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Rating: We open the dictionary and look up: Motorhead... Motorhead... ah, here it is: “Motorhead, synonymous with consistency; complete dedication to sonic devastation”. I can't think of any other terms to describe the legendary band of Lemmy, and the group’s latest effort only confirms what I've said above. The years go by, but Lemmy and his faithful wart remain ever the same, perhaps aided by some hair dye, an unchanging look, and an undiminished desire to have fun and entertain, despite the passage of time. Although the pack leader is now approaching sixty, the violence with which Motorhead presents itself is surprising: no letup, no songs outside their style: "Inferno" stands out as one of the band's best albums in many years, and the title is entirely appropriate. But you might be wondering: are there changes, turning points (oh, poor deluded ones...)? It's pointless to expect changes, it's not in the style and logic of Motorhead to rely on songs of a different mold from their brand, if anything, I've noticed an exceptionally good production, thanks to which the violent and immediate sound stands out perfectly.
But let's get to the songs: the CD is an explosive bomb, and you have to be very careful if you don't want it to go off at any moment. Already the first three tracks of the new album are punches one after the other: "Terminal Show" will knock you down with its lightning-fast and raw, yet fresh and dynamic riff; noteworthy is the presence of Steve Vai as a guest star, delivering a solo perfectly in line with the song's sound. The following "Killers" does not slow down the impact power of the combo's sound, delivering into the listener's ears a handful of direct and effective riffs (starting from the truly electrifying opening riff), thus transforming into an exhilarating ride. "In the Name of Tragedy" bursts in powerful and almost dark, supported, however, by sustained and lively drumming. The threatening riffs that follow one another, moreover, paint well the image described by the song title... an image that is further "focused" by a "disorienting" but certainly effective solo. Inferno, therefore, presents itself really well. But continuing to listen, you realize that the acclaimed Lemmy & Co do not intend to relent: "Life’s a Bitch" is a pure rock’n’roll style track that will not fail to win you over, "Down on Me" and "In the Black" sound determined and powerful with "old style" riffs, then developing into the classic choruses that couldn't be more "Motorhead-ish", "Suicide" finds its strength in a more structured yet no less heavy riffing, supported by a compact and precise bass/drum section. The album closes with the unexpected acoustic blues of "Whorehouse Blues", where Lemmy takes on not only the guitar accompaniment but also plays a very evocative and pleasant harmonica solo. Lastly, note the expressiveness of the vocals which, pardon the expression but when it fits, it fits, smells (pleasantly) of "alcohol and smoky cellars".
Consistency in music, in conclusion, sometimes pays off very well. Motorhead is a striking demonstration of this. Sure, this stubborn persistence of the three musicians in still delivering the same sound today can be shared or not, but this thirty-year consistency has produced "Inferno". Personally, I appreciate the straightforwardness with which the band presents itself to its audience, a straightforwardness that sounds like this: “don’t like our music? Fuck you! Like our music? We are Motorhead, and we're gonna kick your ass.”
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Terminal Show (03:45)
(Kilmister - Campbell - Dee)
The golden eyed creature sits back on his throne
Gazing at us in despair
Six hundred guests, humanity's best
Are wondering why they are there
All roads lead here, all roads are burned
Have we digested the things we have learned
Have we a chance when the dead rise and dance
Have we the time for the final romance
We better find out the name of the game
Chance of a future frozen and grim
Or of a quick death brought here on a whim
Why are we here does anyone know
Why are we here at the terminal show
The blind king has secrets dark and morose
He'd like it if we were like him
All the dark days spent in the maze
Have made a new man of him
All roads lead here, all roads are closed
Are we quite certain of all that we know
Are we miscast or do we hold fast
Have we the time for the final repast
We better find out
The name of the game
Chance of a new world sunny and fine
Or of a burning a branded design
Why are we here, we don't even know
Why are we here at the terminal show
The red queen is sleeping, lost in a dream
She wakes an dshe sleeps all alone
All of her fears are crowded in here
