Iron Fist - Motorhead-Iron Fist ****Iron Fist is one of Motorheads most underrated albums, especially of their early period with Philthy Phil and Fast Eddie Clarke. While not the strongest album, it is far from being a weak album. It was Iron Fist that was Lemmy Kilmisters ode to everything he loved and everything he hated, and had it not been for the weak production courtesy of Clarke, the album would have been a classic. The guitars get lost in places, and the drums often feel dull, but Motorhead being the band that is so loud if they moved next door they would kill your lawn, they manage to make it work.the title track is just classic tough, scruffy speed rock from the boys that do it best. Heart Of Stone is a classic love song in true Lemmy form. Other than the lyrics though the track is hit or miss. Im The Doctor and Sex And Outrage are both odes to Lemmy s favorite past time...sex. The latter being one of early Motorheads all time best. America was Lem s love song for the country he would soon move to and stake claim over L.A. and Rainbow Bar & Grill. Bar far the strongest and consistent track on the album. Clarkes riff is one of his better, and Phil plays one solid back beat. Speedfreak much like the bands name, is a reference to Lemmy Kilmisters speed addiction. A problem he had for many, many years. While not as fast as you would expect the track gets the job done, and contains some of his best bass work. Loser is pure lament, and maybe the second best track here. Totally unlike every other Motorhead song. (Don t Let Em) Grind Ya Down is something the boys had been working at one the last few albums, and really nailed here. (Don t Need) Religion and Bang To Rights were Lemmy s first in your face blatant attempts at social issues and he did it right. For a tough S.O.B. Lemmy is one of the most tolerant and excepting people in the world, and human rights are something he takes to heart.While the production is weak, the songs are anything but. This was sadly the final album of the classic Kilmister, Clarke, Taylor line up. Soon Brian of Thin Lizzy would join in on guitar on change things.. This was the last great early Motorhead album so don t miss out.
Everything I Ever Needed to Know About Whiskey And Speed I Learned From Lemmy - The provenance of this record is steeped in the very same whiskey and speed the lyrics profess and is delivered by dudes missing a lot of teeth among them. In my book, this gives a band a great deal of street cred.Like most Motorhead albums, the songs follow a stylistical formula. There aren t really more stand out tracks on Iron Fist than on any other given good Motorhead record, but these stand out tracks seem especially engineered for optimal concussive effect. While some earlier songs may have been iconic (ahem, Ace of Spades), it s the pithier tracks like Sex and Outrage and America that really nourish the flower of youth. And Motorhead is, after all, an extremely enigmatic and influential band. I hear echoes of Sex and Outrage in every decent Florida hardcore band I know.In fact, I think the legacy of Iron Fist is as much about the continuum of rock and roll as it is its heritage. While this record is 26 years old, it doesn t sound nearly as rickety and asthmatic as, say, an AC/DC album of the same vintage. Enjoy at loud volume over strong drinks.
a lot of people don t like this one but it s one of my favorites - Iron Fist is the closing chapter in one phase of Motorhead s history. It marks the last album with Fast Eddie (who also produced this one), and a lot of fans, even Lemmy himself, have said they don t care much for this album. Personally I don t understand why there are complaints. Perhaps it s frowned upon because it was the end of an era. Maybe because of the environment in which it was recorded- turmoil, fights, management issues, band member issues, increased drug use, musical differences, and trying to follow up their most successful album yet in Ace of Spades- maybe all of that makes it a bad memory for Lemmy.It could be because Iron Fist was the first Motorhead song I ever heard back in 1982 (and it s still my favorite song) but I absolutely love this CD and consider it the band s 2nd best studio effort behind Over Kill. This album rocks and contains many classics in the Motorhead arsenal. I highly recommend checking out this fairly unpopular release and decide for yourself if it is essential M Head. I think it is!Highlights: title track, Heart of Stone, Sex & Outrage, America, Speedfreak
Fast Eddie Fans must have this one! - This album gets a bad wrap: yea, its not Ace Of Spades, but it is the last of the Fast Eddie era Moterhead.The tune Iron Fist is a great song, and worth it for that one alone. This is definitly a fans album, but remember that this one made the top 6 on the British charts when it came out (so its not as bad as some reviews suggest). This album is not the Mr Roboto (a stinker of an album) of Motorhead, but definitly not their very best effort. Also, its not the worst they did: you can hear classic Eddie in this album, and Phil and Lemmy do a great job on this as well.They sound like they were on the verge of becoming more like Saxon and Iron Maiden, and less like a band of Soccer holligan drunks playing late 70s thrash. There IS a refinement, but less innovative . Its hard to say if Lemmy did not do the Stand by Your Man thing with Wendy O, Eddie would not have left the band (who knows). They would not be the first band of good musicians that started to make it who shot themselves in the rear with bickering and lack of direction. Most of my music friends who are good would also blow it (in time) if they made it - it must go with the territory.This album was released when the band was at their worst, imploding from the stress of thier success. If you go to Fast Eddies web site, even he trashes this album, but that may be more to do with the memory of what was going on in the band when they split up (how many people watch wedding videos and go over their wedding albums after a divorse to savor the memories?? ). The Iron Fist tour was going bad, and tensions were rising (a rift formed in the Phil/Lemmy and Eddie camps). They tried to save money in getting Eddie to do the album and found out they should have paid the money, and all of them distance themselves from this album. Its so funny that in spite of that, its still pretty good. And it did well in the charts.If you are collecting albums, this one has to be you buy. Just watch Iron Fist on Youtube and you will buy this album (but buy Ace of Spades, Overkill, and Bomber FIRST).
Last of the Fast Eddie era - Motorhead are a rock and roll legend. From their bruising beginnings to current status as hard rockin Godfathers, Lemmy and company have stayed true to their roots and have prospered at least well enough to stay on the road and make albums. The first Motorhead incarnation remains, to many, the classic line-up with Lemmy Kilmister on bass and (ahem) vocals, Philthy Animal Taylor on drums and Fast Eddie Clarke on guitars. Fast Eddie is the key ingredient to the classic crash and burn Motorhead sound that gave us the immortal Ace Of Spades and earlier platters like Overkill and Bomber. Clarke s style, a thick blues and riff heavy attack gave Motorhead their distinctive hooks, much needed amid the bombast. Iron Fist, Clarke s last effort with the band, followed on the heels of No Sleep Til Hammersmith, the classic live album. Following this album was no easy task, but thanks to Clarke s slightly cleaner production, Iron Fist is a classic. My edition includes live performances on a second CD. The hooks and humor are there, including I m The Doctor, I m A Loser and Don t Need Religion, a topic near and dear to Kilmister s heart. Iron Fist may pale a little in the shadow of Ace Of Spades, but then again, nobody could top that outing. A fine effort from a great rock and roll band.