Motörhead - Kiss of Death

77%
Motörhead continues an impressive run, delivering new material after only 2 years. The reason it's so impressive is because they've been on this pace for about 30 years now and lead singer / bassist Lemmy Kilmister is 61 years old. His trademark gruff voice remains in top form, it's quite a miracle he hasn't shredded his throat by now. Their hard living lifestyles haven't slowed Motörhead down, which in of itself is impressive.

Another impressive thing about Motörhead is their unrelenting insistence on the trademark loud and fast rock music they have always adhered to. From the opener, "Sucker", we are treated to a hard song playing at a punk-ish tempo, with Lemmy's voice delivering lines convincingly. Although the "classic" line-up featured Lemmy with the now-retired "Fast" Eddie Clarke on guitar and "Philthy Animal" Taylor on drums, their current line-up may be their second-most important; it features Mikkey Dee on drums and Phil Campbell on guitar. Motörhead has never been the most technicly advanced band in the world, but they never needed to be. Devoid of the over-bombastic stylings of some heavy metal or prog rock, Motörhead's punishing musical attack is best for people who don't like overthinking their rock music.

Most songs are short, and the album as a whole is good, if a little too predictable. Even the kinds of ideas that may have at some point suprised us, like their acoustic song ("Whorehouse Blues") on their last album, aren't suprising anymore (here it's the pseudo-power ballad type of thing on "God Was Never on your Side").

Some songs are a tad bitter darker than average Motörhead, with even gruffer vocals and heavier riffs ("Living in the Past"). For the most part, it's all expertly done Motörhead stuff. The main problem is that it's not particularly outstanding when compared to anything else from their catalog and it's pretty predictable, all in all. However, you'd have to think that this is exactly the way you would want them to be playing - at this stage they cannot suddenly indulge in 8 minute keyboard solos or take stabs at rap-metal - Motörhead has to be Motörhead, and we wouldn't want it other way.

The riffing is furious - for that I give a lot of credit to Campbell, but his solos are pretty meh. There is essentially no filler but hardly anything truly great - it's a pretty well done and cool package, but the fact that it doesn't hit too many high points may make it frustrating for some. Lemmy's lyrics can go along with "sex and drugs and rock n' roll" pretty well for the most part, except for the reflective "God Was Never on Your Side". I've said it before and I'll keep saying it: Lemmy writes the smartest dumb lyrics ever.

Truthfully, there's not too much to say about this album.If you like Motörhead (and if you have any common sense, you do) you'll like this CD. If you don't, you won't. It's as simple as that. Motörhead isn't out to suprise anyone, it's out to please the fans. This means that the few weaklings in this world who still do not like them won't suddenly convert. The rest of us, however, can enjoy another fine ride of good, loud and fast rock music.

-Luis