The band’s 22nd studio release is pure and predictable Motorhead; fans know what they are going to get and that the material will be cracking, noisy and heavy - Lemmy always delivers the goods.
Motorhead’s absolute commitment to its style of musical delivery is comforting and reliable – a bit like AC/DC’s in that sense (but with a faster and more aggressive sound).
I can report that Bad Magic is a very good album, in fact I recommend that you buy yourself a copy right now.
Of the 13 tracks, the song “Till the End” stands out for me, not because it is the best tune but because the lyrics made me reflect on Lemmy’s wellbeing and the longevity of one of my all-time favourite bands.
Lemmy’s health has been widely reported as "declining". On recent tours, gigs have been cancelled due to illness, details of various medical conditions are in the public domain and the great man is starting to look a little frail. To be fair he has epitomised the sex and drugs and rock’n’roll lifestyle and, all things considered, has done pretty well to date.
I have followed Motorhead for twenty five years or more; own every album produced (studio or live); I have seen the band umpteen times; I have watched “Lemmy - The Movie” and have read “White Lines”, Lemmy’s autobiography. But, the Kilmister roller coaster ride is inevitably going to come to an end (perhaps in the not too distant future), and Lemmy acknowledges the passing of time in “Till the End”.
Lyrical extracts include:
”I’ll never let you down”
“There aint no rules to follow
You can’t predict tomorrow”
“Your memories are yours alone
They’re yours until your dust and bone”
“In my life the times have changed
I’m still the man I was”
“You can never live that life again
The one thing you’ll never lose
Is the singing in your head
That will still be with you until the end”
Lemmy is reported as having every intention of performing until he drops and that will come as no surprise to Motorhead fans who are used to his work ethic. That clarity of thought is even reflected on Bad Magic. “Till the End” is track nine on the album so once the introspection is complete, Lemmy gets back to business and charges through four more tracks.
It is possible that Bad Magic might be the last Motorhead album; if it is, Lemmy’s swansong is a good one.
The End
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