MOTORHEAD - Inferno

Posted: 8/24/04

Reviewed by: Dirt

Category: Heavy Metal

Released: 6/22/04

Label URL: www.sanctuaryrecordsgroup.com

Artist URL: www.imotorhead.com

1/2

I’ve spent a good part of the last decade disappointed with heavy metal because I don’t think the genre has aged well at all.  All you have to do is look at the new Headbanger’s Ball and you’ll understand what I’m saying.  I dislike most new bands and more importantly I am usually disgusted with the new releases from ‘classic’ bands. 

Motörhead is one band that I only have good things to say about.  A lot of great things have been said about the classic lineup (Lemmy Kilmister, Fast Eddie Clarke and Philthy Animal Taylor) but the current incarnation deserves just as many accolades.  Lemmy, guitarist Phil Campbell, and drummer Mikkey Dee have been cranking out great albums since 1995’s Sacrifice.  While each release may vary in heaviness, Motörhead never change so much that a fan would be disappointed with their album. 

Inferno is most reminiscent of Overnight Sensation (1996) in approach.  The album has its burning tracks with lotsa drumming (“Terminal Show” and “Killers”), its more peppy rock tracks (“Life’s A Bitch” and “In The Black”), a slower, dark track (“Keys To The Kingdom”), and even a song that sounds like it could have come from the early days (“Smiling Like A Killer”).  The only letdown is the out of character acoustic blues track (“Whorehouse Blues”) that closes the album.  This song isn’t bad but it’s weird to hear Motörhead perform a song like this.  The acoustic leads from Campbell are certainly a highlight.

The Bloody Truth:  If you like Motörhead, you will like Inferno.  If you’ve never heard Motörhead, this is as good an album as any to start with.  In a time when you don’t’ know if you should trust your favorite band from album to album, it’s good to know that Motörhead will always deliver.