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MOTORHEAD
Under Cover
Silver Lining Music/Motorhead Music

As impossible as it is to grasp that just a little under two years ago, MOTORHEAD’s long-standing career as one of the prime rock ‘n roll bands of the past four decades came to an abrupt end with the unforeseen passing of its enigmatic frontman/bassist/founder Lemmy Kilmister, their career wasn’t just memorable for its longevity but also in having transcended many genres in between. Few bands can attest to their band moniker now becoming synonymous with a verb used to signify a unique change and put their own indelible mark on something - hence a favorite activity amongst Lemmy, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee liked to call Motorheading. Name a fairly popular song from decades past and MOTORHEAD would only oblige to rock them, roll them and even give them an extra twist and edge. And while their rough-looking image boasts of a band with nothing to lose, MOTORHEAD were always one to exceed their excesses and take everything to a greater untapped level - and leaving their mark.

Understandably, the majority of Under Cöver consist either of classic rock staples you’ve heard more often than you care to remember and even songs whose original version appear powerful enough to ponder whether they need any further Motorheading at all. Songs like “Whiplash”, “Breaking The Law”, “God Save The Queen”, “Cat Scratch Fever” and “Rockaway Beach” in their initial forms invoke much of the heavy and reckless nature that MOTORHEAD’s own songs are known for, but MOTORHEAD themselves were never known for backing down from a challenge and give all of those songs a fine run. In some cases, MOTORHEAD’s covers are so well pronounced you’d never suspect that they weren’t even MOTORHEAD originals to begin with, as is the case with “Hellraiser” (from Ozzy’s No More Tears, later featured on MOTORHEAD’s 1992 album March Or Die) and “Shoot ‘Em Down” (from TWISTED SISTER’s Under The Blade, later featured on their own tribute covers album from 2001 in which MOTORHEAD covered that same year). And sometimes, if a cover song requires a special soaring performance that can only be shared by more than one frontman, that second frontman should often always be Biff Byford when that cover song happens to be “Starstruck” by RAINBOW.

Without a doubt, the gem throughout this entire album is “Heroes” by the also-lamentably departed rock legend David Bowie. Recorded back in 2015 during the band’s Bad Magic sessions with producer Cameron Webb, the song in particular was a milestone as it would be the last song MOTORHEAD ever recorded together. Bowie’s chant of “We can be heroes” certainly reflected MOTORHEAD’s own ethos of “Born to lose, live to win” and was kept unreleased until Under Cöver became a reality, as well as being sadly prophetic when both legends left us barely less than two weeks within each other.

So while life after MOTORHEAD is still unfathomable for many of us to truly wrap our minds around to this day, it’s good to know that their parting swan song in the form of Under Cöver represents the fun and the fury that their music is best known for, transcending many genres including the ones they helped create.

And as a Heads-up, pre-orders will go live soon. Under Cöver will be available in 1CD (Digi pack), 1x 180 grams Black Vinyl in gatefold, Super Deluxe Boxset (1CD digipack, 1x 180 grams black vinyl and VIP guest pass), Digital Audio and MFiT Audio.

Isn’t it good to know that MOTORHEAD still have all their aces covered after all these years?

http://imotorhead.com/
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMotorhead/

4.5 Out Of 5.0

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