10 badass Motorhead Songs

2015, what an year it's been!

It was 6 pm and I just got back from my first day of work since I returned from a long vacation at my hometown. I was lazily surfing through Facebook, just catching up on what people were upto and suddenly saw Anthrax's post about Lemmy passing away. I swallowed hard and scrambled all over the internet to confirm if the unthinkable has really happened. The one, the only, Lemmy Kilmister, who we all expected to live forever, has left us.
Soon enough, posts started flooding the social media about the frontman.

I was filled with an overwhelming sense of loss. It took me a while to fathom the fact that this heavy metal icon is no more in our lives. Most of us here know this man God has lived life to the fullest and exemplified a true Rock n Roll lifestyle. Reading all the reactions of many, many musicians, one thing became clear. I decided to stop being sad, and "celebrate the LIFE this lovely, wonderful man celebrated so vibrantly himself." I turned on the speaker and blasted Motorhead, LOUD!

I hereby dedicate my list below to the one true "badass" of Rock n Roll history.


10. Killed By Death (No Remorse) 
What a better way to start the list, than with this metal anthem with tongue-in-cheek title of how one day or the other, death will kill us all. This gritty song is a classic Motorhead, with gnarly vocals of Lemmy and rest of the band doing what they do best. Let's not forget about the lyrics..
"I'm a lone wolf trigger, but I ain't no pretty boy. I'm a backbone shiver and I'm a bundle of joy."

9. I'm So Bad (Baby I Don't Care) (1916)
Badass right from the title, this is a song which will grow hair on your chest. With a solid chunky riff throughout and thrash percussion, Lemmy delivers pure badass through his voice.Wham, bam, thank you ma'am!

8. Rock Out (Motorizer) 
This adrenaline-pumping track is a sludgy-vocal powered bullet train. With super fast riffing and drumming, it will inspire to do exactly what the title suggests. I keep wondering every time I listen to Motorhead songs, with such badassery oozing out of every single song, how the fuck did they live their lives?

7. Iron Fist (Iron Fist)
Holy Shit! That's what I exclaimed when I first heard this song. Faster than lightning, this typical Motorhead thrash formula gives you all you expect; nasty riffing with the grit-filled vocal delivery and Phil's super-fast drumming.

6. The Chase Is Better Than The Catch (Ace Of Spades)
Wiser words have never been spoken. Ah, this song epitomizes womanizing, as we all are aware, Lemmy has done gloriously. A track more heavy, thrashy but textbook Motorhead with all the elements essential to make it a perfectly-badass song. And watch out for the solos, quite brilliantly done!

5. Born To Raise Hell (Bastards)
I believe this is an ode to themselves. This gem comes their Bastards album which hails other badass songs like "I Am the Sword", "On Your Feet or On Your Knees" and "Death Or Glory" but this track remains one of band's greatest latter-day classics. Groovy riffs, heavy drums and the God's vocals blend-in perfectly, just like Jack and coke.

4. Orgasmatron (Orgasmatron)
"Your bones will build my palaces, your eyes will stud my crown. For I am Mars, the god of war, and I will cut you down"
BAD-FUCKING-ASS.

3. Hellraiser (March Or Die)
One of the most popular Motorhead songs, this was originally written by Lemmy, Ozzy and Zakk Wylde. Later it was re-recorded it for this album and made it Motorhead-esque heavy, which ain't a bad thing. Add in the sonic-sludgy Kilmister's voice, it turns out uber badass.
Oh, an honorable mention to the song 'I Ain't No Nice Guy' from the same album.

2. The Game (Hammered)
Although this song was composed by a WWE music composer, this song is Motorhead from start to finish. Lemmy's voice is absolute power. It establishes a sense of control through heavy riffing and thunderous drums. I remember listening to this song from my adolescence, when 'Triple H' walked into the ring, for the first time. I'm glad he picked this one.

1. Motorhead (Motorhead)
This is THE definitive badass song through which they declared to the world "Motorhead, remember me now, Motorhead alright". Aggressive, straightforward and in-your-face, this to me, is what Motorhead has always sounded like, and always will. And that bass intro, we will never forget...

As this list concludes, I know I have missed so many other songs which fit the bill, but then again, that would mean listing ALL the songs they've ever penned-down.

RIP Lemmy. Thank you for teaching us how to live. \m/

"Death is an inevitability, isn't it? You become more aware of that when you get to my age. I don't worry about it. I'm ready for it. When I go, I want to go doing what I do best. If I died tomorrow, I couldn't complain. It's been good." - Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister

*Ends*

10 metal songs which are extremely sad

Greetings readers!

