Motorhead: Lemmy Kilmister (vocals, guitar, bass); Phil "Zoomster" Campbell, Wurzel (guitar); Mickey Dee (drums).
Additional personnel: Slash (guitar); Peter Solley (keyboards).
As with another legendary hard rock act, AC/DC, when Motorhead issue a new release you know what to expect. 1992's MARCH OR DIE was no different. Motorhead's previous outing, 1916, received critical raves but didn't fulfill the record company's dreams of finally breaking the band into the big time stateside. Hence, several tactics were employed here in a last ditch effort to push Motorhead over the top--most obviously the appearance of notable musical guests such as Ozzy Osbourne and Slash from Guns N' Roses.
But the classic buzzsaw Motorhead sound remains intact, highlights being the Osbourne-led ballad "I Ain't No Nice Guy," a spirited cover of Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever," and "Name in Vain." MARCH OR DIE would be the last Motorhead album to be issued by a major label; the group subsequently jumped to an independent to regain complete control of their musical direction.
Professional Reviews
Entertainment Weekly (8/14/92, p.62) - "..MARCH OR DIE surges way beyond the confines of ordinary heavy metal.." - Rating: A
Q (9/92, p.78) - 3 Stars - Good - "..probably the best--certainly the most interesting--Motorhead album for some time.."
