Who doesn't know Motorhead? The English band, led by the legendary Lemmy (one of my favorite idols, the prototype of the classic rough, beer-drinking, and rowdy metalhead) has always been synonymous with great Heavy Metal, played with the heart and the same three-decade-long passion as always.
The album under examination here (such a serious tone...) is the great Overkill, the band's second album (third if we want to include the unofficial debut On Parole), but it's the first album that takes the group from a particularly rock and roll sound of the previous album to a decidedly more metallic and fast one. Very important: the CD is part of the "Sacred Triad" (always be praised!!!) of masterpieces that consecrated Motorhead to the history of music: Overkill, Bomber (both from 1979), and Ace Of Spades, released the following year. Here we find the band with the classic lineup composed of Lemmy Kilmister (Bass and vocals, OLE'), Eddie "Fast" Clark (guitar, OLE') and Philty "Animal" Taylor (drums, OLE'), creators of a classic Heavy Metal without unnecessary frills, at fast speeds, with sharp riffs and overwhelming solos. The structure of the songs is quite similar for all tracks (riff, verse, chorus, solo, verse, chorus) but each track has very different content compared to another, making the album, in my opinion, never boring.
The task of opening the platter is entrusted to the title track, "Overkill," a Motorhead milestone obligatory in live shows: Lemmy's characteristic hoarse voice delights us with that raw tone that only he possesses, Philty beats hard behind the drums and goes all out with the double bass drum, and Eddie once again delivers a performance full of feeling with his instrument. It's a rather deceptive song, pretending to stop twice and continuing with blazing solos (the distortion-heavy one at the end is particularly spectacular); it's impossible to stay still in front of this adrenaline rush! Next up is "Stay Clean," an excellent song with an engaging riff and a very catchy chorus to repeat endlessly. It's one of the favorite live tracks, especially Lemmy's engaging bass run in the middle of the song. With a particularly R'n'R riff, "(I Won't) Pay Your Price" kicks off, in my opinion the weakest track on the album, nice, fun, but nothing more. The same coordinates hover over the following "I'll Be Your Sister," enjoyable but it certainly doesn't leave a mark. Of a completely different kind is the fifth track Capricorn, a true classic of the British trio's production. A not-too-fast track, with a beautiful drum gallop, very particular riffs, and a particularly inspired Fast Eddie on the six strings, superb. A track that made history (likely the best alongside the title track) is "No Class," a boogie-metal with a vaguely southern flavor, squared riff, ideal for headbanging wildly like only a real heavy metal maniac knows how. "Damage Case" is another essential gem in Motorhead's discography, pure adrenaline, a chorus that sticks in your head, a great Philty on drums, Lemmy makes that filthy ultra-distorted bass vibrate as only he can, and Eddie is always the usual guitar ace. The next song is "Tear Ya Down," a great rhythmically punky piece, notable for the dominant bass in this song and the melodic and incisive guitar loops. We catch our breath (almost…) with "Metropolis," a hard rock full of charm and pathos, slow and calm, but no less engaging or spectacular. It imparts a strange feeling, that is, an atmosphere of a sad futuristic technological metropolis. Applause for Eddie Clarke's guitar performance and the central drum piece by that legend Philty Taylor (did you know he stopped playing with Motorhead for a period because he fainted during a particularly adrenaline-filled performance?). The LP closes with "Limb From Limb," the most atypical track on the album that doesn't have the usual scheme so dear to the group, but alternates a slow bluesy phase with speedy segments with related guitar slashing; it's one of the best pieces precisely because of its diversity.
In conclusion, this is an essential album (along with the next two plus the great live) from a band that made metal history. It's a record that inspired generations and entire bands (just think of the whole NWOBHM movement): in short, a milestone in the history of metal. If you still don't have it (but I doubt it), there's nothing left but to get it and go big with the world's most loose band.
Don't sweat it, get it back to you,
Overkill Overkill

Tracklist Lyrics and Videos

01   Overkill (05:13)

Only way to feel the noise is when it's good and loud,
So good you can't believe it's screaming with the crowd,
Don't sweat it, get it back to you,
Overkill, Overkill
On your feet you feel the beat, it goes straight to your spine,
Shake your head you must be dead if it don't make you fly,
Don't sweat it, get it back to you,
Overkill, Overkill

Know your body's made to move, you feel it in your guts
Rock 'n' roll ain't worth the name if it don't make you strut,
Don't sweat it, get it back to you,
Overkill, Overkill

02   Stay Clean (02:42)

I can tell, seen before,
Know the way, I know the law,
I Can't believe, can't obey,
Can't agree with all the things that they say,
Oh no, don't ask me why,
I can't go on with all the filthy white lies,
Stay Clean (x4)
Don't you know, all the time,
You got yours and you know that I have mine,
Grab a hold, don't let go,
Don't let them rob you of the only way you know,
Oh no, no-one else,
Got the right to make you sorry for yourself,
Stay Clean (x4)
Alright

So you see, the only proof,
Of what you are is in the way you hear the truth,
Don't be scared, live to win,
Although they're always gonna tell you it's a sin,
In the end, you're on your own,
And there is no-one that can stop you being alone,
Stay Clean. (x4)

03   (I Won't) Pay Your Price (02:57)

