Machine Head - Gig Review & Photo Gallery 29th November @ Astor Theatre, Perth WA

Machine Head
Astor Theatre, Perth WA
November 29, 2025

Here’s another review by a guy who probably shouldn’t be writing reviews. I’m just the photographer and they’re making me do this. And the only thing I know about Machine Head is from skim-reading articles in Guitar World in the 90’s. Ahhh the 90’s… Dio was still alive, Ritchie Blackmore was still doing Rainbow and CD’s were king! But you didn’t come here to listen to me talk about that. You came here for the Machine fuckn Head review, right? Well shut up and listen!

As most people know by now, the band is playing as a three piece due their guitarist Reece Scruggs having to take care of a sick family member. Everyone understands; some things are more important than other things.

Robb Flynn addressed his absence with the crowd and also explained plans for another guitarist to fill-in didn't come to fruition. Instead we were treated to a very special Evening With Machine Head show with plenty of surprises along the way.

Machine Head riffs hit so hard they should come with a seatbelt. It’s the sound of pushing a big metal tank down a big pile of concrete stairs. And the evening was full of them. Robb and co. look like they’ve been in a fair few heavy metal battles; so despite being a man down, the band still mages to crush your spine, see it driven before you and hear the lamentation of your liver. It was a long set, the band played for over 2 hours and even graced us with two acoustic heartbreak songs.

I don’t know what any of the songs were about but I’m pretty sure there's some solid parental advice being sung at me. I think a couple of songs might be about revenge….I don’t know. But what I do know is that whatever happened to Robb Flynn back in 1990’s, he’s still mad about it. The moshpit looked like a cyclone made of jean jackets and people running at each at full speed. Everyone’s having fun doing that, especially the guy that’s built like a fridge.

As a guy who doesn’t listen to Machine Head, I was surprised at how enjoyable the show was. If you’re in any way a fan of the band, I guarantee you’re going to love it. And if you don’t, Paul Brown from Wall of Sound will buy you a beer. That name again, Paul Brown.

Words and Photo Gallery by Emanuel Rudnicki. Insta: @emanuelrudnicki
‍Please credit Wall Of Sound and Emanuel Rudnicki if you use published photos

Setlist

Imperium
Ten Ton Hammer
CHØKE ØN THE ASHES ØF YØUR HATE
Now We Die
Is There Anybody Out There?
NØT LØNG FØR THIS WØRLD
Crashing Around You
UNHALLØWED
Aesthetics of Hate (Crowd got to choose Blood for Blood or Aesthetics of Hate)
Now I Lay Thee Down
Old
ØUTSIDER (Robb said he finished writing this song while in Perth and dedicated it to a person ‘Sausages’)
Locust
BØNESCRAPER
Circle the Drain (Acoustic for the first time in a live venue)
Darkness Within (Acoustic for the first time in a live venue)
Catharsis
From This Day
Davidian
Halo

Catch the band at Good Things Festival this weekend and more sideshows.