Motorhead Live More Than Just A Concert, It’s An Experience

Courtesy: UDR/Motorhead Music/EMI

“We are Motorhead.  We play rock and roll!”  Whenever audiences hear those words, they know that they are about to be part of not just a concert, but an experience.  Even if a person can’t be there in person, hearing those words on DVD and CD will make home audiences feel as if they’re experiencing Motorhead first hand with the people who were there when the band recorded the shows for its live release, The World is Ours Vol. 1: Everywhere Further than Everywhere Else. 

Along with the recent release of The World is Ours Vol. 2:  Anyplace Crazy as Anywhere Else, Motorhead has proven that it has one of the best live shows of any rock band out there.  So many bands out there still rely so much on pyro and other showmanship.  Motorhead on the other hand shows on this release that the old adage of less is more is true.  On this first half of its live release, this group of old dogs continues to show it doesn’t need new tricks to impress its audiences.  Lemmy, Mickey, and Phil rock crowds of thousands with little more than their music.  That is the power of music.  That is the importance of music.  That is the importance of Motorhead. 

The World is Ours Vol. 1: Everywhere Further than Everywhere Else stands out as one of the year’s best live releases first and foremost because of its shooting.  The entire DVD portion of the package was shot in black and white.  There are those who would criticize film makers who present any live concert, movie, etc. in black and white.  They would argue that the style has become overdone among other arguments.  However, in the case of Motorhead live, the black and white adds the band’s minimalist on stage presence.  It gives an equally impressive feeling when viewers are taken out among the fans.  It’s a feeling that can’t be put into words.  Rather, it’s something that has to be experienced for one’s own self.  The crowd’s frenetic energy set against the band’s on stage presence is an amazing dichotomy.  That energy translates quite well on screen and will get any viewer’s energy up, too.

The energy translated through the visual portion of this package is just one part of what makes it one of the year’s best live recordings.  It also comes with a double disc CD set.  The pair of CD’s included in the overall triple-disc set present all three recorded performances from the set’s DVD portion.  To sweeten the deal both discs present the performances in exactly the same order as what is presented on the DVD.  What does this have to do with the price of tea in China one might ask?  This is something important in that so many live recordings presented in similar fashion will either mix up the performance order or will even omit songs here and there on one portion of their presentation or another.  So having the entire set of performances presented in exactly the same order both on CD and DVD maintains the set’s full integrity.  Everyone at UDR, Motorhead Music and EMI are to be commended for this.

The video and audio play a major role in the success of The World is Ours Vol. 1: Everywhere Further than Everywhere Else.  There’s at least one more element that makes it an impressive multi-disc set.  That factor is the set’s packaging.  So often, record labels release live recordings separately on their own audio and video formats.  But as with the second volume of the band’s tour presentation, the packaging here includes both the audio and video presentation in one.  Sure it may be a bit more costly than other sets.  But the price is worth it considering that the full live experience is included in one set.  For that matter, the set is presented in an easily manageable gatefold package.  It would have been easy to just place the set into a standard case with double sided insert.  But that style of case can be problematic.  Trying to get the insert to swing out can lead to it breaking to even the case itself getting cracked.  Using a gatefold presentation allows audiences to simply unfold the case and pick the disc of their own choice.  Vol. 2 is packaged in exactly the same fashion, making the entire seven-disc set that much more impressive.  Again, those involved with making this portion of the set happen are also to be commended.  The packaging combined with the equally enjoyable audio and video make The World is Ours Vol. 1: Everywhere Further than Everywhere Else one of the year’s top two best live recordings.  It’s available in stores and online now.  It can be ordered direct via UDR’s website at http://www.udr-music.com/index.php/en/motorhead-products. 

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online at http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it or its companion page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Reviews/381028148587141.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Motorhead Moves To The Front Of The Live Class With New Release

COurtesy: UDR Music/Motorhead Music/EMI Label Services

Motorhead fans put those horns high.  The band has returned with the accompanying piece to its 2011 release, The World Is Ours Vol. 1 – Everywhere Further Than Everyplace Else.  This second half of the band continues to cover highlights of its 2011 tour in support of its most recent album, The World Is Yours.  It picks right back up where Vol. 1 left off with just as much metal mayhem as that aforementioned release.

What Motorhead has shown yet again here is that a band doesn’t have to have pyro and loads of special effects to put on a great stage show.  All this hard rocking three piece needs is a huge set of its greatest hits and nothing more.  From the opening moments of ‘Iron Fist’ to the mega-drum solo of drummer Mikey Dee on ‘In The Name of Tragedy’ to the final number from the band’s performance at Rock in Rio, Motorhead’s loyal legions will love every second of this live box set.  Dee’s solo is without a doubt one of the most incredible moments from the band’s Wacken performance.  And the angles by which the camera crew catches his solo make his solo that much more intense.  For someone of his age, it is absolutely incredible to see up close and personal his talent and ability on the drums.  A moment such as that is exactly why fans flock to live shows every year.  It’s one thing to hear a band on a record.  But to experience such a sight in person is what makes an average fan into a mega fan.

Speaking of the camera angles used to capture Dee’s drum solo, those are angles are just a tiny piece of what makes the DVD and BD pieces to this four-piece set such a wonderful addition.  The cameras capture the band’s performance from every possible angle as it performs.  They even get into the depths of the audiences to capture the show from the audience’s point of view.  There are also shots taken from high above the crowd that expertly capture the intense devotion of the fans to this legendary band’s performance, along with the sheer magnitude of the audience’s numbers.  Being able to capture this show from the comfort of one’s own home will make audiences feel as if they’re still right there at the show, just with the ability to control the volume.  But then again, someone once said, if it’s too loud, you’re too old!  So anyone with a surround sound system will get even more of a full-on concert experience.

