Bad Magic

by Motoerhead

Overview

A lot happened to Motoerhead -- or more accurately to Motoerhead's once and future leader, Lemmy Kilmister -- after the release of 2013's Aftershock, and most of it wasn't good. Lemmy, who along with Keith Richards seemed to be the rocker most likely to survive Armageddon (and why hasn't someone written a comedy where those two chat while foraging for liquor and cigarettes in the wake of World War III?), was abruptly revealed as all too mortal as he found himself struggling with heart trouble, diabetes, and other maladies, and more than a few fans blanched when they saw the widely circulated online video of a weakened Lemmy pacing off stage at the 2013 Wacken Open Air Festival, too frail to complete Motoerhead's set. 2015's Bad Magic was the first Motoerhead album after Lemmy cut back on liquor and tobacco (and had a defibrillator implanted), and returned to the road, and the truth is the mighty frontman sounds older and weaker for the ordeal. That said, it doesn't hurt as much as you might imagine; on Bad Magic, Lemmy sounds bloodied but unbowed, an ancient soldier who doesn't know the meaning of surrender and will happily run you through with a sword as he draws his last breath. If Lemmy croaks or wheezes more often on Bad Magic than he has before, it suits his tales of foul-minded bastards and their despicable deeds, and it's a fine fit with the bloody-minded attitude that has always been Motoerhead's stock in trade. Just as importantly, Lemmy's bass work remains thunderous, as thick and dirty as it was in his salad days, and guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee continue to bring the noise in inspired fashion. Musically, this album brings very little that's new to the group's playbook, but they still sound like Motoerhead, something thousands of younger and more agile bands simply cannot do, and if you're wondering if Motoerhead can still kick your butt and blow out your speakers in 2015, the answers are "Hell yeah" and "You know it." And if the cover of "Sympathy for the Devil" seems an odd way to end this album, if anyone in metal can sound truly convincing as Old Scratch and oddly charming in his pursuit of evil, Lemmy's in the running, and Bad Magic suggests the man and his band might just be indestructible after all. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	02/17/2017
Label:	Udr
UPC:	0190296986031
Rank:	129168

Tracks

1. Victory or Die
2. Thunder and Lightning
3. Fire Storm Hotel
4. Shoot Out All of Your Lights
5. The Devil
6. Electricity
7. Evil Eye
8. Teach Them How to Bleed
9. Till the End
10. Tell Me Who to Kill
11. Choking on Your Screams
12. When the Sky Comes Looking for You
13. Sympathy for the Devil

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Motoerhead   Primary Artist
Brian May   Guitar
Lemmy Kilmister   Bass,Vocals
Mikkey Dee   Drums
Phil Campbell   Piano,Guitar

Technical Credits

Sergio Chavez   Engineer
Lemmy Kilmister   Composer,Cover Design,Group Member
Robert John   Photography
Mikkey Dee   Composer,Group Member
Motoerhead   Composer
Cameron Webb   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Keith Richards   Composer
Mick Jagger   Composer
Kris Fredriksson   Engineer
Tim Butcher   Bass Technician
Steffan Chirazi   Creative Director
Kai Swillus   Booklet Design,Creative Director
Phil Campbell   Composer,Group Member
Mark DeVito   Design,Art Direction
Steve Luna   Guitar Technician
Mark Lewis   Monitor Engineer
Dixon Matthews   Personal Assistant
Eddie Rocha   Production Manager
Emma Cederblad   Production Coordination
Martin "Arnie" Annables   Engineer
Roger De Souza   Stage Manager,Guitar Technician
Stefan Sjoland   Lighting Design
Michael Fernandez   Assistant Engineer
Kyle McAulay   Assistant Engineer
Michael Eckes   Assistant Engineer
Mike Sassano   Assistant Engineer
Nick Agee   Assistant Engineer
Robin Florent   Assistant Engineer
Caio Bertti   Lighting Design
Mike Scherer   Lighting Design
Leonardo Soares   Drum Technician
Buntmetall   Booklet Design
Todd Campbell   Engineer