In the beginning there was Link Wray. The noise that he started has been used, abused and loved by many over the years since he started the Rumble heard round the world, but few have been willing to take it to maximum like Motorhead have. 36 years into it Motorhead deliver their 20th studio album and it’s much better than it has any right to be.
Since 2004’s Inferno, Motorhead has been on a roll of putting out strong albums to support their always killer live show. Are they the equal of all time stone get-off classics like Overkill and Ace Of Spades? No, but hardly anything does by any band ever will. The World Is Yours and 2008’s Motorizer are kick ass rock n roll albums from start to finish. What more could you ask for?
Producer Cameron Webb seems to be able to get the best out of Lemmy, guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee and is insane enough to have done 4 albums with them. The band have praised him for not allowing them to write second rate songs and his ability to get a great sound and performance from the band. Anyone willing to endure their massive alcohol consumption, ear splitting volume, arguments and pranks deserves a lot of credit. He obviously knows what Motorhead fans want to hear.
“Born To Lose” starts things off in classic Motorheadbanging fashion – big drum fill, riff similar to their classic “Shoot You In The Back” and them Lemmy’s haggard growl. Sure, they’ve used the riff before and even the title way back in 1975 on “Iron Horse/Born To Lose” but who cares? By now you know where you stand with Motorhead – you love them or you cover your ears and retreat to the safety of your Wilco albums.
Most of the songs on The World Is Yours bear resemblance to some of their classic jams. “Brotherhood Of Man” is musically and lyrically an update of the world is doomed classic “Orgasmatron” and “I Know What You Need” reprises “Nothing Up My Sleeve.” The first single “Get Back In Line” is basically “Don’t Need Religion” part II. But that’s not to say that they only pinch from their own catalog. Lemmy was good friends with Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy’s classic brawl starter “Are You Ready” shows up in “Devils In My Hand.”
Motorhead’s on tour right now in the USA playing to generations of fans and enjoying a big swell in much deserved popularity. Part of that is due to the new documentary of Lemmy’s life, but a more important part is that they play kick ass rock n roll and hardly anyone else does. If you haven’t bought a Motorhead album in awhile, don’t snooze on this one. If you can afford it, pick up the deluxe import version that comes with a special all Motorhead issue of Classic Rock Magazine. The album cover may not be denim jacket worthy, but you already have Overkill or the classic warpig logo done in acrylic on yours, right?
--Woody
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