Of Kingdom and Crown (stylized as ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN) is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal band Machine Head, released on August 26, 2022, through Nuclear Blast and Imperium Recordings.
[5][6] The band's first concept album, Of Kingdom and Crown is set in a futuristic wasteland and revolves around two characters, Ares and Eros, who both go on their own respective killing sprees following the death of their loved ones.
Character number one is named Ares [pronounced Aries], and he loses the love of his life, Amethyst, and goes on a murderous rampage against the people who killed her.
"The initial concept of Of Kingdom and Crown was described by Robb Flynn as "a very American story arc" where there was a good guy who won.
Writing for Kerrang!, Dan Slessor praised the band's musical interplay and wrote "Machine Head have been down before – their nu-metal adventures 20-something years ago – and have come back from it, so maybe counting them out was premature.
"[14] Simultaneously, it was also praised as for its diversity and advancement of the band's sound, which was described as heavier and more technical; Blabbermouth, who awarded the album a perfect 10/10 score, described Of Kingdom and Crown as "the greatest record Machine Head have ever made", writing; "the principle and performance remain the same — tight, brutal, precise — throughout what is easily this band's most vicious and punishing album yet.