Decapitated guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka joined Machine Head in 2019. I've openly speculated about Kiełtyka's presence on Machine Head's upcoming material given a lack of his presence in photos, and now we've got answers! Kiełtyka said in an interview with Metal 101 that he contributed some riffs and solos to the record, and that it's "a really strong album and a really amazing comeback."
"Machine Head have a new album ready, which makes me also really happy about feeling that I'm a part of the album. I did a few riffs for two songs and I did a few solo parts. I have to say the album is amazing, and Robb and Jared did an amazing job. It's gonna be a really strong album and a really amazing comeback with the new songs and production. The production is amazing."
The new album features drummer Navene Koperweis (Entheos, ex-Animals as Leaders) and is due out sometime this year. According to bassist Jared MacEachern in a previous interview, the new record is a "really great, heavy, beautiful, melodic, raging, thrashing ride" and will feature all three songs from the 2021 EP Arrows In Words From The Sky.
"I think that I was very aware from day one that Robb is the leader, he's the creative leader, the musical leader… We all have our inputs but I think it's always understood that ultimately the decision is up to him for how things go. But, yeah, I definitely made contributions and I feel great about those contributions and I'm asked about my opinion on certain things. But, like I said, I'm following his lead.
"It's a pretty — to use Robb's word… I believe he used the word 'colossal' the other day. It's a pretty big, epic-sounding album. We've been toying around with the order, but I've been listening, sitting down, taking the time to listen to it all the way through, and the way it goes, it's a ride — a really great, heavy, beautiful, melodic, raging, thrashing ride."
