Slave Machine Feature

-Posted with permission from Laura Wilkinson, Editor-in-Chief of The Technician

Slave Machine Comes Home

By: Josh Eure

The Triangle has in recent years been host to a respectable and indeed progressive rock movement that—despite the onslaught of jam-bands and indie groups—has given the community a great deal to be proud of.  One such success story is the metal group Slave Machine. 

They came together in December of 99 and have since endured countless lineup changes to the point that vocalist Ryan Taylor is the sole original member.  Having been signed to the major label Reality Entertainment, the rock quintet is now attempting to direct attention to the much deserved, though often neglected Triangle area that nurtured their ascent. 

In an interview, vocalist Ryan Taylor said “We want to turn the spotlight on the really good North Carolina bands.  They’ve given us a lot of help and we’re extremely grateful.”  With Mike Porazzo on drums, Rod Young and Thomas Wise on guitar, Kevin Reeves on bass and Ryan Taylor on vocals, Slave Machine has survived the tumultuous atmosphere of a non-mainstream music industry—at least long enough to have been signed; which isn’t to say they don’t have a long road ahead. 

Inspired by truly prophetic rock acts like Kiss, Iron Maiden, Tool, Alice In Chains, and old school Korn, this often dubbed “Nu-Metal” group has fought its way to a measure of success, at least for now.  When asked about the band’s classification into a genre that boasts such acts as Three Days Grace and Trapt, Taylor said, “I hate labels.  We’re heavy but melodic.  We do our own thing.” 

Indeed they do.  And to thank the Triangle fans for their support, Slave Machine along with The Oxygen Thieves, Ormond’s Jar, Chaos Theory and Zero4 will be rocking Hillsborough Street hard at The Brewery tonight for their CD-release party, with doors opening at 9 p.m.  The show is all ages.

-Posted with permission from Laura Wilkinson, Editor-in-Chief of The Technician