News: Miracles in Distortion – Robb Flynn (Machine Head) Graces Rolling Stone France Cover
By Seth Metoyer, Heaven’s Metal Magazine –
Machine Head has never been a faith-based band, but there’s an interesting connection to the faith genre through frontman Robb Flynn’s interview with Doug Van Pelt for the book Rock Stars on God.
Additionally, the lyrical approach on Machine Head’s new album, UNATØNED, feels deeply human, much like the raw, unfiltered cries found in the Psalms. It drips with melancholy melodies, yet hammers with bludgeoning riffs, soars with anthemic sing-alongs of love-lost and sadness, and bellows with a power and undeniable confidence.
In a world that loves to mock belief, persistence, and hope, sometimes a rented guitar and a working-class dream remind us that miracles come dressed in denim and distortion pedals.
Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn just landed the cover of Rolling Stone France, a powerful full-circle moment for the metal veteran. In a social media post, Flynn reflected on his unlikely journey: convincing his dad to rent him a guitar at 14, scrubbing dishes at Marie Callender’s to save up for his own, and chasing a dream that many said wasn’t worth chasing.
“I just sent [my dad] this picture of me on the cover of Rolling Stone France holding my Flying V guitar… pretty special moment for the two of us,” Flynn shared.
It’s a humble but powerful reminder that seeds of greatness are often sown when nobody is watching. Not on a stage, not in a magazine spread, but in the hidden places: working, dreaming, refusing to give up.
Flynn’s story also has a special place in Heaven’s Metal history. Our own editor, Doug Van Pelt, interviewed Robb years ago for his book Rock Stars on God — a collection of conversations with metal artists about life, faith, and their thoughts on Jesus. (You can check out Doug’s book here.)
Machine Head’s latest album, UNATØNED, isn’t a “faith album” by any stretch. It’s blistering, chaotic, and deeply personal, but that doesn’t mean it’s devoid of soul. It’s the cry of a heart that refuses to stay shackled. A spirit longing for freedom, even in the middle of the chaos.
According to the band’s website, the song the track ØUTSIDER “is an anthem that has kinship with anyone who’s had to cut toxic people loose. These last few years, I’ve had to let go of a lot of relationships, and I know I’m not alone in that. This track is for anyone who’s been there.”
Even without overt religious language, there’s something raw and relatable in the struggle: a cry that echoes the Psalms, where brokenness is laid bare before God. Robb Flynn’s journey reminds us:
Dreams take guts.
Hope takes work.
And sometimes, faith sounds a lot like distortion.
About Author
