Inferno (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Inferno
Type = Album
Artist = Motörhead


Released = June 22, 2004
Recorded = 2004
NRG, Paramount,
Maple Studios
Length = 50:58
Label = SPV GmbH
Producer = Cameron Webb
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:6qo7gjur46i9 link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album?id=6058481 link]
Last album = "Live at Brixton Academy"
(2003)
This album = "Inferno"
(2004)
Next album = "BBC Live & In-Session"
(2005)

"Inferno" is a 2004 album by Motörhead. It features some heavy tracks (like "Terminal Show" and "In the Name of Tragedy"), but also some rock'n'roll tracks ("Killers", "Life's a Bitch"). "Whorehouse Blues" is an acoustic track, which reflects on the thirty years of Motörhead's existence. Guitarist Steve Vai plays on "Terminal Show" and "Down on Me".

In November 2005, a special, 30th anniversary edition of "Inferno" was released with a bonus DVD, which contains 6 live tracks from the band's 30th anniversary show, a documentary and the "Whorehouse Blues" video.

Whorehouse Blues

The final song on the album, "Whorehouse Blues", was somewhat of a departure for the band in terms of influence. It was described as a country blues style song, and was distinguished by the playing of acoustic guitar by all three band members, with Lemmy also taking up harmonica towards the end. Mikkey Dee explained his role change from drums to guitar by saying "I've been playing guitar all my life a little bit, because guitars have always been around, so it's nothing spectacular in my eyes". He also stated that "it's quite fun to walk onstage and do that song. And we definitely surprised the audiences..." [cite journal |last= Burridge|first= Alan|authorlink= Alan Burridge (writer)|coauthors= |year= 2007|month= March|title= Interview with Mikkey Dee by Artyom Golew - became cover story in Sep 2006 issue of Russian "Alive" magazine|journal= Motörheadbangers|volume=27 |issue=78 |pages= 6–9|id= |url= |accessdate= ]

Filming of the video was due to take place in a Stringfellow's club, but Peter Stringfellow objected to the song title and the associations it brought with it, and withdrew any involvement. With twenty-four hours left until the shoot, they found a club in Ealing. [cite journal |last= Burridge|first= Alan|authorlink= Alan Burridge (writer)|coauthors= |year= 2005|month= December|title= Mick Stevenson's diary|journal= Motörheadbangers|volume= 25|issue= 74|pages= 9–16|id= |url= |accessdate= ]

leeve artwork

Joe Petagno, long time sleeve artist for the band, offered these comments on the concept behind the album cover this time round:

When I first decided to do the "Inferno" cover, I had the idea it should be Mars, the god of war. But I wanted to take the original three chrome heads I had created two years earlier and show it in the process of being formed at the foundry. Being poured, the molten metal, which goes through down the centre of the picture. It also formed the sword in the new logo. It's also an axis mundi, the centre of the world, which holds the whole Mars planet together. It's a circle, Mars is almost exploding. There are these soldiers coming in from the sides, which is very much like Iraq or any other hotspots in the world. At the same time as this Mars exploration shit was going on on TV... Great. Millions of people are dying, there's water on Mars, I'm so fucking happy. It came about because I was irritated about "Can't we just figure it out?"... all the hypocrisy yet again, all the bloodshed, all the stupidity... it's in that cover. It was kind of a comeback to the "Overkill" and taking a second shot at it, really. ["About Joe Petagno" - interview section with Joe Petagno, bonus DVD with "Inferno 30th Anniversary edition" SPV69748.]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Phil Campbell, Mikkey Dee and Lemmy
# "Terminal Show" – 3:45
# "Killers" – 4:14
# "In the Name of Tragedy" – 3:03
# "Suicide" – 5:07
# "Life's a Bitch" – 4:13
# "Down on Me" – 4:12
# "In the Black" – 4:31
# "Fight" – 3:42
# "In The Year of the Wolf" – 4:17
# "Keys to the Kingdom" – 4:46
# "Smiling Like a Killer" – 2:44
# "Whorehouse Blues" – 3:53

Credits

* Lemmy – bass, vocals; harmonica
* Phil Campbell – guitar; acoustic guitar on "Whorehouse Blues"
* Mikkey Dee – drums; acoustic guitar on "Whorehouse Blues"

With:
* Steve Vai – guitar on "Terminal Show" and "Down On Me"
* Curtis Mathewson – strings on "Keys to the Kingdom"

* Joe Petagno – sleeve artwork
* Recorded at NRG, Paramount, Maple Studios
* Produced, mixed and engineered by Cameron Webb
* Additionally engineered by Bob Koszela, Sergio Chavez and Chris Rakestraw
* Assisted by Sergio Chavez, Corey Gash, George Gumbs
* Mixed at Paramount Studios
* Mastered at Capitol Records by Kevin Bartley

30th Anniversary DVD content

Live at Hammersmith Apollo, June 16, 2005

* "Killers" – 6:15
* "Love for Sale" – 5:25
* "Tragedy" – 3:22
* "(We Are) The Road Crew" – 3:34
* "Whorehouse Blues" – 4:59
* "Bomber" – 3:59:* Total running time – 27:34

The Guts and the Glory – The Motörhead Story

* Includes interviews with Eddie Clarke and Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor:* Total running time – 64:00

Whorehouse Blues

* "Video" – 4:30
* Making of... – 17:05:* Total running time – 21:35

About Joe Petagno

:* Total running time – 20:20

References

External links

* [http://www.imotorhead.com Motorhead official site]