If Motörhead's self-titled debut was an inconsistent and confusing introduction to the band, their second album, 1979's Overkill, let the world know, in no uncertain terms, that Lemmy, "Philthy" and "Fast" Eddie were here to kick some ass. Opening with the album's title track, perhaps the first rock song to feature double-kick bass drums for its entire length, and a song the band used to close their live shows up until the very end, was a loud and proud statement. The song just screams "heavy metal" with its powerful vibe, Lemmy's rhythmic bass, Clarke's wild solos, and that unhinged drumming. It is like Taylor saved up all his energy from the previous album and let it ALL out on this track. Other "classic" tracks from Motörhead's catalog include the emphatic "Stay Clean," the middle finger to society "No Class," and the slow, simmering "Metropolis," Lemmy's foray into science fiction. Lesser-known cuts like "I'll Be Your Sister," showing off a humorous side to Motörhead's songwriting that would become a hallmark for the band, "Capricorn," and the Metallica-covered "Damage Case" are all solid examples of Motörhead's knack for writing simple and catchy songs. There are a couple of weaker tracks, like "(I Won't) Pay Your Price" and "Tear Ya Down" that are probably the victims of being up against some of the band's most iconic works as much as being average cuts.
Overkill is the first in a long line of mandatory Motörhead albums that all fans of heavy metal should own. So much of what would come later via the NWOBHM in England, the nascent thrash movement in the United States and the European metal scene in general can trace roots back through this album. A classic.
