It takes a lot of guts to leave the party while
it’s still hoppin’, but that’s exactly what Hate
Machine did Friday night at Montage Music Hall to a rabid — albeit bummed — crowd. Early in the set singer Jed Seaver stopped
between songs to explain. “We’ve hit the plateau and have nowhere else to go,”
he said. I can totally dig this; bowing out before you undo your cool, before
fans start referring to your old material as your best.
Still, it was a shame to see the band go (unless
this is a break-up a la The Who and KISS and countless other “retirees” who get
back together whenever their kids need braces or the alimony gets a little
steep). So far this was a farewell in style, with a brilliant, thundering, and
exuberant set of heavy and hard from the band and a volatile mix of flying
elbows, pumping fists, and general mayhem in the crowd. I suppose you could
call it a love machine for Hate Machine. RIP.
Absolution Project offered heavy absolution prior
to The Hate Machine send off as I shuffled into the packed house. In the same
vein and strain as Hate Machine, AP punctuates its punches with patches of
melodic free-fall. Consequently, when the pounding returns it takes your breath
away.
This article appears in May 1-7, 2013.
