Overkill, the album that started it all. This folks is the ground zero moment for the birth of the thrash metal movement…well…one track in particular was responsible. This would actually be Motörhead’s third attempt at recording an album. The first,(which would come out after they had a name and were selling records), On Parole, was shelved as it was deemed not good enough for release. The second, the self titled album, was heading that way until Chiswick Records stepped in to release it. So really, you could say this was the first proper Motörhead album, the first with the classic line up of Philthy, Lemmy and Fast Eddie.
First track in is the title track and the one that would be of interest to one Lars Ulrich, and a burgeoning scene in the Bay Area of San Francisco. Overkill was their first on Bronze Records, and was the first song to have double kick drums all the way through on a fast track. No mean feat as it lasts for 5.12 minutes and the drummer probably needed oxygen after. Everything about the track is awesome. Eddie’s guitar sound is killer, and Lem’s vocal just makes it a great track. Stay Clean is a typical Motörhead track of this line up. I Won’t Pay Your Price, I’ll Be Your Sister, and Capricorn have that space rock element to them from Lemmy’s stint in Hawkwind, but with that harder edge – plus Lemmy wanted to stick it to his former band mates for kicking him out of the band.
Side 2 starts with No Class, and it sounds to me as though the main riff has been lifted from Tush by ZZ Top. Damage Case is next and again is a typical sounding track for the band. Tear Ya Down, Metropolis, and Limb from Limb are great early Motörhead tracks.
I saw this line up numerous times back in the day and there was something special about them. They were like a force of nature and you felt as though you were part of a gang. I know this line up only lasted for four years before the inner turmoil came out and Eddie left to form Fastway. I know the band carried on until Lemmy’s death, but these guys were special. It’s hard to believe that a band that was so important to me at the time are now all dead. The first thing Lem would say when walking on stage would be “Good Evening! We are Motörhead, and we play rock n roll” and that’s all you need to know. I love the first four albums as they are classics of the genre.
9.5/10 from The Grooveman.
