Aftershock, A Look Back — Part Two

If at the time Lemmy’s health issues were worrying to myself and many other Motorhead fans, Aftershock as an album helped soothe the anxiety. Mainly because Aftershock is just such a good album from start to finish, it hits the right notes regarding my personal life during that time and the landscape of the world around me.

Now and then, I find myself, whether it be on Facebook, Twitter, etc., coming across the list, “Motorhead Albums Ranked.” This list compiles twenty-two Motorhead albums, excluding a few, including 1979’s ‘On Parole,’ and ranks them. Aftershock hits the list at number sixteen. These lists are standard with some critics, often placing the newer album releases at the bottom of the list.

When it comes to Aftershock, One critic notes, “Judged solely on its powerful first half, which was rife with fine and flexible creations like “Coup de Grace,” and the slow-burning “Lost Woman Blues” and utterly pile-driving “End of Time,” ‘Aftershock’ had all of the makings of a modern-day Motorhead classic. Alas, on the second half, the band just plain ran out of steam, resulting in an unusually long-player for Lemmy and team, but is it ever something special during the good bits.” In a way, I can see what this reviewer is saying as Aftershock is a more extended album. Though this is album is very special to me.

The issue for me here is that I feel because of Motorhead’s consistency in releasing new albums around every two years, many critics might have never given critical listens to the albums…