Strange Machines
- Troy Bass
- Oct 30
- 2 min read
Strange Machines | Playing with Fire (2025)
Massachusetts jam outfit Strange Machines lean darker and deeper on their third studio release, balancing shadowy grooves with introspective lyricism and flashes of their signature live energy.
Boston-based jam-fusion quartet Strange Machines returned this fall with their third full-length studio album, Playing with Fire, released October 7, 2025. It’s their first LP since 2017’s Voice of Color, and while not a total departure from their earlier sound, there’s an undeniable edge to this darker, moodier, and more introspective project.
On first listen, Playing with Fire feels heavier. Deeper riffs, denser grooves, and lyrics that lean into the inner psyche. Tracks like “Parasite” and the title cut “Playing with Fire” twist around themes of complicated relationships, both with self and others, while “Time to Go” and “Tektonic” shine light on growth, change, and forward motion. The Jerome interlude trilogy (“Monolith,” “Two of a Kind,” and “The Rule of 3”) adds thoughtful pacing, breaking up the album without disrupting its flow. It feels less like a segmented collection and more like one long, evolving conversation. Other standouts include the funk-flavored “Moose Soup” and the closing track “Side to Side,” which ties the record together on a reflective note.
I’ve only become familiar with Strange Machines over the past year, but I’ve been impressed by their live presence. I caught them at The Press Room in Portsmouth, NH earlier this year and was struck by their improvisational chemistry and the seamless connection between members. That same energy translates beautifully into Playing with Fire, giving the record a live-band pulse even in its darker, more controlled moments. It’s a well-crafted and cohesive album that rewards focus, proof of a band evolving with purpose.
To celebrate the album’s release, Strange Machines hosted their own “Strange Days” music festival at The Stone Church in Newmarket, NH on October 11th and 12th, featuring fellow regional acts Residual Groove, The Edd, Lee Ross, Fox & The Flamingos, and The Hot Choceys. It was a fitting way to honor a milestone release, surrounded by the same community that’s helped fuel their journey.
Band Lineup
Mike MacDonald – guitar, vocals
Christian Perron – keyboards
Craig Holland – bass
Ryan Clausen – drums (Horns by Mike Bafundo and Lee Ross on select tracks)
Track Listing
Parasite
Time to Go
Playing with Fire
Jerome (Monolith)
Tektonic
Tunnel Vision
Jerome (Two of a Kind)
Cornerstone
Moose Soup
Step Outside
Jerome (The Rule of 3)
Side to Side
