Motorhead--Inferno
Metal-Is 2004
Brothers and sisters, prepare to do the geek out dance. Yes, the greatest rock n' roll band of all time, Motorhead (that is correct), are back to save us all once more with their new album Inferno. Not surprisingly, their almost thirty year streak of studio perfection remains intact. That said, Inferno is something particularly special, even for these guys' high standards.
While Motorhead's previous album, Hammered, showed the band experimenting a bit more than usual, Inferno leans most towards straight up ass whipping. Imagine the best rock n' roll moments off their previous classics Overnight Sensation and Rock 'n' Roll merged with an equal dose of the crushing metal fury found on Bastards and We Are Motorhead. The results are perhaps the most flesh peelingly brutal in Motorhead history. Everything here gets aided by a fantastic production so bright it makes the music feel even more alive than usual--that's no small feat. Add all these factors to the always spot on performances of Mikkey Dee, Phil Campbell, and Lemmy, and Inferno steps past the point of no-brainer.
All this said, the thing that really puts Inferno near the top of Motorhead's best efforts is the flawless batch of tunes it boasts. In terms of straight up rock n' roll, "Killers," "Life's A Bitch," and the album's catchiest, most accessible cut, "Smiling Like A Killer," win top honors. Mikkey Dee's double bass drum shred drives metallic powerhouses such as "In The Black" and "In The Name Of Tragedy." Motorhead even manage to recall the sexiness of "Just Cos You Got The Power" and "The Chase Is Better Than The Catch" during "Suicide" and "Keys To The Kingdom," which also features Phil Campbell's most moving lead work since "Killed By Death." If this wasn't enough, Steve Vai guests on lead guitar for two songs, unassuming and tasteful during "Down On Me," going toally berzerk on "Terminal Show," pulling out some of the sickest harmonics ever heard during that lead. Inferno gets capped off with its most unorthodox track (in terms of what most people think of Motorhead for), the acoustic blues of "Whorehouse Blues." Structurally, this one recalls Captain Beefheart's "Sure 'Nuff 'N Yes I Do" a bit--its humor providing a nice breather after the violent onslaught the rest of this disc equates to.
More or less, Motorhead throw everything including the kitchen sink at you on Inferno--very, very hardly. For this reason, Inferno is just as good a starting place for newcomers to the band as anywhere. Along with Iron Maiden's most recent album, Dance Of Death, this slab reminds you why your greatest heroes remain so through any and all changes the years may throw at you. Inferno is hands down the rock n' roll, metal, and hard rock album of this year. Along with Mouserocket's debut, it's also the best release period over all genres for at least the first half of 2004. More essential than ever.
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