Phil Demmel and Dave McClain announced their simultaneous departure from Machine Head in September of last year. The two officially left after one last tour together, leaving Robb Flynn with two vacant spots to fill and now he has started holding auditions for a new guitarist and drummer, adding to the excitement of the "new heaviness" he teased in February.

Flynn detailed the news on Instagram live (the video has since expired). "You might not know some of these guys," he said (quote via Blabbermouth), noting "some of [them] you may." Speaking about the process, he went on to say that it has "been awesome, really good; in fact, really confusing."

As for the direction Machine Head will go in, Flynn still isn't sure. "[I] don't know where we are going. We've got some thinking to do," he said.

While the names of those auditioning has not been revealed, we do know that the songs they've been asked to learn includes "Locust," "Old," "Imperium," "From This Day," "Halo," "Aesthetics Of Hate" and "This Is The End."

For now, bassist Jared MacEachern is the only other member currently in Machine Head. He joined the group in 2013, replacing Adam Duce, who had been with the band since its inception in 1991.

Since leaving Machine Head, Demmel has yet to declare what his next move will be. He enjoyed a brief stint in Slayer as Gary Holt left a European to return home to be with his father before his passing. McClain has since returned to thrashers Sacred Reich.

Top 100 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 21st Century

 

More From 96.5 KNRX