Editor’s Note: It was brought to our attention that the music on this album was not performed solely by Athenar, but the live outfit featuring Vanik on guitars and SS on drums. Job well done on your respective instruments violators!
One Midnight album in a year is a gift. Two Midnight albums in a year? That’s an unholy blessing! Only this isn’t a Midnight album. No, it’s the debut full length from the one man black/speed band’s Motörhead worship alter ego, Whitespade. Now I know what you’re thinking. “Joe, isn’t Midnight ALREADY a Motörhead worship band?” In a way, yes. However, this is how they’d sound if Motörhead was their sole influence. In other words, take away all that Venom, Hellhammer, Discharge, Bathory, and whatever other early 80s pioneers that had an impact on the black rock n’ rollers’ sound.
Described as “the album Bronze Records rejected in between Bomber and Ace of Spades“, Whitespade is a roughly 33 minute melee of metal, punk, and rock n’ roll, stinking of whiskey and sleaze. Had it dropped in ’79, it would’ve scared off the NWOBHM headbangers and been too heavy for the gutter punks, similar to those early releases from Lemmy, Fast Eddie, and Philthy Animal themselves. I can’t think of a more fervent Motörhead disciple than Athenar to tackle such a project, who much like in Midnight, handles all of the instruments on this release.
The album opens with the explosive and appropriately titled “Thundercharge”, whose production and delivery screams Motörhead circa ’79. Talk about kicking things off with a bang! The killer metallic rock n’ roll of “Below the Law” showcases the musical chops (or blatant lack thereof) of Athenar, who amazingly nails the speed and swing of Philthy Animal’s drums, ripping riffs of Fast Eddie, and filth-bass fury of Lemmy. He even scales his vocals back from the usual Cronos-driven bark of Midnight releases to the semi-melodic growls of Kilmister. Whether it’s the pissed off punk of “Spit in Your Eye”, ‘eavy onslaught of “Wired in Red”, or savage skull-splitting insanity of “The Strangler”, Athenar captures all sides of metal’s definitive power trio.
While people love to focus on the fast and ferocious side of Motörhead, one simply can’t disregard the slow, sly, and swaggering rock n’ rollers they could churn out with equal determination (i.e. “Iron House / Born to Lose”, “Step Down”). That dark, foreboding side of the band is showcased here as well, via cuts like “Fast Lane to Nowhere”, “I’m the One to Blame”, and “No Limits”. Call it blasphemy (A welcome word in Athenar’s vocabulary), but I’d almost go as far to say these are the strongest songs on the album. If I were to make a “Slow Motörhead Songs” playlist, they’d fit like a glove. That said, I can’t deny the neck snapping rage of the closing “Leatherbound Glory”: A banger that I can’t help but think is a homage to “THEE ACE OF SPADES!!! THEE ACE OF SPADES!!!”
Will Whitespade become a full fledged project with each album showcasing a different era of Motörhead’s career? Amidst Midnight’s never-ending tour and slew of albums, EPs, singles, splits, etc., one can only hope. If so, I will be patiently and selfishly awaiting the arrival of Orgasmatron 2: Electric Boogaloo. Who knows? Maybe even Bill Laswell would be willing to get behind the mixing board for that one? Hey, a man can dream!
7 out of 10
Label: Independent
Genre: Heavy Metal
For fans of: Motörhead, Midnight, Speedwolf