Machine Head Still Brings the Fire with Unbound | Therapist Reacts

In this episode of The Heavy Metal Therapist Reacts, John dives into the latest from Machine Head. The video dropped about a month ago, but we’re here now and ready to go. This one’s called Unhallowed and it hits hard. From the gritty visuals to the classic Rob Flynn vocal style, this track feels like a throwback with modern weight.

John hasn’t listened to Machine Head since Through the Ashes of Empires, so this is a full-circle moment. Time to break it down and see what’s going on beneath the riffs.

First Impressions: Classic Machine Head with a Fresh Edge

Right off the bat, the intro calls back to From This Day, which is wild. The pacing, tone, and buildup all feel familiar in the best way. John’s honest about it though—Rob’s vocals at the beginning might throw some people off. But as the song settles in, it locks into a groove that sounds like peak Machine Head.

The chorus hits with those melodic vocals the band does so well, and the visuals are simple but powerful. Sometimes all you need is a solid aesthetic, great lighting, and a killer track. And that’s exactly what this is.

A Therapist’s Take: Unbreakable Doesn’t Always Mean Healed

After watching the video and reading the lyrics, John takes a step back and digs into the meaning behind the repetition of words like "unbound," "unbreakable," and "refuse."

Here’s his breakdown:

“This sounds like someone trying to convince themselves that they’re okay. That they’ve overcome something. But there’s still pain there. You can hear it in the refusal to forgive and in the imagery of armor and walls.”

The song reads like a defense mechanism—powerful, emotional, and angry. But underneath it, there’s vulnerability. There’s something unresolved. John points out that the lyrics show a deep need to survive, to prove strength, and to avoid ever feeling helpless again.

And that’s real. Because healing doesn’t always look like softness. Sometimes it looks like rage, noise, and holding your ground.

Heavy Music Is Still the Best Therapy

John closes out the video reflecting on the purpose behind songs like this. Whether it’s about personal trauma, emotional survival, or just letting out something buried, heavy music gives people a place to feel it and release it.

Machine Head is still doing that. And for a lot of us, that’s exactly why we listen.