Machine Head - Through The Ashes Of Empires

After a period of sonic experimentation, Machine Head returned to their "thrash-mantled throne" with 2003’s Through the Ashes of Empires. This fifth studio album is widely regarded as the record that saved the band, stripping away the nu-metal influences of the previous era in favor of the "epic, complex, and heavy" sound that defined their early years. Produced by Robb Flynn, the album is a "raucous and resilient" display of Bay Area power, featuring the quintessential opener "Imperium"—a track that remains a "clattering catharsis" in their live sets to this day.

Marking its status as a modern classic, Nuclear Blast reissued the album in June 2024 for its 20th anniversary era. This edition is pressed on a striking Ghostly Blue Vinyl, housed in a premium gatefold jacket. It notably includes the track "Seasons Wither," which was originally a bonus track on the 2004 North American release but has now become a central part of the album's definitive vinyl sequence.