CD Review
Motörhead
Bad Magic
UDR Music
2015
Review: Robert Winans
As time goes on, there are fewer new bands breaking into the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal genre that are getting the God-like status that was the norm in the 80’s. Maybe there is something that younger musicians have a hard time capturing when trying to be more aggressive. Younger aspiring artists opting to focus on playing faster and louder have perhaps lost something in translation from their predecessors. If younger artists want to learn how to capture aggressive nature without drowning out sound, Motorhead’s Bad Magic is a venerable clinic for how to stay relevant after 40 years of rocking outright.
Now granted, upon first run through you might say, “Yep, that’s a Motorhead album” and shrug. But let’s consider that their front man, Lemmy Kilmister, who will turn 70 in a few months, is still writing quality music after four decades. The fact that we hear the first song “Victory or Die” triumphantly proclaiming the bands refusal to quit explains why so many people the world over are still excited to see the legendary titans play. They are defiant as ever, Lemmy still sounding as ominous as Odin as found in “Evil Eye”. Consistency is Motorhead’s primary skill set, as they keep a fast- paced beat that refuses to let up.
I was pleasantly surprised with “Till the End”, which displayed a bit more soul than we normally see from Lemmy. Even still, I think Bad Magic does a fantastic job of keeping it fast-paced and bringing that growling voice of defiance with another classic sounding Motorhead album, solidifying their place in the current Metal genre, as if it was ever in any doubt.
Track Listing
01. Victory Or Die
02. Thunder Or Lightning
03. Fire Storm Hotel
04. Shoot Out All Of Your Lights
05. The Devil
06. Electricity
07. Evil Eye
08. Teach Them How To Bleed
09. Till The End
10. Tell Me Who To Kill
11. Choking On Your Screams
12. When The Sky Comes Looking For You
13. Sympathy For The Devil (Stones Cover)
