“built_for_speed”
Built For Speed
A Mötörhead Tribute
Victory
I must admit that a lot of the so-called “tribute” albums out there really annoy me. I mean, at this time in history, with so much music being available, why not just pick up the original albums and listen to them instead of settling for the latest pop flash destroying your favorite song for a quick buck?
Now, even if they get the right bands, if Mötörhead is going to get the tribute they deserve, nothing short of Motorhexecllence will be accepted. Happily, the bands performing on Built For Speed for the most part have proven themselves to me (yes, I am the Supreme Decider) through their own successes to be worthy of giving tribute to Mötörhead. How many bands have the balls to cover “Ace of Spades” without risking it all? Blood For Blood does, and their version sounds like a cover of this seminal metal tune should: you know how “Ace of Spades” is supposed to sound, like you’re driving a Mack truck full-speed through a paramilitary police roadblock. The Dropkick Murphys, who are busy making a name for themselves on their own songs, cover “Rock and Roll” quite well, as do Electric Frankenstein on “We Are the Roadcrew.” Chrome Locust, a fine NYC “stoner rock” band, hammers out “Metropolis” and Speedealer (yes, they let Kevin Cronin have his way) nail “Motorhead.” I don’t want to give too much away, but whoever picked the Groovie Ghoulies to cover “R.A.M.O.N.E.S.” and Integrity to cover “Orgasmatron” should be nominated for some kind of award, brilliant! If you’re big into Mötörhead, like myself, you will enjoy this album, it’s sort of like seeing an up and coming metal or hardcore band play a great set coming back for an encore and they decide to cover a Mötörhead tune.
Victory Records, P.O. Box 146546, Chicago, IL 60614; http://www.victoryrecords.com
