- Apr 11, 2015
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This MY OWN, not plagiarized review from Metal Archives:
http://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Motörhead/Overkill/936/Iron_Wizard/363770
If you are new to Motörhead, and are wondering which album to start with, Overkill would be a great place to start. While Ace of Spades gets a lot of attention, Overkill is the better option for the new listener of Motörhead.
Overkill has more speed metal tendencies than the self titled debut, which carried more rock and roll and psychedelic tendencies. This is the first Motörhead to feature the style that Motörhead would become so well known for. The classic, gritty, speed metal is extremely prevalent here.
The opening track, "Overkill" is a a rather fun speed metal track, complete with double bass drumming from Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. It seems like a relatively straightforward song, but deceptively so. It starts like a regular song, but then it stops with a fakeout ending, an then it starts again. It does this a few more time, making room for some of the best solos by Motörhead, or even in metal in general.
While a lot of Overkill is very fast, songs like "Stay Clean" move at a slower midtempo that would ask be used on later Motörhead albums. Even the midtempo songs are excellent, though. "Damage Case" is an almost fast song that is quite heavy, as well as very catchy. Like the title track, "Damage Case" is classic that will stick with you upon hearing overkill. It is also one of Motörhead's heaviest songs, thanks to Lemmy's aggressive style of bass playing.
All of the elements that make Motörhead kick ass are present on Overkill. Lemmy's harsh voice has gotten even harsher than it was on the debut. He also has a very youthful sound to his vocals here. This is an obvious improvement in the vocal field. Lemmy's signature bass playing is also excellent. Like the vocals, the bass has gotten harsher, in terms of distortion. His distorted bass grinds in the background like an extremely heavy rhythm guitar. The only actual guitar Motörhead need is the lead guitar, because Lemmy plays his bass as if it were a guitar. Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor uses the trademark double bass drumming technique that he at least popularised, if not invented. This, alongside with the harsh vocals, intense speed, and gritty bass playing, helped to give rise to thrash metal. Metallica and Overkill, who went as far as to take their name from the album, were both extremely inspired by Motörhead's Overkill.
Lead guitar wise, this is Motörhead's best work. "Fast" Eddie Clarke provides great solos, especially on the title track. Normally, a guitarist would limit their playing to only rhythm guitar during a main riff or verse riff. With Motörhead, however, Eddie Clark sounds as if he plays a lead version of the riff being played by the bass. Lemmy plays the root note, and Eddie Clarke plays the top of the chord, leading to a sound that is unique to early Motörhead. This is most prominent on the title track.
While Ace of Spades is a great album with fun music, Motörhead's true peak lies at Overkill. Overkill has a great deal over variety. There is everything from the bluesy, slower "Capricorn" to the extreme speed metal songs like "Overkill" and "No Class", which along with "Damage Case", are the best songs on Overkill.
Like I mentioned, the rock and roll sound has been toned down quite a bit. This is a good thing for Motörhead and their fans. "No Class" retains some rock and roll, but it still manages to keep enough speed metal to make it an awesome song.
Overkill is an excellent Motörhead record. It is filled with awesome, insanely heavy riffs provided by Lemmy, as well as excellent drumming from Philthy Animal. Overkill is another must hear classic from Motörhead.
R.I.P Lemmy.
http://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Motörhead/Overkill/936/Iron_Wizard/363770
If you are new to Motörhead, and are wondering which album to start with, Overkill would be a great place to start. While Ace of Spades gets a lot of attention, Overkill is the better option for the new listener of Motörhead.
Overkill has more speed metal tendencies than the self titled debut, which carried more rock and roll and psychedelic tendencies. This is the first Motörhead to feature the style that Motörhead would become so well known for. The classic, gritty, speed metal is extremely prevalent here.
The opening track, "Overkill" is a a rather fun speed metal track, complete with double bass drumming from Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. It seems like a relatively straightforward song, but deceptively so. It starts like a regular song, but then it stops with a fakeout ending, an then it starts again. It does this a few more time, making room for some of the best solos by Motörhead, or even in metal in general.
While a lot of Overkill is very fast, songs like "Stay Clean" move at a slower midtempo that would ask be used on later Motörhead albums. Even the midtempo songs are excellent, though. "Damage Case" is an almost fast song that is quite heavy, as well as very catchy. Like the title track, "Damage Case" is classic that will stick with you upon hearing overkill. It is also one of Motörhead's heaviest songs, thanks to Lemmy's aggressive style of bass playing.
All of the elements that make Motörhead kick ass are present on Overkill. Lemmy's harsh voice has gotten even harsher than it was on the debut. He also has a very youthful sound to his vocals here. This is an obvious improvement in the vocal field. Lemmy's signature bass playing is also excellent. Like the vocals, the bass has gotten harsher, in terms of distortion. His distorted bass grinds in the background like an extremely heavy rhythm guitar. The only actual guitar Motörhead need is the lead guitar, because Lemmy plays his bass as if it were a guitar. Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor uses the trademark double bass drumming technique that he at least popularised, if not invented. This, alongside with the harsh vocals, intense speed, and gritty bass playing, helped to give rise to thrash metal. Metallica and Overkill, who went as far as to take their name from the album, were both extremely inspired by Motörhead's Overkill.
Lead guitar wise, this is Motörhead's best work. "Fast" Eddie Clarke provides great solos, especially on the title track. Normally, a guitarist would limit their playing to only rhythm guitar during a main riff or verse riff. With Motörhead, however, Eddie Clark sounds as if he plays a lead version of the riff being played by the bass. Lemmy plays the root note, and Eddie Clarke plays the top of the chord, leading to a sound that is unique to early Motörhead. This is most prominent on the title track.
While Ace of Spades is a great album with fun music, Motörhead's true peak lies at Overkill. Overkill has a great deal over variety. There is everything from the bluesy, slower "Capricorn" to the extreme speed metal songs like "Overkill" and "No Class", which along with "Damage Case", are the best songs on Overkill.
Like I mentioned, the rock and roll sound has been toned down quite a bit. This is a good thing for Motörhead and their fans. "No Class" retains some rock and roll, but it still manages to keep enough speed metal to make it an awesome song.
Overkill is an excellent Motörhead record. It is filled with awesome, insanely heavy riffs provided by Lemmy, as well as excellent drumming from Philthy Animal. Overkill is another must hear classic from Motörhead.
R.I.P Lemmy.
