Up next for review is Motörhead. Now so far this one will have been the longest review I’ve done done so far and I can honestly say that there are albums from them that I haven’t really listened to so this should be interesting.
Motörhead- already you can hear what would become their sound for later records. It starts off fast and heavy and this is the first time we would see the lineup of Fast Eddie Clarke on guitar, Philthy Phil Taylor on drums, and Lemmy. This recording on this one is definitely not as polished as other albums and there are even some songs where Lemmy doesn’t use his raspy vocals but clean vocals. I give it 8/10
Standouts: Motörhead, Vibrator, The Watcher
Overkill- if the last album laid the groundwork for their sound, then this one laid the groundwork for their heavy, punk, hard rock sound. This is an absolute classic and I personally think this is a better album than Ace of Spades. The drum work on this is awesome as are the guitars. I give this one 10/10
Standouts: (I Won’t) Pay Your Price, Damage Case, Stay Clean
Bomber- I really wanted to like this one a lot more because of the song Bomber and their live shows had an actual bomber but for some reason I didn’t think this one was as good as Overkill. This one is definitely not as strong as the previous album. Could be that I like the really fast stuff from Motörhead and this album is fine just not as good as the last one. I give it 7.5/10
Standouts: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Sharpshooter, All the Aces
Ace of Spades- ah now we come to the album that everyone knows them for. This is one of those iconic records by them and was actually my introduction to these guys. There is no debating the impact this album has on rock, punk, and even thrash metal. The title track is such a classic and it’s a song that so many people know. However, in spite of its iconicness, I still think that Overkill is still a better album. I give this one a 9.5/10
Standouts: Ace of Spades(I normally don’t pick such obvious songs but I mean it’s Ace of Spades), Live to Win, Love Me Like a Reptile
Iron Fist- there’s something weird going on with Lemmy’s vocals on this one. I think it has something to do with the production but this another one I wanted to like a lot more. It’s definitely not as strong as Ace of Spades or the live album they did before No Sleep ‘til Hammersmith. This is also the last album to have Fast Eddie Clarke on it before being replaced with Brian Robertson from Thin Lizzy. The songs from this album live are awesome just not as much on this record. I give it 7/10
Standouts: Iron Fist, Shut it Down, (Don’t Need) Religion
Another Perfect Day- this would be the first without Eddie Clarke and the first and only album with Brian Robertson. This is actually a better album from the last album. This is a record that I had never really heard until I started doing this review and I’m glad I did because it’s a really good record and there are even some piano parts on some of the songs. A pretty good album I give it 9/10
Standouts: Back on the Funny Farm, Rock It, Marching off to War
Orgasmatron- this is the first record where they didn’t have major label support so they setup,their own label called Great Western Road. It is also the first to have two guitarists Phil Campbell and Michael Würzel Burston. It is also the only record to have Saxon drummer Pete Gill on it. The songs on this are really good but there is something off about the production and I feel like they could have been sped up a little more. I give this 7/10
Standouts: Deaf Forever, Doctor Rock, Mean Machine
Rock n Roll- this would see the final return of drummer Phil Taylor. For some reason, the band didn’t seem to like this one and this wouldn’t release another album for another 4 years. Me personally I like this record though I agree it’s not their best but it’s still a solid Motörhead album. I think that if they spent more time with this one, then the end result would’ve been a better album. I give it 7/10
Standouts: Rock n Roll, Eat the Rich, Stone Deaf in the USA
1916- Here we are in the 90’s and the first time I had heard any song fro this record was from Beavis and Butthead. This tile track is actually a ballad of Lemmy singing and it’s about fallen soldiers during World War 1. That song and the song Nightmare/Dreamtime have keyboards on them which is different than their usual sound but this record still has that rock sound that makes this band badass. I give this one 9/10
Standouts: Going to Brazil, Ramones, No Voices in the Sky
March or Die- the follow up to 1916, would see them use two drummers Tommy Aldridge and Mikkey Dee and we all know who got the part. This also has a cover of Ted Nugent’s Cat Scratch Fever. Ozzy Osbourne also does guest vocals on the song I Ain’t No Nice Guy and Slash guest solos on I Ain’t No Nice Guy and You Better Run. Also the song Hellraiser is featured in the movie Hellraiser 3: Hell on Earth. I don’t think this one is better than the last record but one should still give this one a chance. I give this one 7/10
Standouts: Hellraiser, Asylum Choir, Stand
Bastards- this one is probably my favorite Motörhead record. It’s solid from the start however the one song I feel that they could’ve left off was Don’t Let Daddy Kiss Me because it’s the softest. To me it’s a badass album all the way through and it should get the same recognition as say Overkill. This is also the first to have the short lived lineup of (now permanent drummer) Mikkey Dee, Würzel, Lemmy, and Phil Campbell. I’ll give this one 10/10
Standouts: On Your Feet or On Your Knees, Born to Raise Hell, Bad Woman
Sacrifice- yes that’s a penis on the album cover and yes it’s obvious. This is the last album to have Würzel on guitar and would be the last time Motörhead would have two guitar players. As far as the album goes, while not as good as Bastards, this a fantastic follow up and it’s too bad they couldn’t work things out and keep going as a four piece because I’m really curious to see what they could’ve done as a four piece. I give this 7/10
Standouts: Dog-Face Boy, Sex & Death, Out of the Sun
