REVIEW: Motörhead celebrate 40 years with ‘Bad Magic’
Motörhead, the classic rockers who are celebrating their 40th year in the music business, offer a no-frills, infectious collection of songs with their latest album, Bad Magic. From the opening track, “Victory or Die,” to the closing cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil,” Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee bring the sound in an unrelenting, always pounding way.
The first two songs bleed into each other almost perfectly. “Victory or Die” features Lemmy’s distinctive growl and blaring bass. At this point in his career, Lemmy could rest on the laurels of the band’s catalog, but the song and album prove there’s still adventure to be had. That second song, “Thunder & Lightning,” is simple and smashing, one of the highlights on the album.
“Fire Storm Hotel” offers the most narrative of the rock tunes, although the lyrics seem secondary to the riffs and beat. Queen’s Brian May turns up on “The Devil,” but “Electricity,” which anchors the middle part of the album, is more memorable, almost in an AC/DC fashion.
The true highlight of these 13 songs is “Till the End,” the only tune that takes a break from the ear-splitting and allows some pondering on mortality and loss. The lyrics are nostalgic and haunting, a rumination on memories and identity.
“Sympathy for the Devil” is an interesting album finisher. There’s nothing terribly revolutionary about the track, although it’s nice to hear Lemmy’s vocals on such a classic tune.
The guitar solos from Campbell or Lemmy are few and far between; instead, Bad Magic feels like one long take, a collection with no breathing or pause. For some, each song may sound like the last, although upon closer inspection one can sense the history of the trio and the dedication to the sound. They are not heavy metal exactly. They are not classic rock exactly. They are, as they say at each concert, rock ‘n’ roll.
Motörhead is at it again, 40 years strong and still going until the end.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
