ARTIST: Motörhead
ALBUM: The World is Yours
LABEL: Future PLC/Motörhead
RELEASE DATE: February 8, 2011
Pure Rock ‘n Roll
Written by Jeremy Weeden
On the heels of the DVD release of the rockumentary, Lemmy, British rock band Motörhead returns to the music scene with their 20th studio album, The World is Yours. Yes you read that right; The World is Yours is Motorhead’s 20th studio album. With so many artists currently experiencing fleeting success, this is a feat which deserves praise. Motörhead was formed in 1975 by bassist and vocalist Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister, and 35 years and a few line-up changes later, the band is still rocking harder than ever. The band is comprised of Lemmy on bass and vocals, Phil Campbell on guitar, and Mikkey Dee on the drums. The band’s current line-up has been together since 1992, giving even this current arrangement almost twenty years in the industry together. When a band has been together that long, a certain level of music is expected, and once again, Motörhead brings their fans more of the quality metal they have grown accustomed to hearing from them.
This is the band that practically invented fast-paced metal by blending heavy metal with punk and they do not let off the gas on The World is Yours. The band does not break any new ground here but they do stay true to their roots and their many long time fans will appreciate this. Too often an older artist or band will try to make music that appeals to the current generation to gain new fans and radio support and in the process end up making lackluster music that neither hardcore fans nor casual listeners like. Of course, Motörhead fans know that a rock ‘n roll purist like Lemmy would never allow this to happen to Motörhead. In fact, Lemmy has stated in interviews that he hates being called metal or punk because Motörhead predates such designations and is just pure rock ‘n roll. Motörhead is one of the last bands left with an old-school rock attitude. They make the music they like to make — and if you don’t like it, screw you. Rock ‘n roll music is a true religion as Lemmy himself sings so eloquently on the song appropriately titled “Rock N Roll Music” on the album. Heavy, thunderous drums and fast, thrashing guitar solos are found throughout the album on every song accompanied by Lemmy’s grimy delivery.
The World is Yours begins with the heavy metal guitar riffs of Phil Campbell on “Born to Lose” and Lemmy cranking out catchy lyrics in his gruff, gravelly voice. The album takes off from there and continues the trend of fast, punk-tinged-metal songs with titles like “Devil in My Head,” “I Know How to Die” and “Bye Bye Bitch Bye Bye.” Like all Motörhead albums, this one features plenty of fast shredding by Phil Campbell and dark, clever, albeit sometimes unintelligible, lyrics from Lemmy.
Lemmy clearly shows, despite his age, he definitely has not lost a thing when it comes to wit and worldly observations. For example on the song “Get Back in Line,” the first single from the album, Lemmy sings, “Good things come to those who wait, But these days most things suck.”
This album is a definite must-buy for fans of Motörhead and of the metal or punk genres. The band shows those who are casually acquainted that there is a lot more to them than the classic “Ace of Spades.” Hardcore fans will be pleased as well by the fact that band has not strayed from its roots. You won’t find any homogeneous guitar chords here or watered down rock ‘n roll. This is an album composed purely of mean, kick-ass punk-metal.