Machines of Grace

By taking a look at the résumés of its members, you can get a pretty good idea of what the Boston-based rock outfit, Machines of Grace sound like, as they've been linked in the past to such acts as Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Metal Church, and Circle II Circle. Almost everything about Machines of Grace screams "late-'80s metal" -- picture a more concise Queensrÿche, and you're not far off. The group's full-length/self-titled debut appeared in 2009 and was mixed by Paul David Hager, who had worked primarily with such pop-based acts as the Goo Goo Dolls, Avril Lavigne, and P!nk in the past. But still, the quartet managed to offer a melodic yet metallic sound. They went on to make the occasional live appearance while working in other projects.