Reece Scruggs has confirmed that he is no longer in Machine Head. He played on Unatoned last year and stepped off the tour in 2025 when his father was diagnosed with lung cancer. No replacement has been named.
Line-up announcements are usually a paragraph of nothing. This one is not. "The last time I was face to face with Robb we were in a Starbucks in Mexico City and I was sobbing my eyes out about my dad's diagnosis," Scruggs wrote. "I had Robb's support and understanding before I could get the words out."
What he says ended the chapter properly was an invitation weeks ago to fly out and meet Robb Flynn again, so that the last conversation would not be the one in Mexico City. "Being an actual member, touring the world, and releasing a record with Machine Head is a badge of honor I will carry with me forever."
He is not out of work. Burning Hammer, introduced in late September, is a death thrash trio with Scruggs on guitar and vocals, Noah Martin of Arsis on bass and Stefen Burns of Monolith on drums, signed to Nefarious Industries with a debut album due early in 2027.