Post by dmh on Sept 4, 2008 4:44:01 GMT -5
From the moment Runaround Man kicks this album into high gear, Motorhead's self belief is never in doubt. It's reinforced by the flashing posturing of Teach you how to sing the Blues, and by the time the fat grooves of When the Eagle screams, one thing is obvious: this is the best Motorhead album in years.
So, after coming close, but never close enough, to unleashing something special for the past several records, Lemmy, guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee have finally got it ballbreakingly right. This is Motorhead the way they should always sound: hungry, heavy and hardy, forging 11 tracks that streak across the band's spectrum. They speed on Rock Out, thrash on Buried Alive and get bluesy on English Rose. Diversity is it's key, with the trio revelling in being allowed to stretch out and get immersed in the music. This is never more obvious than on the astonishing, battle-weary Heroes. Lemmy once more shows his ability to delve into the psyche of an ordinary soldier on the frontline, neither romanticising nor criticising. Against this is balanced a mid-paced barrage of erudite riffage and climactic guitar soloing. This is surely destined to become a Motorhead classic. Close behind is vitriolic closer The thousand names of God, exposing the futility of fighting wars for the benefit of corporations. Stylistically closer to 1983's Another Perfect Day than anything else, Motorizer is exhilarating proof that after all these years, Motorhead are still the guvnors. (8/10)
MALCOLM DOME
So, after coming close, but never close enough, to unleashing something special for the past several records, Lemmy, guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee have finally got it ballbreakingly right. This is Motorhead the way they should always sound: hungry, heavy and hardy, forging 11 tracks that streak across the band's spectrum. They speed on Rock Out, thrash on Buried Alive and get bluesy on English Rose. Diversity is it's key, with the trio revelling in being allowed to stretch out and get immersed in the music. This is never more obvious than on the astonishing, battle-weary Heroes. Lemmy once more shows his ability to delve into the psyche of an ordinary soldier on the frontline, neither romanticising nor criticising. Against this is balanced a mid-paced barrage of erudite riffage and climactic guitar soloing. This is surely destined to become a Motorhead classic. Close behind is vitriolic closer The thousand names of God, exposing the futility of fighting wars for the benefit of corporations. Stylistically closer to 1983's Another Perfect Day than anything else, Motorizer is exhilarating proof that after all these years, Motorhead are still the guvnors. (8/10)
MALCOLM DOME
