Through the Ashes of Empires

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Through the Ashes of Empires

Studio album by Machine Head
Released	April 20, 2004
Recorded	June – July 2003
Genre	Groove metal
Length	53:39
Label	Roadrunner Records
Producer(s)	Robert Flynn
All Music Guide (4/5) link
Machine Head chronology
Hellalive (2003)	Through the Ashes of Empires (2004)	The Blackening (2007)

Through the Ashes of Empires is the fifth studio album by Oakland-based heavy metal band Machine Head. The album went back to Machine Head's roots that were so popular on their debut album Burn My Eyes. Released in the UK, Europe and Australia on the Roadrunner Records International label on December 16, 2003, the album was quickly lauded by the heavy metal press and went on to sell phenomenal numbers of units. At this stage, Machine Head still did not have an American record deal, having parted ways with Roadrunner Records US after the 'Supercharger' album was released. TTAOE was such a success that Roadrunner Records US, in an unprecedented move, quickly offered Machine Head a new contract and the album finally reached North America on April 20, 2004.

A special edition of the album was also released, containing a second CD with early demo recordings of songs "Bite The Bullet", "Left Unfinished", "Elegy", "All Falls Down" and "Descend The Shades Of Night", as well as a short video of Machine Head in the studio during the recording of the album. The band discuss the gear they used to record the album as well as some various issues relating to it.

The band recorded an additional song: "Seasons Wither" for the North American release of the album as a measure of compensation for the American fans for having to wait so long; it was subsequently released as a b-side on the "Days Turn Blue to Gray" single internationally. According to Phil Demmel, Machine Head's guitarist, the song also gives an indication of the direction the band is headed with their next album, entitled "The Blackening".

[edit] Track listing

"Imperium " (music: Flynn/McClain; lyrics: Flynn) – 6:41
"Bite the Bullet" (music & lyrics: Flynn) – 3:21
"Left Unfinished" (music & lyrics: Flynn) – 5:45
"Elegy" (music: Flynn/McClain; lyrics: Flynn) – 3:55
"In the Presence of My Enemies" (music: Flynn/Demmel; lyrics: Flynn) – 7:07
"Days Turn Blue to Gray" (music: Flynn/Demmel; lyrics: Flynn) – 5:29
"Vim" (music: Flynn/McClain; lyrics: Flynn/Duce) – 5:12
"Seasons Wither" * (music & lyrics: Flynn)
"All Falls Down" (music: Flynn/McClain; lyrics: Flynn) – 4:29
"Wipe the Tears" (music: Flynn/McClain; lyrics: Flynn/Duce) – 3:54
"Descend the Shades of Night" (music: Flynn/McClain; lyrics: Flynn) – 7:46

"Seasons Wither" did not feature on the original worldwide release, but was added in the later US release. Subsequent worldwide pressings of the album now feature the song.