Listen to Stop The Bleeding, Machine Head's new protest song featuring Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach.
Machine Head have unveiled not one but two brand-new protest songs, written in the days following the recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd.
The first song on this Civil Unrest two-track digital single goes by the name Stop The Bleeding, and features another fellow righteous musician in the rock and metal scene: Killswitch Engage's Jesse Leach.
“Being asked to be part of this song is an honour,” the frontman explains. “Yes, because it’s Machine Head, but more importantly, this is a message that needs to be heard and spread. These issues concerning abuses of power and racism are timeless. I have written about these previously and I’ll write about them again. I think Robb [Flynn, Machine Head frontman] really nailed this one, both lyrically and sonically. My hope is this song helps awaken those who hear it.
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“Robb has been a frequent voice of the voiceless in these times, so teaming up with him is a no brainer. We need more of our metal community to speak out on social issues and help raise awareness, especially during these crucial times. Music is the soundtrack to our lives, it transcends language and culture. This is the reason we as musicians need to do our part to spark thought and discussion on these types of issues. We can make a difference through music and we can help stop the bleeding.”
Equally as complimentary about his collaborator on Stop The Bleeding, Robb adds: “I had been speaking with Jesse for maybe six months about singing on the song, as it always had a little bit of a Killswitch vibe to me. Unfortunately – or fortunately – our schedules hadn’t lined up, but with the subsequent lockdown from coronavirus, we had time to make it work. After what happened to George Floyd, I sent him the lyrics I’d written and he replied saying he was, “100 per cent on board.” Jesse is someone I consider to be a pioneer and in many ways, one of the men who changed the face of metal. His contribution to this song made it extremely powerful and it’s an honour to have him be a part of it.”
As well as Stop The Bleeding, Machine Head have also released the B-side Bulletproof, which Robb explains, “The lyrics for Bulletproof were finished in the aftermath of not only the Ahmaud Arbery murder at the hands of white supremacist, but everything twisting out of control in our World. The isolation and craziness of the pandemic, the lockdown protesters storming government buildings with AR-15s, as well as the blatant lies and conspiracies pouring out of our political leaders mouths, hour by hour, day after day.”
As well as releasing these two vital new songs for the times we're living in, Machine Head are donating a portion of the proceeds to Grassrootslaw.org – the organisation representing George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.
Check out the video for Stop The Bleeding below, and stream/purchase the Civil Unrest two-track digital single here.
Check out the full lyrics to Stop The Bleeding below:
The endless scroll of human tragedy
I swipe along as the days go by
Another brother murdered out in the streets
I connect to the shame, we don’t know what it’s like
Born lucky cause the color of skin
America your heart is caving in
Somehow I thought this was the land of the free
Where is our humanity?
Our humanity
Beating after beating
Throat choked under knee
Help me please
Because I can’t breathe
Just stop the bleeding
Body after body
Piles up in the streets
Stand and fight
Not another life
Just stop the bleeding
And some will claim it’s a conspiracy
The fake news out to undermine
When riots fight off white supremacy
Never given a choice, so they’re drawing a line
I stare and look out at the world in disgust
These men are dying over nothing just
Good men stand up and show your bravery
For a lost democracy
Our democracy
Beating after beating
Throat choked under knee
Help me please
Because I can’t breathe
Just stop the bleeding
Body after body
Piles up in the streets
Stand and fight
Not another life
Just stop the bleeding
Our strife
Our struggle
Fight through these open wounds
Beating after beating
Throat choked under knee
Help me please
Because I can’t breathe
Just stop the bleeding
Body after body
Piled up in the streets
Stand and fight
Not another life
Just stop the bleeding now
Our strife
Our struggle
Fight through these open wounds
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