Today, I list all poignant reminders of the metal realm. As we all know, most of the metal bands at some point in their career have penned down some mournful tracks of which some evoke anger, some induce pain, but almost all, leave you with a heavy heart.
Melancholy is beautiful, in a weird way. And in my opinion, these songs will move you with a genuine heartfelt emotion and make you sympathize with these lyricists and musicians, who have endured pain and suffering just like the rest of us.

10. Endless Sacrifice (Train Of Thought) - Dream Theater 
Lets start off the list with a classic by the masters of prog metal. 'Endless sacrifice' is about long-distance relationship and what it takes to endure it. Written by Petrucci, it details the sorrow and isolation you feel when you're far way from your loved one and the compromises you'll have to make. This one stanza from the song sums it up perfectly. 
Over the distance, we try to make sense of surviving together, while living apart
The music is absolutely brilliant which blends in seamlessly with the lyrics. This is one song you cannot miss.

9. So Far Away (Nightmare) - Avenged Sevenfold
Written by the guitarist, Synyster Gates, this is one painful reminiscent of their deceased drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan. The lyrics give you a glimpse of the tragedy of losing someone who you love. The song genuinely makes you empathize with each and every member of the band after the loss of their good friend. I don't listen to A7X so much to understand why they have garnered so much hate, but I do know one thing, this is a well-crafted heartbreaking song, and due respect should be given, when deserved.

8. A Tout Le Monde (Youthanasia) - Megadeth
The French title, when translated to English, means "To all the world". This song is like a reverse eulogy, which is in the first-person perspective of someone breathing their last.. As Mustaine said it himself, it is an opportunity for the deceased to say something to the ones they love before they go. 
An acoustic intro leads into a solid thrash composition filled with typical Megadeth riffs and solos.

7. Windowpane (Damnation) - Opeth
Opeth have churned out some extremely haunting melodies since their first album. This song, like the rest of the songs from the album Damnation, is a beautiful composition. It's a really sad song. The lyrics indicate that it's about child abuse and the emotional scars they leave behind. Windowpane is tailored with acoustic guitar bridges, melodious solos, soft drums and of course, the angelic voice of Mr. Akerfeldt.

6. Solitude (Master Of Reality) - Black Sabbath
Leave it to the masters of heavy metal to come up with a song so touching, by the time you are done listening to it, you will be left fighting a lump in your throat. Iommi not only plays the guitar, but also the flute and the piano in this mellow masterpiece. Ozzy's voice is soothingly sad. Only if the rest of the world knows how versatile metal really is.

5. Embrace Of The Endless Ocean (Twilight Of The Thunder God) - Amon Amarth
Half way through the list, we have reached to the tale of a slave, who has been set free and while sailing on a ship home, a storm rips it apart and he dies in the ocean. This is my personal favorite of this list and every time I hear it, I feel my neck hairs stand. This is viking metal at it's finest. Below is a lyrical excerpt.
Wont feel the breeze of my home shore, nor see the lakes or winter snow.
My hopeful dreams lie ripped and torn, father, I die alone, I die alone..

4. Here Come The Tears (Sin After Sin) - Judas Priest
I'll give you one tip. Don't ever listen to this song after a heart break. Sad songs are supposed to be your recluse after such events, but not this one. This will turn your soul inside-out. Halford shines in this song, delivering pain through his voice, while the guitars wail in misery in the background. And surely, by the time you are done with the song, here come the tears...

3. Suicide Note Pt.1 (The Great Southern Trendkill) - Pantera
This first part of the power ballad is arguably the most diverse song of Pantera. A 12-string guitar provides the rhythm, with some help from keyboards. Before the song segues into Pt. 2, it takes the listener into an isolated psychedelic experience, a mind of drug-induced suicidal, to live through his despair. Phil does a phenomenal job expressing pain through his vocals.

2. 1916 (1916) - Motorhead
Alright guys, get ready to bawl like babies. 1916 recounts the experience of a dying soldier. With a keyboard synth and drum machine, this song, composed by Lemmy, will surely leave you in tears. There is not much to say about this, except that it is probably the only sad song by Motorhead and they did an exceptional job in making it "heartrendingly sad".

1. Fade To Black (Metallica) - Metallica
Here it is. To me, this is probably the saddest song I've heard since I started listening to metal. Coincidentally, this song came out on top of UG's "Top 20 Greatest Rock Ballads" poll this week. This is the  song I would listen to, if I had only 7 minutes to live. Starts off with a long acoustic intro, works it's way through a harmonious blend of guitars and drums and fades out with a killer solo. It is a classic thrash anthem and forever will remain so.