Laughing they pick at her bones
All roads lead here, none lead away
Are we quire certain we're here anyway
Have we been wise or are we despised
Have we the time for our final demise
We better find out
The name of the game
Chance of a lost world, rain and dismay
Pick up your belongings, we all have to pay
Why are the vultures circling above
Why can't we fight for the right to our blood
We are demented, everyone knows
Misrepresented, coming to blows
Why are we here, we don't even know
Why are we here at the terminal show
04 Suicide (05:07)
(Kilmister - Campbell - Dee)
The night is mine, it burns so black,
And there will be no morning light,
The human race's foul disease,
Will keep the morning from our sight,
Why can't we say the secret word,
Respect for nothing, fire or flood,
Expect no quarter, no reprieve,
We writhe and grin in our own blood,
No sun just clouds and poison rain,
Raped and freezing,
Victims of the dream again,
Truly our days are darker now,
We lie and cheat, to our own selves,
If we do this, I ask you how,
Can we speak truth to someone else,
There is no way, no road at all,
We are destroyed, by our own plan,
The air we breathe will kill us all,
And no one left to give a damn,
No sun just clouds and poison rain,
Raped and feezing,
Victims of the dream again,
Stay clean, be true,
do whatever you can do,
Make it soon, or we all die,
Ten thousand years, and all we got is Suicide,
If there be Gods, then tell me why,
They make us kill and kill again,
One hundred thousand thousand years,
No mercy in the minds of men,
What is the word that we should read,
What incantation should we say,
How can we ask for justice now,
When all the world is blown away,
No sun, no hope the world is sun insane,
Raped and freezing,
Victims of the dream again,
Stay clean, be true,
Make it soon, or we all die,
Ten thousand years, and all we got is Suicide
05 Life's a Bitch (04:13)
(Kilmister - Campbell - Dee)
I don't know who you are,
I don't know your name,
But if you want to live,
You better learn the game,
Don't know why you're here,
Ain't seen your face so far,
If you don't want to fail,
You better hide your scars,
Make a poor man cry,
The way you run your life,
Make a poor man laugh,
The way you run your life,
Time you hit the road,
Better be on your way,
Don't scream,
Don't shout,
Three strikes and you be out,
It's a shame I know,
No chance to see the show,
Fear the man, kill the snitch,
Just remember Life's a Bitch,
I don't know what you've got,
I don't know your mom,
But if you don't like your life,
Then don't act dumb,
I don't know where you go,
And I sure don't care,
If you don't want to starve,
You better get your share,
Make a grown man sick,
The way you run your mouth,
Make a grown man shake,
The way you're running out,
Time to hit the skids,
Better be on your way,
Don't shout,
Don't scream,
Three strikes and they be mean,
A shame you're right,
No chance to see the fight,
Be a man, fix the glitch,
Just remember LIfe's a Bitch,
I don't know what you see,
I don't know the score,
But if you don't like blood,
You better close the door,
I don't know how you think,
Don't want to hear your tale,
And if you talk too much,
You're going to land in jail,
Make a tall man short,
To see you act this way,
Make a short man puke,
The way you waste the day,
Time to go to hell,
Better be on your way,
Don't moan,
Don't pout,
Three strikes takes your ass out,
Oh no, bad news,
No chance to shine your shoes,
Fear the sky, eat the rich,
Just remember Life's a Bitch
08 Fight (03:42)
(Kilmister - Campbell - Dee)
Midnight, midnight,
Midnight beat the drum,
Black night, black night,
Black night, cut and run,
Slaughter, slaughter,
Slaughter, flee your bed,
Quarter, no quarter,
No quarter, don't lose your head,
Fighting in the west,
Fighting in the east,
Fighting like a beast,
You must stand and Fight,
Fight, Fight, Fight,
Fight, make it right,
Fight, Fight,
Fighting, fighting,
Fighting, for your life,
Riding, riding,
Riding, endless nights,
Laughing, laughing,
Laughing, to our death,
Laughing, laughing,
Laughing, to our final breath,
Fighting in the west,
Fighting in the east,
What a bloody mess,
You will stand and Fight,
Fight, Fight, Fight,
Fight, make it right,
Fight, Fight,
Reaver, reaver,
Reaver, riding fast,
Believer, believer,
Believer, loyal to the last,
Faithful, faithful,
Faithful, to our creed,
Soldier, till it's over,
Till it's over, everything we need,
Fighting to the last,
Fighting to the death,
Your last dying breath,
You must stand and Fight,
Fight, Fight, Fight,
Fight, make it right,
Fight, Fight,
Fight, stand and Fight,
Stand and Fight, stand and Fight,
Make it right, stand and Fight,
You must Fight, Fight,
You motherfucker
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