We Are Motorhead CD

10 Brand New Tracks For 2000 By Lemmy And The Boys

Motorhead: Lemmy Kilmister (vocals, bass); Phil Campbell (guitar, background vocals); Mikkey Dee (drums).
Producers: Motorhead, Bob Kulick, Bruce Bouillet, Duane Barron.
Recorded at Karo Studios, Brackel, Germany between June & August 1999.
The '90s witnessed a surprising and somewhat overlooked renaissance for Lemmy Kilmister and Motörhead, starting with 1991's 1916. The follow-up, March or Die, was woefully subpar and overly commercial, and many dismissed 1916 as a fluke and gave the band up for dead. However, Motörhead then embarked on a run of quality albums for smaller, lower-profile labels; Bastards, Sacrifice, and Overnight Sensation were surprisingly consistent, written and performed with conviction in the classic Motörhead style. The band slipped a bit with 1998's Snake Bite Love, but have thankfully stormed into the new millennium in top form. We Are Motörhead maintains the generally high standard of the band's second decade, and while there aren't many speed-freak theatrics (exception: opener "See Me Burning"), the grimy attitude that's always driven their best work is fully intact. Pared back down to a trio, Kilmister and company deliver a tight, blistering set that's both well-executed and typical of Motörhead's long since established sound. There are no real revelations here, except perhaps that Kilmister still hasn't lost anything to age; of course, longtime fans will be happy to have yet another fine Motörhead record to add to the collection. ~ Steve Huey
On hearing the first few measures of "See Me Burning" on Motorhead's latest WE ARE MOTORHEAD, it's easy to see how bands such as Metallica and Slayer can trace their roots back to the second wave of British metal. The image of vocalist/bassist Lemmy Kilmister craning his neck skyward to reach his microphone is one that every hard rock fan or casual observer knows well. Much like AC/DC, Motorhead has never tried to change its sound to adapt to musical trends; the album's title almost suggests a restatement of direction for the band that played an integral part in the birth of speed and thrash metal.
"Slow Dance" will undoubtedly join the ranks of danceable hard rock anthems such as AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" and Motley Crue's "Girls, Girls, Girls." The rock veterans perform a loyal cover of the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen," while new songs such as "Out to Lunch" and "Wake the Dead" find the band full-throttle and unrelenting. "One More Fucking Time" is the closest it's ever come to a power ballad--possibly a Motorhead first.

Q (8/00, p.102) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Very much business as usual....they have no intention of slowing down with age..."
CMJ (6/12/00, p.34) - "...Gives us everything we'd expect on [the] band's billionth record: thrashy riffs with rough production, gravel-voiced vocals, and big, bad attitude..."