Machine Head has been mainly described as groove metal, thrash metal, heavy metal, and nu metal. The band is influenced by Californian thrash metal bands such as Exodus, Slayer and Testament, crossover thrash bands Suicidal Tendencies and Cro-Mags, groove metal bands Pantera, Exhorder and Fear Factory, and grunge bands Nirvana, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains. Machine Head is considered to be one of the pioneering bands in the new wave of American heavy metal, as well as part of the second wave of thrash metal bands from the 1990s.