With the death of "Fast" Eddie Clarke earlier this month, Motörhead's legendary classic lineup have all passed on. It's up to Phil Campbell, the band's guitarist since 1984, to carry on the legacy of one of rock n' roll's most beloved acts. Shouldn't be too hard, should it?
Turns out it is. The Age of Absurdity is tacky, unoriginal, occasionally annoying and altogether not good. Most of the blame falls squarely on vocalist Neil Starr, whose lyrics stumble through sleaze rock clichés that were already dated in 1988, and which bands like Nickelback, Buckcherry and Fozzy thoroughly killed in the 2000s. There's a decent bluesy track called "Dark Days" and "Gypsy Kiss" is sort of lobotomized-and-drunk fun, but they're cancelled out by "Get On Your Knees," which drops the line "spare me the striptease, it's not the '80s, just get a grip please." Keeping it classy.
The band's instrumental section is made up of Campbell and his three sons. That actually makes sense. This album is not much more then an old rocker's jam session with his kids. Fortunately for us, Phil Campbell's legacy with Motörhead's is safe. Soon, this will be forgotten and we can go back to blasting Killed By Death again.
(Nuclear Blast)Turns out it is. The Age of Absurdity is tacky, unoriginal, occasionally annoying and altogether not good. Most of the blame falls squarely on vocalist Neil Starr, whose lyrics stumble through sleaze rock clichés that were already dated in 1988, and which bands like Nickelback, Buckcherry and Fozzy thoroughly killed in the 2000s. There's a decent bluesy track called "Dark Days" and "Gypsy Kiss" is sort of lobotomized-and-drunk fun, but they're cancelled out by "Get On Your Knees," which drops the line "spare me the striptease, it's not the '80s, just get a grip please." Keeping it classy.
The band's instrumental section is made up of Campbell and his three sons. That actually makes sense. This album is not much more then an old rocker's jam session with his kids. Fortunately for us, Phil Campbell's legacy with Motörhead's is safe. Soon, this will be forgotten and we can go back to blasting Killed By Death again.