 MOTORHEAD
Overkill
Sanctuary Records 2005
www.imotorhead.com
What’s the 4-1-1?
Motorhead's second album was originally released in 1979, and has
now been remastered and reissued on Sanctuary Records.
Genre
Classic hard rock / classic heavy metal
The Good
Motorhead's second album is the one where they really started to sound like
the Motorhead we know and love. Gone is the raw, punky sound of their debut,
and in is the fast-paced heavy metal assault that has become a classic sound
for the ages. Lemmy and the boys musically came of age practically overnight,
and shows on every track of this album. As far as big hits go, you've got
the title track, which became one of the band's biggest hits (just as it deserved
to), as well as the classic bluesy hard rocker "No Class." The hits on this
album are among the band's finest hits.
It doesn't even stop there! Every
song that isn't a hit here is an underrated masterpiece. "Stay Clean," "I'll
Be Your Sister," "Damage Case"... the arsenal of metal masterpieces on this
album is anything but limited. And, that's not all! The 2005 Sanctuary reissue
of
the album adds on an entire bonus disc of material! This bonus disc features
rare single-only tracks, as well as a number of alternative versions/outtakes.
Having single-only tracks with one of the albums is a very nice bonus to
have. This is a great album, and the 2005 Sanctuary reissue is the greatest
version
of it ever released, hands down!
The Bad
The album itself I have no complaints with. None whatsoever. I just wish the
bonus disc was a bit more diverse in what it offered. For instance, I love
"Louie Louie" and "Tear Ya Down," but did we really need FOUR versions of each
song? Likewise, the BBC tracks have already been released in the 2CD BBC sessions
set, which was released simultaneously in America with the 2CD remastered albums.
Quite honestly, if you already bought the BBC sessions, you may just want to
go ahead and get the single-CD version of Overkill. The single B-Sides are
the most important bonus tracks, and they were all included on it. But if you
don't already own the BBC sessions, or you're a Motorhead die-hard who absolutely
must hear those precious few outtakes, the 2CD version is for you.
The Verdict
I shouldn't even have to say it; Motorhead avoided the sophomore jinx, completely.
This album rocks with a level of speed and fury unrivaled by most other
bands. This is where Motorhead first entered their golden age, and it shows
all the way through. If you're a fan of classic hard rock or heavy metal,
don't hesitate to add this one to your collection!
Did You Know?
Snaggletooth is the name of the Motorhead skull mascot/logo that appears on
the cover of nearly all of their albums. It was created by the artist Joe
Petagno.
Rating:  out
of 5
Related Reviews:
Motorhead - Ace of Spades
Motorhead - Bomber
Motorhead - S/T
Motorhead - Stage Fright DVD
Motorhead - Inferno
--Darth Kommissar
|
