22 studio albums, 10 live albums and 5 EPs later and Motorhead are still going strong, sounding as raw and punky as they did in their ’80s heyday. The unmistakable husk of Lemmy’s vocal, combined with snarling riff after riff, proves that Motorhead’s Biker Rock aesthetic isn’t something that has faded throughout their lengthy career.

I couldn’t help but think that ‘Thunder and lightning’ was another ‘Ace of Spades’ for a few seconds. It’s similar, but doesnt pack as much of a punch as the classic. This is just one of the many stand out tracks on this album, and definitely a highlight. The real standout track has to be ‘Shoot Out All Of The Lights’, courtesy of Mickkey Dee, who is an absolute animal behind the kit. His trademark, powerhouse thud, alongside the classic metal-like squeal of one of Campbell’s custom guitars, swamp Lemmy’s feeble, croaky vocals.

The carnage of Bad Magic is rounded off with a surprisingly clean (ish, it’s still Motorhead) cover of The Rolling Stones’ ‘Sympathy for the Devil’. This is the first time that I’ve heard Lemmy’s vocals sound somewhat melodic, before gliding into a powerful growl of “pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name”. Motorhead have successfully put a grimey, angst fulled twist on Jagger’s sleaze-fuelled anthem.

What a comeback from the soul crushingly disappointing flop that was After Shock. We are launched back into a sonic attack similar to that of Overkill. Grin all you want at Lemmy’s recent switch to vodka from Bourbon for “health reasons”; but anything that keeps one of rock’s most admirable veterans on the road is a good call in my books.

Bad Magic is out now via UDR GmbH.

Abbi Parcell
@abbilennon