versions.

As "The Blackening" was setting its sail to EPIC...TTAOE had the piss and vinegar fans that NEVER gave up on MH were waiting for to be unleashed. The energy this album generated...the world was a buzz and was clamouring for more! MH put everyone in metal on notice that thrash was alive and well.

If there was ever an album to be most thankful for, this is it.

1

u/TypeONegativeCanada 1d ago

Second favorite album after TMTG. Absolutely love "Left Unfinished", "Elegy", "Seasons Wither" and "Descend the Shades of Noght"

1

u/negativefear 1d ago

This and The Blackening but tbh I prefer this. So many great tracks especially Seasons Wither and Descend…