Lemmy and crew are back with the 22nd Motorhead studio album ‘Bad Magic’. Their 22nd. Studio Album. I repeat 22nd studio album in 40 years of active rock n’ roll duty. Lemmy Kilmister is some sort of immortal leather enshrined rock god with what has to be one of the most consistent discographies in music today.
From the opening moments of ‘Victory or Die’, Lemmy (vocals/bass), Phil Campbell (guitars) and Mikkey Dee (drums) sound like a hard rock band with more energy than all of these metalcore teen groups combined, swinging their long hair and dicks at a bunch of teenage chicks. Motorhead are one of those bands that you just can’t talk shit about and it’s for good reason – they are legit. Lemmy’s vocals have always been raspy as hell so don’t be surprised when they’re a little raspier on ‘Bad Magic’. It works though and I’m not saying his singing is bad, it’s just unique and likely an acquired taste these days in a market flooded by 50/50 screams and pop verses.
One of the things I noticed right away and it carries throughout the record, are Mikkey Dee’s drums. They sound HARD my friend. Real hard. Producer Cameron Webb did a fantastic job with ‘Bad Magic’ and the mix sounds like the best possible version of Motorhead possible. The record is fast but it isn’t simplistic and it’s heavier than shit without compromising the broad genre bending qualities that come from a Motorhead release. Punk kids, metal kids and rock kids cannot deny ‘Bad Magic’ – it’s the perfect blend of all these elements and then some.
I didn’t grow up a big Motorhead fan to be completely honest with you. I was more of a thrash guy and stuck to the big four or the new wave of American Heavy Metal which started with Pantera in the early 90’s. Motorhead always felt a little too raw, a little unpolished for my tastes and maybe it’s because I was never all that into punk music. But I will eat my own preconceived notions now and tell you that ‘Bad Magic’, whether you are a longtime fan or not, will hit you hard and fast in order to convert you into the Motorhead army.
Rating: [star rating=”4″]