Motörhead: Overkill (1979)

Motörhead: Overkill (1979)

Note: post is dedicated to my cousin, for reasons that he'd understand.

Motörhead's eponymous début album came out in 1977 and established the band's sound well-enough, but two years later the classic line-up of Lemmy Kilmister on vocals and bass, Eddie Clarke on lead guitar, and Phil Taylor on drums delivered unto the world Overkill - the first truly great Motörhead album. I'm listening to it right now, for the umpteenth time.

Side One is a mini-masterpiece all by itself. It opens with a thunderous drum track that's so good it could make Apollo weep with jealousy. Lemmy's bass kicks in after a few seconds and thunders along like Odin on a pub-crawl. Then the guitars break, shredding the air like the pains of Osiris slain. When Motörhead play, even the Gods pay attention.

The next track is a little slower, but has a sleazy, boozy, catchy charm. Then there's an upbeat slice of drunken self-assertion — (I Won't) Pay Your Price — that sounds bloody great on vinyl. Lemmy rasps his way through two more punk-infused rock tunes thereafter that kick double ass with both boots before Side One comes to an end. That's 5 tracks in just 18 minutes.

Side Two isn't as good, overall, but it's still the kind of stuff that never gets old. (It's just over 17 minutes, if you're wondering.) Speaking of which, I'll probably still be listening to Overkill when they drag me kicking, screaming, and swearing to the old-folks home.

If that wasn't praise enough, Thrash legends Overkill named themselves after the album.