UDR Music [Release date 25.11.13]
Aftershock is Motorhead’s 21st studio album in their impressive 38 year career. There may have been a few variations in the line-up over the years but Lemmy has always been in charge of quality control and has very rarely failed to deliver the goods. In Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee, Lemmy has the perfect pairing to produce the goods once again and the guys don’t let him down.
Opening Track, ‘Heartbreaker’, was the lead track released from the album and has received extensive radio play. The track is a typical Motorhead rocker with Phil cranking out a killer riff whilst Lemmy and Mikkey pummel away for all they are worth. ‘Coup De Grace’ follows which again is another hard rock masterclass. The first surprise of the album is up next with the slow blues number ‘Lost Women Blues’. This is a cracking track which finds Lemmy in a laid back blues mode crooning gently over some fine guitar work from Campbell.
‘End Of Time’ is up next and acts as an alarm call just in case you have found Lemmy’s crooning a bit too soothing. This is a full-on monster of a track with Mikkey Dee beating the living daylights out of his kit and taking no prisoners. ‘Do You Believe’ and ‘Death Machine’ are both solid ‘Head tracks that lead into ‘Dust And Glass’ which again finds Lemmy in a quiet, reflective mood. Like ‘Lost Women Blues’ this is a great track that would surprise anyone that knows Motorhead as ‘that band wot did ‘Ace Of Spades’’.
‘Going To Mexico’ follows and again beats you around the head with a blunt instrument. ‘Silence When You Speak To Me’ has a chugging riff which opens into a catchy chorus and has a tasty guitar solo from Campbell. ‘Crying Shame’ is another classic Motorhead track whilst ‘Queen Of The Damned’ showcases the amazing bass work of Lemmy. ‘Knife’ and ‘Keep Your Powder Dry’ are again top notch, balls out rockers but the guys save the best until last with the blistering ‘Paralyzed’ which motors along like a runaway freight train.
Motorhead have once again come up with the goods and with the variety in styles across the album it still sounds fresh, even after 20 albums. With Lemmy’s recent health problems this may well prove to be Motorhead’s swansong, if that is the case then at least they would bow out on a high. Hopefully that won’t be the case though as there looks to be plenty of life in the band yet.
****1/2
David Wilson
Joe Geesin’s review…
38 Years on from their formation, we get Motorhead’s 21st album. Already released as part of a Classic Rock fanpack – the regular release hits the shelves mid November and is an album to look forward to. And while Motorhead have always had some blues and rock’n’roll in their roots (as heavy metal does), the band have essentially been an all-out heavy metal band for years, as this album shows from the outset. And the band’s longest standing lineup of drummer Mickey Dee and guitarist Phil Campbell alongside bassist / vocalist Lemmy are still producing some fine music.
Opener Heartbreaker is a blistering punch in the face with a solid guitar solo, while Coup De Grace is a chunkier number. Lost Woman Blues is a slower bluesier number. This one I look forward to seeing the band play live. End Of Time is as fast as Motorhead get, verging on Jaguar-esque speed / trad thrash. The intricate guitar work in the intro and the riff throughout is well worth checking out.
Do You Believe is more typical of Motorhead of late, a good solid rhythm that should get the head nodding. Dust And Glass is a softer and slower number, and there’s a touch of Hendrix in there too, While Going To Mexico is reminiscent of Going To Brazil.
Over 14 tracks you get a range of sounds and feels (well, as ranging as Motorhead get) and it is an excellent out. It’s a largely blistering set too, the whole band are on form. And while you know what you’re going to get with a Motorhead album it’s really worth checking out. Lemmy’s rock’n’roll insistence may be as tiring as their set-list, but this album is far from it. Enjoy.
****
MOTORHEAD REVISED TOUR DATES 2014
Feb 13 Scotland,Glasgow
Feb 14 England, Newcastle
Feb 16 England, Manchester
Feb 17 England, Wolverhampton
Feb 19 England, London
Feb 20 England, Nottingham
Feb 22 France, Paris
Feb 24 Belgium, Deinze
Feb 25 Germany, Hamburg
Feb 27 Germany, Munich
Mar 1 Germany, Frankfurt
Mar 2 Germany, Berlin
Mar 4 Germany, Dusseldorf
Mar 5 Germany, Stuttgart
Mar 8 Sweden, Linkoping
Mar 10 Denmark, Horsens
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Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
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THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
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