The recordings of the band’s performances at Sonisphere and Rock in Rio are just as strong as at Wacken.  Considering the band has been making music for nearly four decades, and that it is still being invited to perform at some of the world’s top concert festivals shows the respect that the music world has for this band.  And seeing that fans continue to flock to see this band perform shows the love and respect that audiences have for the band, too.  For those who haven’t had the opportunity just yet to see the band live, this four disc set is an excellent chance to catch the band live without ever having to leave the comfort of one’s own home.  No worries about concert tickets.  No worries about lodging, food, etc.  Just you, your TV (or CD player) and Motorhead.  What more does a true metal head need?  The World Is Ours Vol. 2 – Anyplace Crazy As Anywhere Else is available now in stores and online.  It can be ordered online at http://www.udr-music.com.

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it or its companion page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Reviews/381028148587141.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Metal Blade Strikes Gold Again With Brit Rockers’ New Album

COurtesy: Metal blade Records/Rise Above Records

We are currently living in the twenty-first century.  But don’t tell that to the British hard rock band Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell.  This British three-piece takes listeners back to the days of Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath, and so many others from rock’s Golden Era.  From the opening moments of Mark of The beast, audiences know that there is something special about this band. 

What’s really intriguing about “Don’t Hear It, Fear It” is that while the songs on this album do have some lyrical content, it’s obvious that much more emphasis was placed on the music.  There is nothing wrong at all with this.  The emphasis on the album’s musical side is what makes the music that enjoyable for listeners.  The album’s opener, ‘Mark of The Beast’ is solid proof of that.  Drummer Bill Darlington’s playing on this song is right up there with Bonzo himself, the great John Bonham.  He echoes Bonham’s playing both stylistically and sound-wise thanks to the work of producer and mixer Drew Mudd and Chris Fielding along with Ed Turner.  Even vocalist/guitarist Johnny Gorilla seems to channel Tommy Iommi and Jimmy Page all at the same time.  The two together, along with vocalist Louis Wiggett’s vocals make this a solid opener for this album.

The band channels other classic rock stylings on ‘iDeath.’  This is another excellently rounded hard rock song that any true purist metal head will love.  Again, vocalist/guitarist Johnny Gorilla and drummer Bill Darlington take center stage with their talents on this semi-Motorhead style song.  The slower, sludge rock vibe from the song is a drastic change from so many of today’s hard rock acts with their down tuned crunching guitars and cookie monster style growls.  It’s only one more highlight that’s offered throughout the course of this almost hour long record.  Yes, it’s a short record.  But it’s a good record.  In a time when so much modern metal is dominating playlists everywhere, this is a record that has turned out to be another surprise success and another hit from Metal Blade Records in 2012 along with the likes of Horisont and Gypsyhawk.

“Don’t Hear It, Fear It” is available now in stores and online.  It can be ordered direct via Metal Blade’s website at http://www.indiemerch.com/metalbladerecords/band/admiral-sir-cloudesley-shovell.

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it or its companion page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Reviews/ 381028148587141.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Gypsyhawk’s Sophomore LP Another Hit For Metal Blade

Courtesy: Metal Blade Records

Guitars, bass, drums, and vocals.  That’s really all rock and roll needs.  And that’s what Pasadena, California’s own Gypsyhawk has brought to the game once again with its new album, “Revelry and Resilience.”  This album is a straight forward hard rocking work that will have every warm blooded rocker out there banging his or her heard, and putting his or her horns high with pride.  “Revelry and Resilience” is an example of everything that is and ever has been right with rock music.

The whole rock party kicks off with fittingly with the song, ‘Overdrive.’   To quote the line, this song is all killer, no filler.  From the killer guitar solos from Andrew Packer and Erik Kluiber, to front man Eric Harris’ Lemmy Kilmister-like vocals, to drummer Ian Brown’s driving beat, this song is a perfect start to the record in every way.  The band barely lets up from here, kicking right into ‘The Fields’ with equal adrenaline.  ‘Hedgeking’ follows in similar fashion, keeping the adrenaline and the blood flowing in its listeners’ veins from start to finish. 

There’s little letting up from there on throughout the remainder of this record.  Gypsyhawk’s sound has obviously evolved from its first album, “Patience and Perseverance.”  The band had a solid old school rock and roll sound on that record.  But the band’s sound seems even more honed this time out.  The band is right up there with the likes of Fireball Ministry, Airbourne, and others of that ilk on this album.  What makes Gypsyhawk better than those bands though, is its ability to cross the rock and roll spectrum, rather than stick to one style.  Airbourne is more closely linked to AC/DC and Fireball Ministry is compared more to classic Ozzy.  In the case of Gypsyhawk, this band has guitar work that pays homage to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Judas Priest, and even Iron Maiden just to name a few.  And as already noted front man Eric Harris’ vocals are weirdly similar to that of Lemmy Kilmister.  All of that being noted, Gypsyhawk’s new album, “Revelry and Resilience” will be a favorite among the fans of true old school guitar driven rock and roll, this reviewer included.  In fact, there is little doubt that by the end of the year, it will find itself on this reviewer’s list of the year’s best hard rock and metal albums.

“Revelry and Resilience” will be available in stores and online next Tuesday, August 28th.  It can be ordered direct through Metal Blade’s website at http://www.indiemerch.com/metalbladerecords/band/gypsyhawk.  The band will be performing a handful of live dates this Fall and Winter to support the album.  Fans can check out those dates and all the latest from the band online at http://www.facebook.com/Gypsyhawkusa, http://gyspsyhawk.bandcamp.com, and http://gypsyhawkusa.blogspot.com.  

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it or its companion page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Reviews/381028148587141.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at http://philspicks.wordpress.com.