Machine Men

A traditional rock music group from Suolahti, Finland, Machine Guys evolved from an Iron Maiden cover music group in 1998, and in addition selected their name from a tune featured on Bruce Dickinson’s acclaimed single album released that same season, The Chemical Wedding ceremony. So, obviously, the British rock institution’s impact looms huge over this quintet’s ensuing profession, which, following the documenting of a set of EPs, started in earnest with an eponymous EP released in 2002. Since that time, vocalist Toni Parviainen (an uncannily accurate Dickinson doppelganger), guitarists J-V Hintikka and Jani Noronen, bassist Eero Vehniäinen, and drummer Jarno Parantainen possess documented a string of spectacular albums — including 2003’a Marks & Wounds, 2005’s Elegies, and 2007’s Circus of Fools — whose just serious flaw is certainly relying too intensely on the mentors. Or not really, based on one’s sights about imitation vs. flattery. In any case, Machine Guys perform their heroes very pleased by carrying in the torch of traditional rock with nearly obsessive focus on detail.