MOTÖRHEAD — On Parole (review)

MOTÖRHEAD — On Parole album cover Album · 1979 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
Vim Fuego
It is surprising how many Motörhead fans are unaware of the existence of the band's debut album. Perhaps the fact it was released well into their career has something to do with it…

The album kick–started in a storming fashion, with the rumbling "Motörhead", a tune Lemmy originally wrote for Hawkwind. Far from the space rock style of his previous band, "Motörhead" is a straightforward rock song, as unstoppable as the heavy metal of the bike sampled as an intro.

Then things start to get a bit strange, for long time Motörhead fans. "On Parole" definitely doesn't sound like latter day Motörhead. There's a definite AC/DC vibe to the song, along with bluesy passages. "Vibrator" also seems to take cues from Bon Scott and co., with its filthy double entendre lyrics

"Iron Horse/Born To Lose", Lemmy's ode to Hell's Angels, almost sounds like something BB King or some other old blues legend would produce. It is excellent for kicking back with a couple of beers in the summer sun. The same style is evident throughout 'On Parole'. Lemmy has said more than once Motörhead is just a loud blues influenced rock and roll band. It is probably more evident here than on any other album. The velocity and the "everything louder than everything else" production philosophy were still developing, and the hard–edged blues sound shines through. This certainly isn't metal, not by today's standards.

Most fans would probably find this album too slow and lacking the punch of later albums. Lemmy's gravelly voice is several thousand cigarettes and uncountable gallons whiskey short of his famous rasp, Philthy was yet to develop his manic double bass which first surfaced on "Bomber", and guitarist Larry Wallis, while technically more proficient than most later guitarists in the band, seemed to have a penchant for Jimi Hendrix/Angus Young hybrid solos.

The embryonic versions of the classics "Motörhead", "Iron Horse" and "Leaving Here" are excellent, but there is really little else on offer here for the casual listener. For completists and die–hard fans only.
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