It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly five years since the untimely passing of Lemmy Kilmister. With his death came the inevitable end of Motörhead, but that hasn’t stopped former guitarist Phil Campbell. Since the band’s demise, he’s released a solo album, Old Lions Still Roar (2019), and formed a new band, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons. Living up to their name, this band keeps it all in the family. Joining Phil are his sons Tyla (bass), Dane (drums), and Todd (guitars). The only non-Campbell is frontman Neil Starr.
The BS (for short) specialize in a sound that’s gained popularity in the last decade. I’m not sure if it has a specific name, but the best way I’d describe it is modern rock with a retro twist. Think bands like Black Stone Cherry and Halestorm. The popularity of these acts have lead to veterans trying their hand at this sound, such as Thin Lizzy offshoot Black Star Riders, and supergroup The Dead Daisies. The results often vary.
Despite an earnest effort, sometimes the modern rock tendencies prevail, ruining the cohesion of old meets new. This is unfortunately the case with a handful of songs on We’re the Bastards. “Lie to Me” and “Promises are Poison” are inoffensive rockers that sound indistinguishable from any number of bands you’d hear on active rock radio today. Meanwhile, “Desert Song” (not to be confused with the Michael Schenker Group classic of the same name) limps around like a Saving Abel single I’d hear blasting out of the speakers of a pickup truck while driving through Kankakee, Illinois. And I promise you this is the first and last time you’ll see me referencing either the band or the town on this site.
There’s a handful of other tracks that do absolutely nothing for me as well, but why dwell on the bad when there’s the good stuff? Thankfully, the rest of We’re the Bastards boasts a mix of Motör-charged headbangers and hook laden hard rockers. “Son of a Gun”, “Animals”, and the snotty punk of my choice cut, “Destroyed”, are double bass driven ragers that’d make Lemmy proud. I’d love to hear an entire album of these songs, but I understand Campbell’s need to evolve in the aftermath of Motörhead. Serving as a contrast to these neck snappers are the southern twang of “Keep Your Jacket On”, “Born to Roam”, and “Bite My Tongue”. Even if you despise modern rock, like yours truly, the groove on display is unavoidable. Campbell tears it up with catchy riffs and rip roaring guitar solos, reminding us how he got the Motörhead gig in the first place.
Overall, the kickass songs on We’re the Bastards outweigh the mediocre ones, making it one of the better examples of this style that I’ve heard in recent years. I just hope a future release sees more focus on the metal/punk side of things. Furthermore, 50+ minutes is far too long for a hard rock album. And this many words is far too long for a hard rock review.
6 out of 10
Label: Nuclear Blast
Genre: Hard Rock
For fans of: Motörhead, The Dead Daisies, Black Stone Cherry