After an atmospheric intro, the debut album of Sweden's GODHEAD MACHINERY kicks into high gear. Although it has better production that a Black Metal purist might need, it still contains the genre's hallmarks for violence and raw aggression. Robert Karlsson certainly knows how bring in some fast fret work that still displays groove.  His vocals are definitely abrasive and, at times, he doesn't even sound human; I'm definitely hearing an OLD MAN'S CHILD sound in both his vocals and playing, especially during their "Ill Natured Spiritual Invasion," era.  The second track, "The Plague," definitely could had been on any of their albums. "Tithe" is the best track on the album; it has a lot of decent riffs and several different tempo/mood changes. The song really runs the gauntlet between black metal fury and even some ambient/melodic settings.

Marcus Andersson's drumming is frantic, speedy, and a battering ram of smoldering, often sporadic drum riffage that give each a song a chaotic feel, especially on "A House Divided," a highlight as far as the drumming goes. His kit smashing on the opening of "Council of Nicaea," is a machine gun of rapid fire cymbal and snare hits.  Around the 2:35 mark, the guitars really kick the song up a notch with groove filled riffs that lead into a short of melodic guitar lead that smoothly transitions back into the rest of the song, letting it end on the furry in which it began in. "Revelation," is a short interlude that, much like the opening title track, is well done and interesting but, also much like the opening track, doesn't really bring a whole lot to the overall experience with the album. Indeed, take away the intro and outro, the album is less than 30 minutes long. I definitely prefer that length to something more long winded but the album just has an incomplete feel to it; I'm sure the band has much more they could say/play and I wish they had added it in.

The final track, "Praise the Flesh," is more of a slower pace than the tracks before it, very much a Depressive Black Metal feel. Robert's screams are especially potent, a high pitched strain that is a great compliment to the downtrodden sound. I really enjoyed this short but very good Black Metal album. I really look forward to whatever else they release in the future and it's recommended for anyone waiting on a new OLD MAN's CHILD album. It has the ferocious tenacity that Black Metal is known for but without the sub-par production and nonstop, boring, tremolo picking.