"Aesthetics of Hate" is a song by American
heavy metal band
Machine Head
A machine head (also referred to as a tuning machine, tuner, or gear head) is a geared apparatus for tuning stringed musical instruments by adjusting string tension. Machine heads are used on mandolins, guitars, double basses and others, and ar ...
from their sixth studio album, ''
The Blackening
''The Blackening'' is the sixth album by American heavy metal band Machine Head. Released on March 27, 2007, in the United States, ''The Blackening'' sold 16,000 units in its first week, and became Machine Head's third highest charting release a ...
''. Written by vocalist and guitarist
Robb Flynn
Robert Conrad Flynn (born Lawrence Matthew Cardine; July 19, 1967) is an American musician who is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for heavy metal band Machine Head. Flynn formed the band along with Adam Duce, Logan Mader and Tony Cos ...
, the song is a retaliation to an article written by William Grim. Grim wrote that late guitarist
Dimebag Darrell
Darrell Lance Abbott (August 20, 1966 – December 8, 2004), best known by his stage name Dimebag Darrell, was an American musician. He was the guitarist of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan, both of which he co-founded alongside hi ...
was "an ignorant, barbaric, untalented possessor of a guitar", among other comments, which angered Flynn deeply enough to write the song. "Aesthetics of Hate" was nominated for
Best Metal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance is an award presented at the Grammy Awards to recording artists for works (songs or albums) containing quality performances in the heavy metal music genre. The Grammy Awards is an annual ceremony, where ...
at the
50th Grammy Awards
The 50th Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, on February 10, 2008. It honored musical achievement of 2007 in which albums were released between October 1, 2006, through September 30, 2007. The primary ceremonies ...
.
Background
"Aesthetics of Hate" was written by Robb Flynn as a retaliation to an article by William Grim for the website Iconoclast. Titled "Aesthetics of Hate: R.I.P. Dimebag Abbott, & Good Riddance", Grim wrote the article stating Darrell was "part of a generation that has confused sputum with art and involuntary reflex actions with emotion", "an ignorant, barbaric, untalented possessor of a guitar" who looks "more
simian than human".
After reading the article, Flynn was furious and wrote "Aesthetics of Hate" as a condemnation of Grim's article and Dimebag detractors. He wrote a message on the band's forum expressing his friendship with Darrell and spoke about Grim:
Recording
After "Slanderous" and "Beautiful Mourning", "Aesthetics of Hate" was the third song that was written for Machine Heads album ''
The Blackening
''The Blackening'' is the sixth album by American heavy metal band Machine Head. Released on March 27, 2007, in the United States, ''The Blackening'' sold 16,000 units in its first week, and became Machine Head's third highest charting release a ...
''.
Flynn originally presented it to the band as "The Thrashterpiece" which became the songs working title, because according to Flynn "it owes a huge debt to the band
Exodus
Exodus or the Exodus may refer to:
Religion
* Book of Exodus, second book of the Hebrew Torah and the Christian Bible
* The Exodus, the biblical story of the migration of the ancient Israelites from Egypt into Canaan
Historical events
* Ex ...
,
here's
Here is an adverb that means "in, on, or at this place". It may also refer to:
Software
* Here Technologies, a mapping company
* Here WeGo (formerly Here Maps), a mobile app and map website by Here Technologies, Here
Television
* Here TV (form ...
a lot of
Bay Area thrash worship going on in this song." In February 2005, Machine Head had penned a rough version of "Aesthetics of Hate". A 13-track November 2005 demo featured the song, although it contained what Flynn described as a "totally fucking lame '
Angel of Death' rip off. I hated it every time we played it so I was glad to see that part go!"
The band entered Sharkbite Studios, in
Oakland, California
Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast of the United States, West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third ...
on August 21, 2006 to begin recording. Production duties were handled by Flynn with assistance from Mark Keaton, and
mixing by
Colin Richardson
Colin Richardson is a British record producer, mixer and recording engineer. He has worked on over 100 albums and is most frequently associated with heavy metal and its subgenres.
Career
Some of the bands he has worked for include:
* 3 Inch ...
.
Critical reception
"Aesthetics of Hate" received positive reviews from music critics.
Blabbermouth.net
Blabbermouth.net is a website dedicated to heavy metal and hard rock news, as well as album and music DVD reviews. Blabbermouth.net was founded and is run by Borivoj Krgin. The first version of the website was launched in March 2001; in Octob ...
's Don Kaye described the track as "literally breathtaking" and said that the song "channels its title emotion into a blazing volcano of pure speed and furious guitarwork from Flynn and Phil Demmel."
Reviewing for France's ''Hard 'N Heavy'' magazine,
Anthrax's
Scott Ian
Scott Ian (born Scott Ian Rosenfeld, December 31, 1963) is an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist and co-founder of the thrash metal band Anthrax. Ian is the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroo ...
felt that the song is "a riff-o-rama showing off Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel's killer guitar work."
Thom Jurek of
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
felt "the intense dual
arpeggios between both guitarists — Flynn and
Phil Demmel
Phil Demmel (born April 2, 1967) is an American musician who played lead guitar in the heavy metal band Machine Head between 2002 and 2018, making him their longest running member in that position. He has also performed in other bands such as V ...
on 'Aesthetics of Hate' (as just one example) are among the tightest ever".
However, J.D. Considine of ''
Blender
A blender (sometimes called a mixer or liquidiser in British English) is a kitchen and laboratory appliance used to mix, crush, purée or emulsify food and other substances. A stationary blender consists of a blender container with a rotating me ...
'' commented that the song "cuts from screaming guitars to an ominously whispered, 'May the hands of God strike them down'. Without oversize hooks, calls for biblical vengeance just sound silly."
"Aesthetics of Hate" received a nomination for
Best Metal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance is an award presented at the Grammy Awards to recording artists for works (songs or albums) containing quality performances in the heavy metal music genre. The Grammy Awards is an annual ceremony, where ...
at the
50th Grammy Awards
The 50th Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, on February 10, 2008. It honored musical achievement of 2007 in which albums were released between October 1, 2006, through September 30, 2007. The primary ceremonies ...
. The ceremony took place on February 12, 2008, with Machine Head being beaten out by
Slayer's "Final Six".
Flynn commented on the nomination, "We are completely blown away, and honored by this. It's incredible that the anger of this song has connected with so many people. It proves to Dimebag's detractors the positive impact he had on his fans and fellow bands alike."
On August 8, 2008, the song was confirmed to be as part of the "Roadrunner Records" pack in ''
Rock Band''.
[
]
Personnel
*
Robb Flynn
Robert Conrad Flynn (born Lawrence Matthew Cardine; July 19, 1967) is an American musician who is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for heavy metal band Machine Head. Flynn formed the band along with Adam Duce, Logan Mader and Tony Cos ...
– lead vocals, rhythm guitar
*
Adam Duce
Adam Duce (born April 14, 1972) is an American musician, best known as a founding member and former bassist of the heavy metal band Machine Head. He played in the band for over 21 years before his firing in 2013.
Biography
While still a chi ...
– bass, backing vocals
*
Phil Demmel
Phil Demmel (born April 2, 1967) is an American musician who played lead guitar in the heavy metal band Machine Head between 2002 and 2018, making him their longest running member in that position. He has also performed in other bands such as V ...
– lead guitar
*
Dave McClain – drums
References
{{authority control
Machine Head (band) songs
2007 singles
Songs written by Robb Flynn
2007 songs
Roadrunner Records singles
Songs written by Adam Duce