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Class 6(66)
Motörhead: No sleep till Hammersmith
31/12/10 || InquisitorGeneralis
Introduction
Live albums can be classics mutherfuckers. Kiss built their early success on “Alive”, Priest killed it on “Unleashed in the East”, and Slayer’s “Decade of Aggression” is great. Hell, I even reviewed that as my first ever Class6(66). Lord K then deleted it after I refused to listen to chick-metal with him. He’s an angry, vindictive man…but I love him in ways that would question most societies’ accepted rules of behavior between two large, hairy men.
This is one of the best live records in the history of heavy metal. I am certain of that. It got me into to Motorhead and still gets a shit ton of play time on my iPod and car stereo. Motorhead is still going strong ten years into the 21st century and with great records like “Inferno” and “Motorizer” under their belts in recent years they certainly have not become a living parody of their former selves. However, nothing will recapture the aura around Motorhead in 1981. Motorhead were fusing punk and metal right at the point where the heavy music world needed them to. Thrash, then eventually death and black metal, would come from this. So would double-hop IPAs, group orgies, double bacon cheeseburgers; basically, everything that is cool in some way or another was influenced by late 70’s, early 80’s Motorhead.
Motorhead (love ‘em or hate ‘em) have had an undeniable influence on metal that cannot be questioned or ignored. Plus, “No Sleep…” features the definitive line-up of Lemmy, Eddie Clark on guitar, and Phil Taylor on the shark-attack drum kit. Motorhead don’t just play the classics on here, the fucken beat the shit out of them. If you are even a casual fan of the band, you need this record.
Songwriting
9. This record captures Motorhead at their simple, straightforward best. These are the unfuckwithable classics: “Ace of Spades”, “No class”, “Motorhead”, “Bomber”, “Overkill”… every single song on here except for “Capricorn” should be included on any Motorhead Greatest Hits compilation. Don’t get me wrong, the slower “Capricorn” is not a bad song in the least. It just does not belong in the same tier as the the heavyweights. “Iron horse” is the best mid-paced Motorhead song this side of “One track mind”. I wish more of these made it into Motorhead set lists these days, but I understand the band wants to promote their current material which is pretty fucken good. Speaking of “Capricorn”, I absolutely love the intro where Lemmy tells us that we can “mellow out” a bit. If there is an except on mellow yourself out, chemically or otherwise, it’s him.
Production
9. You will not find much better for a live record, especially one from 1981. To be honest, I enjoy the “No Sleep ‘Till Hammersmith” versions of older songs like “Bomber” and “Overkill” much more than the studio ones. Heresy this may be, but the extra kick that Motorhead gives these songs live makes all the difference for me. The guitars and bass sound fairly clear and a certainly high enough the mix. Phil Taylor’s drums sound as sloppy and as beautiful as ever. I love current Motordrummer Mikkey Dee, but when I hear “No Sleep Till Hammersmith” I really miss the Animal. More on his ugly mug later, “No Sleep…” sounds fucken good. Moving on…
Guitars
9. “Fast” Eddie Clark shreds his way through one song after another. His style and sound is just as responsible for defining Motorhead as the more famous Mole-man on base and vocals. Current Motorhead guitarist Phil Campbell is no slouch and I am a big fan of his too, but Eddie Clark was the man and “No Sleep Till Hammersmith” proves it. Eddie dominates all over the place; from the faster, proto-thrash riffs on “The Hammer”, “Ace of Spades”, “Overkill”, and “Bomber” to the heavier, groovier ones on “Iron horse”, “Metropolis”, and “Capricorn” the dude is totally on point. I think my favorite guitar performances are on the bluesy combo of “No class” and “We are the road crew”, songs that have been two of my favorites by Motorhead since I first heard them here.
Vocals
8. Lemmy growls and snarls like a pro on here. While his vocals have not deteriorated (amazingly) like those of Tom Araya, Dave Mustaine, and James Hetfield, Mr. Kilmeister can’t do it today just like he did on “No Sleep Till Hammerpenis”. Still, Lemmy is the man and his signature coke’n‘cigs flavored voice is, and always will be, the perfect sound for Motorhead’s driving, raw rock and roll.
Bass
9. This section should be renamed rhythm bass guitar beat down because that’s really what Lemmy plays. The metal world has Lemmy to thank for bringing the bass to the front of the sound.
Drums
9. The Philthy Animal was a sloppy drum-playing Panzer tank from hell. He tears shit up on “No Sleep Till Hammersmith”. I told you before, I love Mikkee Dee but it was Philty Phil who established the drum sound that has provided the backbone for Motorhead since the late 70’s. Phil’s fills are all killer and no fill filler. He also pounds out the double bass on “Overkill” years before it would become a metal standard. Speed, heaviness, groove; Taylor was way ahead of the curve on all of these metal drumming standards. For high points on here check out the previously mentioned “Overkill” as well as “We are the road crew” and “Bomber”.
Lyrics
10. Here’s why…
I’m in your life, just might be in your wife
Could be behind your back, I might be on your track
And it might be true, I might be onto you
I’ll scare you half to death, I’ll take away your breath
Don’t try to see, don’t try to hide
Believe me, The Hammer’s gonna make you die!
And that is just from “The Hammer”. Need more you say?
Brain dead, total amnesia
Get some mental anesthesia
Don’t move, I’ll shut the door and kill the lights
And if I can’t be wrong I could be right!
If you name a song after your band, it better rule. On “Motorhead” the band delivers that metal anesthesia your punk ass needs. Calm the fuck down, and “Stay clean”…
So you see, the only proof
Of what you are is in the way you see 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, stay clean!
A well deserved 10, fuck you if you think otherwise.
Cover
8. A cool live shot of the band with stage and lights behind ‘em. Nothing too amazing but I like it. There famous demon is absent, although he makes an appearance on the cd itself if you have the newer, re-mastered version.
Logo
9. Motorhead have stuck to their guns on this one and kept it the same for over thirty years! The band’s name appears in ornate letters; simple, effective, and iconic. I am a fan.
Booklet.
N/A. Call me Smalls, I lost this one a long time ago. I bought “No Sleep Till Hammersmith” during my sophomore year in college way back in 2000! Since then I have live in four different apartments, bought a house, has a kid, and lived down the beach on two different occasions. Yeah, I lost that shit.
Overall and Ending Rant
This is the album that made me love Motorhead. It was the first one I bought after amassing a large collection of Mp3’s from Napster. While I have managed to almost get Motorhead’s entire discography on cd since, “No Sleep Till Hammersmith” still gets as much of my attention as any studio album. With a new record on the way (probably out by the time this review goes live) and no retirement plans in sight, Motorhead is still going strong. To fully appreciate the band, you need to get a copy of “No Sleep…” so you can hear what Lemmy and Co. sounded like at the point where they perfected the band’s sound, style, and delivery. This is a winner of a live record and one of metal’s best. I cannot praise it anymore. Now, I must listen…
- Information
- Released: 1981
- Label: Bronze
- Website: www.imotorhead.com
- Band
- Lemmy: vocals, bass
- Eddie Clarke: guitar
- Philthy Taylor: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Ace of Spades
- 02. Stay Clean
- 03. Metropolis
- 04. The Hammer
- 05. Iron Horse – Born To Lose
- 06. No Class
- 07. Overkill
- 08. (We Are) The Road Crew
- 09. Capricorn
- 10. Bomber
- 11. Motörhead
