Review of Motörhead - Better Motörhead Than Dead: Live At Hammersmith

Sure another Motörhead live album is superfluous, but I’ll tell you what: You pull off three decades as a massively influential and prolific metal godfather, and you can document and sell your 30 year anniversary any way you see fit. And besides, the way I see it, the US owes Motörhead a truckload of album sales anyway. Better Motörhead Than Dead: Live at Hammersmith captures the band’s anniversary party on June 16th of 2005, but it’s easy to consider the double live album as the audio equivalent to last year’s DVD offering, Stage Fright. The two shows took place just a few months apart, and the setlists are nearly identical, the difference being that this two-disc set sports an extra three tracks–Snake Bite Love’s “Love For Sale,” and the immensely welcome classics “(We Are) The Road Crew” and “Bomber.” Being that I covered Stage Fright in an astoundingly proficient and compelling review (hold the applause, please) not too long ago, there’s not much need to go into detail on this one. You’ll find all the particulars two mouse clicks away, and the assessment here is the same. Suffice to say that the Motörhead machine continues to fire on all cylinders, enthusistically banging out essential metal from throughout the iconic band’s storied career. I was talking to a friend not long ago about “involuntary reaction metal"–A moment in a song that no matter how many times you’ve heard it, or where you happen to be at the time, when it comes on you can’t help but bang your head, pump your fist, punch the dashboard or roof of your car--you get the idea. It's a metal reflex. “Ace of Spades,” motherfucker. That’s as prime an example as there is. When the drums join the bass intro and then the band explodes into that classic frantic, redlined riff, I’m a goner every time. EVERY time. That’s magic. That’s timeless. That’s Motörhead.

Disc 1:
1. Dr. Rock
2. Stay Clean
3. Shoot You In The Back
4. Love Me Like A Reptile
5. Killers
6. Metropolis
7. Love For Sale
8. Over The Top
9. No Class
10. I Got Mine
11. In The Name Of Tragedy
12. Dancing On Your Grave

Disc 2 :
1. R.A.M.O.N.E.S.
2. Sacrifice
3. Just 'Cos You Got The Power
4. (We Are) The Road Crew
5. Going To Brazil
6. Killed By Death
7. Iron Fist
8. Whorehouse Blues
9. Bomber
10. Ace Of Spades
11. Overkill

Release Details

Motörhead

Better Motörhead Than Dead: Live At Hammersmith

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