The Machine - Wave Cannon (2023)

Doused in space and soaked in riffs reverberates Wave Cannon, the new album of THE MACHINE. With a reinvigorated sense of purpose, the Dutch power trio re-introduce themselves on their 7th full-length. Having found a like-minded partner in Swedish indie label Majestic Mountain Records, the band inked a deal for the physical and digital release of Wave Cannon.

Sustaining the band’s ongoing sonic development with every release since their inception in 2007, Wave Cannon sees THE MACHINE take a step back from their noise rock influenced approach of 2018’s Faceshift. Taking cues from the heavier side of shoegaze while simultaneously reconnecting with their spaced out past, the six diverse tracks on Wave Cannon have a lot to offer to both a new audience and fans of the band’s heavy psych side of earlier years. THE MACHINE are not falling back on the lengthy instrumental jams of underground darling Solar Corona (2009) though; there’s still a prominent focus on crafting songs, a process that began with 2012’s Calmer Than You Are. At the core of Wave Cannon are pop songs disguised in fuzzy feedback.

Wave Cannon is the trio’s first outing with bass player Chris Both and his skillful presence is immediately felt, contributing a refreshing and powerful swagger to the rhythm section. The trademark thick and punishing guitar riffs are still there, but the more prominent bass work offers frontman David Eering the chance to indulge in his experimental effect pedals space-gymnastics. An increased attention to song structures, vocal melodies and more intricate guitar parts completes the building blocks on which Wave Cannon was constructed.

With the band’s own Eering also at the helm as the album’s producer and recording engineer, the bulk of the album was recorded during the summer period of 2021 at the same large attic where all other previous THE MACHINE albums were recorded. Vocals and additional overdubs were recorded in the live music club (annex the band’s rehearsal space) at local venue Elektra and David’s home studio late 2021/early 2022.

The final touch needed to match the band’s vision, so THE MACHINE approached fellow Dutchman, sonic wizard and legendary producer Pieter Kloos (Motorpsycho, 35007, The Devil’s Blood, DOOL) to take care of mastering. As a final result of this combined effort, the band never sounded as clear as they do on Wave Cannon.

Although still featured on Wave Cannon, original drummer Davy Boogaard left the band before the album release. He was replaced by Klaas Dijkstra, who will be sitting behind the kit on a permanent basis as of 2023.