Review by Chris Pratl on October 18, 2017.

At the time of this writing, Lemmy Kilmister has been going through a serious life-transition. His body is slowing down and performances are becoming laborious and shorter. It truly is heartbreaking to see this larger-than-life musical giant becoming so fragile right before our eyes. I suppose we forget that as we age, our heroes also grow older. That said, I find it nothing less than typical that Motörhead has issued yet another strong album in Bad Magic. At nearly 70-years of age, Lemmy still provides the fans with 110% heavy metal goodness.

The Motörhead of old is gone, of course, but this lineup of Mikkey Dee and Phil Campbell is the most solid and long-lasting of any of the previous incarnations, and if it ain't broke, don't touch it! The opening track, "Victory or Die" pretty much sets the tone for the record, offering a weighty alternative to some other recent offerings by aging bands that are, for all intents and purposes, laboring through mediocrity. That thick, recognizable sound of that Rickenbacker bass still thumps out of the speakers with all of the shyness of a bowling ball down a freshly-waxed lane. I would honestly never guess that this band was at AARP status because there is no sign of Motörhead slowing down the pace, despite the aforementioned ailments Lemmy is currently handling. Everything that makes for quality metal music is found here, with a crisp guitar sound, drums that fill the bottom end with subtle perfection, and the grimy and filthy vocals that are a staple of the Motörhead sound. 

The magical formula that is Motörhead's existence is pretty much the blueprint for what basic, yet memorable metal music should be. The lyrics are, as always, pretty simple in that Lemmy doesn't offer up grand compositions to get his point across, and that is what makes a song like "Electricity" so damn perfect. The vocal melody follows a poetic pentameter that he has found comfort in for many years now, much to the delight of the fans who know exactly what each new Motörhead offering entails. The punk-laden opening of "Evil Eye" screams Black Flag-meets-Lemmy-in-a-scummy-alley all the way. It's amazing to see that the influence of this band still reaches back into the swirling cauldron of rock music and pulls forth a viable, fitting compliment in each track. The fantastic part is that Mr. Kilmister still sounds as gruffly evocative and familiar as he did some 40-years ago. The fact that his vocals will never win operatic awards is certainly not lost on me, but, as I said before, if it ain't broke....

Now there are some who will argue that this all-too-familiar and simple style that Motörhead encompasses is a lack of ability to advance or unwillingness to change the sound for a more updated audience. Bad Magic follows one of the greatest rock bands to ever grace a stage into its suggested 'retirement home' phase and spits directly into the faces of the naysayers who think it's time for Lemmy to hang up the Ric for good. When I hear "Till the End" and feel that bluesy influence just fill my torso, I know exactly what Motörhead has left in the proverbial tank, and they aren't ready to call it a day just yet. So many ancient bands today, who I'll mercilessly leave nameless, refuse to recognize the magical qualities of subtle repetition and instead flood their catalogs with meaningless drivel they've since copied from the lesser imitators of the legends' own early sound. Motörhead follows no leader and pretty much never has, so what might appear as a lack of diversity in the tunes is actually, quite simply, Motörhead music. Even the cover of The Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil" is a cutting, bass-driven piece of rock 'n roll history that Motörhead makes their own for 5:35 out of your day. 

You simply can't go wrong digesting Bad Magic, because everything that the band is worth is spelled out for you in yet another great addition to one hell of a long discography. I challenge you to find one solid clunker is that line if you can. By the time you're finished finding fault with maybe two or three songs from any given album, you'll have taken in this record at least twice and will no doubt be utterly amazed at the prowess that Lemmy and the boys still have after all this time.

It gives us all hope to see those stupid social media memes about Keith Richards and how he's defied death after a life of unabridged excesses and know he's got absolutely nothing on Lemmy.

Rating: 8 out of 10

(Originally written for www.metalpsalter.com)

Review by JD on February 5, 2010.

Many bands are out there, professing that they are the heaviest, fastest or the loudest... all pretty much chest thumping. The whole lot of them without any substance. A few actually are out there who really do back up their boasts with their prowess. Zerstörer is one of those bands that can honestly say that they are heavier and faster than most of the bands out there.

They are this enticing mix of harsh Thrash, menacing Black and full bore Death Metal with this Grind sort of overtones set to implode your mind and reduce the rest of your head to jell-o. They are brutally fast metallic blasts, deviously heavy and having that added venom of pure hatred that is more than just evident... and that is just the start of what makes this band. They sound like they are as mad as a wolverine after getting a electrified cattle rod right up the ass.

If you want to pick one song that is the best, good luck...there are just too many for making that sort of choice. Every last track on here seem to want to fry your insides with it’s burning leads and chainsaw heavy riffage... and make you believe in what extreme metal really sounds like. The recording needs a little tweaking, but other than that, its amazing.

In the world of Black, Death, Black and Extreme Metal in general... Zerstörer is one solitary band that stands out more than other bands that are vying for your attention. This band is getting close to what their potential is, and I, for one, am looking forward to hearing that when it happens... and I will do just that - with my horns held high in appreciation.

Categorical Rating Breakdown　

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 8
Originality:8
Overall: 8

Rating: 8.2 out of 10