Through the Ashes of Empires
Through the Ashes of Empires is Machine Head's fifth studio album, released on 27 October 2003 through Roadrunner Records. After two records spent experimenting with nu metal, the American band went back to the groove and thrash metal of their first two albums, Burn My Eyes and The More Things Change… It was also the first Machine Head record to feature guitarist Phil Demmel, who stayed until 2018.
The story around it is a good one. Having parted ways with Roadrunner's American arm after Supercharger, the band had no US deal when the album came out in the UK, Europe and Australia. Its success changed that, and Roadrunner US made them a fresh offer, an unusual step, before the record reached North America on 20 April 2004. In the UK it went Silver. For anyone who lost track of the band in the nu metal years, this is where they find their feet again.
Through the Ashes of Empires: tracklist, credits and charts
10 tracks · 53:45Tracklist
- 1ImperiumRobert Flynn and Dave McClain6:42
- 2Bite the BulletRobert Flynn3:22
- 3Left UnfinishedRobert Flynn5:46
- 4ElegyRobert Flynn and Dave McClain3:56
- 5In the Presence of My EnemiesPhil Demmel and Robert Flynn7:07
- 6Days Turn Blue to GrayPhil Demmel and Robert Flynn5:30
- 7VimFlynn, McClain, Duce5:13
- 8All Falls DownRobert Flynn and Dave McClain4:30
- 9Wipe the TearsFlynn, McClain, Duce3:55
- 10Descend the Shades of NightRobert Flynn and Dave McClain7:46
- Produced by
- Robert Flynn, Robb Flynn
- Recorded at
- Sharkbite Studios (Oakland, California)
- Recorded
- 16 June – 21 July 2003
- Mixed by
- Colin Richardson
- Mixed at
- Chapel Studios
- Engineered by
- Will Bartle, Mark Keaton, Andy Sneap
- Labels
- Roadrunner Records, Roadrunner
- Length
- 53:45
Line-up
- Phil Demmel · electric guitar
- Adam Duce · electric bass guitar, background vocals
- Robert Flynn · electric guitar, lead vocals
- Dave McClain · drums (drum set)
Singles
- “Imperium” · 16 December 2003
- “Days Turn Blue to Gray” · 2004
Peak chart positions
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 · 2003 | 88 |
| German Albums Chart · 2003 | 24 |
| Swedish Albums Chart · 2003 | 41 |
| French Albums Chart · 2003 | 44 |
| Austrian Albums Chart · 2003 | 56 |
| Dutch Albums Chart · 2003 | 65 |
| UK Album Chart · 2003 | 77 |
| Swiss Albums Chart · 2003 | 80 |
| Australian Albums Chart · 2003 | 91 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Silver |
From MusicBrainz, Wikipedia and Wikidata. Only what the sources record is shown.
Released the same week
Also released on 27 October
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Releases and pressings
How we know the release date wikipedia + musicbrainz
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 27 October 2003 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 27 October 2003 | |
| Wikidata | 2003 | |
| UK / Europe release | 27 October 2003 | earliest UK or European date |
8 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | XE | Roadrunner Records | 016861836382 | other |
| 27 October 2003 | XE | Roadrunner Records | 016861836320 | original |
| 2004 | BR | Roadrunner Records | 610535289926 | other |
| 20 April 2004 | US | Roadrunner Records | 016861836320 | other |
| 23 February 2007 | DE | Cargo Records | 4024572299149 | other |
| 2012 | XW | Roadrunner Records | 016861836306 | other |
| 2020 | — | Imperium Recordings | 0727361569860 | other |
| 2020 | — | Imperium Recordings | 0727361569839 | other |
Cover art sources
deezer · upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| deezer ✓ | 1200×1200 | upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25) |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |
| coverartarchive | 500×500 | upscaled |