Move out it's time for someone else
Quit thinking only of yourself,
You're really a nasty piece of work,
You know you thought you were a hero but
you're really just a jerk,
On my way, you know I Won't Pay Your Price
You can't stop me dontcha even try,
Gonna stick my finger in your eye,
You don't deserve my admiration,
And I'll sling you out the window
if you give me aggravation,
On my way, you know I Won't Pay Your Price

I'm tired of listening to crap,
I'd rather stab you in the back,
I'm telling you the only real reason that
you ain't gonna get it is 'cos skunk is outta season,
On my way, you know I Won't Pay Your Price

Shut the door behind you when you go,
Why you're still here I don't really know,
I'm gonna count up to three and if you're still here
I'll get a gun and blow away your knees,
On my way, you know I Won't Pay Your Price

04   I'll Be Your Sister (02:54)

I'll Be Your Sister, be your lover yeah,
Be your mother, if you need somebody,
If you need someone to love,
I'm the one you should be thinking of,
If you need somebody, I'm your hand in glove
Hand in glove
I'll be your lover, be your sister yeah,
I'll be your mother, if you need somebody,
If you need you're feeling tired,
Need someone to set your heart on fire,
It's so lonely, hanging on the wire.
On the wire

Stand up

I'll be your lover, be your sister maybe
I'll be your mother, if you need it baby,
If you think that it's the end,
I'm gonna prove I can come back again,
If you need somebody, I'm your only friend
Only friend

05   Capricorn (04:11)

A thousand nights, I've spent alone,
Solitaire, to the bone,
But I don't mind, I'm my own best friend,
From the beginning, to the end,
My life, my heart, black night, my star,
Capricorn

December's child, the only one,
What I do, is what I've done,
I realize, I get so cold,
When I was young I was already old,

My life, my heart, black night, my star,
Capricorn

I always knew, the only way,
Is never live, beyond today,
They proved me right, they proved me wrong,
But they can never last this long,

My life, my heart, black night, dark star,
Capricorn

06   No Class (02:41)

Shut up, you talk too loud,
You don't fit in with the crowd,
I can't believe you exist,
I've crossed you right off my list,
Too much, too soon,
You're way out of tune,
No Class, No Class

Way out, you're way out of line,
No buddy I can't spare a dime,
Fade out, baby that's right,
No bark and even less bite,

Your perfect smile,
Betrays your lack of style,
No Class, No Class
Ah No Class, No Class

Too late, you can't catch up now,
You face the wrong way anyhow,
I know you ain't got the brain,
To come in out of the rain,

Too bad, no magic,
I'm afraid you're merely tragic,
No Class, baby No Class
No Class, ah No Class

07   Damage Case (03:04)

Hey babe don't act so scared
All I want is some special care
I'm on the run from some institution
All I want's a little consolation
And I can tell by your face
I'm a total disgrace
Let me inside your place
Move over for a Damage Case
Hey babe wait a minute stop
Don't run away don't call the cop
I ain't looking to victimise you
All I want to do is tantalise you
And I can tell by your state
I'm all over the place
I can tell by your face
Got no time for a Damage Case

Hey babe don't turn away
I'm here tomorrow I'm gone today
I don't care what you think your game is
I don't care even what your name is
And I can tell by your face
You're all over this place
Let me inside your face
Move over for a Damage Case

08   Tear Ya Down (02:41)

Gonna show you what I'm all about,
I'm gonna make your toenails curl,
Gonna show you how to make me smile,
I'm really into long legged girls,
I was talking to you all night long,
Every line was a favourite song,
Gonna show you how to make me laugh,
I'm gonna Tear Ya Down
Gonna show you what I'm all about,
I'm gonna shoot ya down tonight,
I don't really wanna freak you out,
But I'm gonna make ya feel alright,
I was talking to you all night through,
And I knew you were rolling me too,
Gonna shake you till your lips turn blue,
I'm gonna Tear Ya Down

Gonna show you how to strut your stuff,
I'm gonna make your dreams come true,
Gonna show you how to change your luck,
I'm really gonna do it to you,
I was talking to ya hours and hours,
I promised you hearts and flowers,
I'll give you supernatural powers,
I'm gonna Tear Ya Down.

09   Metropolis (03:37)

Metropolis, the worlds collide,
Ain't nobody could be on your side,
I don't care, I don't care
Metropolis is something new,
Ain't nobody got their eye on you,
I don't care, it's nowhere

Metropolis, the worlds collide,
Ain't nobody on the other side,
I don't care, I'm not there.

10   Limb From Limb (04:54)

Well I've never done nothing,
That's ever gonna shame my life,
Well I've never done nothing,
That's ever gonna shame my life,
Come around any time you like honey,
There ain't no shame in my bed at night

Long legged lover,
I'm gonna rip you Limb From Limb,
Long legged lover,
I'm gonna tear you Limb From Limb,

Get you smashed as a rat in some bar,
Sink my claws into your velvet skin

Harsh, cruel words babe,
They're gonna cut me like a knife,
Harsh, cruel words babe,
They're gonna cut me like a knife,

I don't care what the hell you call me,

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Other reviews

By andre86

 This album that is an EXTREMELY IMPORTANT album that influenced bands like Venom, Possessed, Slayer, Metallica, and the list would be even longer.

 The album opens with the title track 'Overkill', the most famous song by Motorhead that I would define as proto-thrash.


By Nando77

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