Overnight Sensation- the album cover is just so plain. It’s a picture of the Lemmy, Phil, and Mikkey plus it’s a picture of Lemmy without his mutton chops. The album is the first of many with the band as a three piece and I’ve gotta say that Phil Campbell does an awesome job. This record has acoustic guitars and harmonica parts on it too which is something not usually found on Motörhead albums. For a band that’s just starting out as a three piece, this album is pretty good. I give it 7/10
Standouts: Civil War, Crazy Like a Fox, Murder Show
Snake Bite Love- compared to the last record, this one seems like they could’ve spent more time doing this one more carefully. It just seems a bit rushed is all I’m saying. That’s not to say that this is a bad record but if you listen to this record and the double live album Everything Louder Than Everyone Else (a great album by the way) you should know what I mean. A lot of these songs start fast then slow down just slightly then speed up again. This record is kind of all over the place. I give it 6/10
Standouts: Snake Bite Love, Love For Sale, Better Off Dead
We Are Motörhead- most of the songs on this are heavier and slightly faster on this one. I actually think that this is much better than the previous album because you can tell they seemed to take their time on this. There is also a cover of The Sex Pistols song God Save The Queen and I gotta say it’s pretty damn good. Overall a very solid record and I will give it 8.5/10
Standouts: See Me Burning, Stay Out of Jail, We Are Motörhead
Hammered- the songs on this one are slower here. And so far this seems to be the slowest of all the Motörhead releases. This one seems very up,and down because there are some great songs and then there are some that can easily be skipped. It’s not a terrible album but just kind of average which could be due to the fact that when this was made, it was during the 9/11 attacks. I give it a 6/10
Standouts: Kill the World, Mine All Mine, Red Raw
Inferno- a definite step up compared to Hammered. This record is much heavier and the band seems to be back on track doing what they do best which is making fast and heavy rock songs. The solos are awesome and seem to have a hint of blues in them. The closing song is interesting because it could easily be a country song with Lemmy playing acoustic guitar. I give this 8/10
Standouts: Whorehouse Blues, Fight, Life’s a Bitch
Kiss of Death- this one I knew about but never really listened to until years after it’s release and I’m sorry I did because this is such a good record. C.C. Deville (guitarist from Poison) plays on the song God was Never on Your Side and Mike Inez (bassist Alice In Chains) plays on the song Under the Gun. This record continues where the last album left off and is a great follow up however, after listening to this one and the last one I think I prefer Inferno. I give it 8/10
Standouts: Sucker, Going Down, R.A.M.O.N.E.S.
Motörizer- this record is such a good record and easily one of my personal favorites. I think if you take elements of Bastards, Inferno, and Kiss of Death and combine them you get this record. It’s a very solid record done in the traditional Motörhead fashion. I give this one 10/10
Standouts: Runaround Man, Teach You How to Sing the Blues, Buried Alive
The Wörld is Yours- by now if you haven’t figured it out, Motörhead albums have become very formulaic. However, it’s a formula that works and works well for them. There aren’t many bands that can get away with it. This album is no different. It continues where the last one left off and is a solid release from them. I’m noticing that since 2004, you could easily listen to Inferno all the way to this album completely and it would feel almost like one long album. No it’s nothing new or groundbreaking but this is still one of their best albums. I give it 8.5/10
Standouts: Get Back in Line, I Know How To Die, Bye Bye Bitch Bye Bye
Aftershock- of all the albums from these guys, I think it’s this one I’ve probably listened to the most because I remember purchasing it on ITunes before leaving for England in 2014 which was a year after this was released. I listened to this album from LAX to Heathrow several times. It’s a really good album and I’m noticing towards the end of this that I actually prefer their newer releases than their older stuff. The songs of course follow the same format as the other records before it but you know what it’s what we all love about this band. However, compared to the last four releases, this one I’d have to say is their weakest. I give this one 7/10
Standouts: Heartbreaker, Coup de Grace, Paralyzed
Bad Magic- sadly this is the last and final album from Motörhead. For the last few years leading up to this album, Lemmy’s health was declining and it actually kind of shows in this record. For some if these songs, he sounds tired but it’s amazing that he was still able to do what he did and put out a solid record. Brian May from Queen does a guest solo on the song The Devil and there is a cover song of The Rolling Stones song Sympathy For The Devil. It’s a shame that they couldn’t do a tour behind this record because a lot of these songs would’ve sounded awesome live. A great final album from one of the best bands in the world. I give this one a very solid 9.5/10
Standouts: Victory or Die, The Devil, Electricity
Well that was my look into Motörhead and they are one of those bands where if you buy a greatest hits record you’ll be fine. That being said, a lot of their albums can start to sound the same because they stuck to the same formula for forty years and that’s a very long time for a band to keep going. Even thought they stuck to the same sound, it’s what made them Motörhead. It’s really too bad Lemmy is no longer here because he was such an icon and I feel fortunate to have met him and drummer Mikkey Dee. My biggest regret is not being able to have seen these guys more but I am glad I got to see them at least once. Again you could get by with a greatest hits record and the live albums Everything Louder than Everyone and No Sleep ‘til Hammersmith are fantastic live albums. RIP Lemmy
Album rankings:
- Bastards
- Mötorizer
- Overkill
- Inferno
- Ace of Spades
- The World is Yours
- Kiss of Death
- 1916
- We Are Motörhead
- Overnight Sensation
- Aftershock
- Bad Magic
- Sacrifice
- Motörhead
- Another Perfect Day
- Rock n Roll
- Orgasmatron
- Bomber
- March or Die
- Snake Bite Love
- Iron Fist
- Hammered
Sinister Reviews 