616. Motörhead / Overkill. 1979. 4.5/5

Following on from their eponymously titled debut, which showed some promise without being completely memorable, Motörhead get their stuff together for their second album, with the pieces beginning to fall into place. Unashamedly a hybrid of hard rock and punk styles that fit together to make this a heavier album, the band now define the style that has gone on to serve them for over 30 years.

Overkill brings to the front the unique Lemmy vocals along with his rifling bass work, the searing drumwork of "Philthy" Taylor as well as the super guitaring of "Fast" Eddie Clarke. Starting off with the classic self-titled opener, "Overkill" sets up the album perfectly, letting the listener know from the start that this is a whole new ball game when it comes to this band. "Overkill" is everything that makes Motörhead who they are. One of their classics. This is followed by the live staple "Stay Clean", and we settle in for the bulk of the album. "(I Won't) Pay Your Price" and "I'll Be Your Sister" are basic in concept, but are the solid hard rock songs that Motörhead thrive on. "Capricorn" is almost a 1960's flower power song. You can practically see the band surrounded by flowers and hippies. It's a little strange in this environment.

However, this is immediately rectified by two of their best songs, the hard rocker "No Class" and the legendary "Damage Case". Both showcase the best of what Motörhead bring to their music - a prominant loud simple drum beat, great riffwork and solo from the guitar, and the solid bass line all packed around Lemmy's spitting lyrics. Sensational stuff. "Tear Ya Down" continues this vein of style, harder and faster and again containing a great solo riff from Clarke and riffling bassline from Lemmy.

The closing songs on the album aren't quite up to this trio, but there's no shame in that. "Metropolis" slows the tempo down, and while if you take the song on its own it is great, in my view its mood tends to halt the progress of the album. This slower tempo continues into "Limb From Limb" with similar results and feelings for me, though it speeds up towards its conclusion to ensure the album finishes on an up tempo note.

All in all, Overkill is a classic album, one that all metalheads should own as a matter of course, or at the very least have listened to and sampled in their heavy metal education. No collection really should be without it.

Rating: "Only way to feel the noise is when it's good and loud". 4.5/5