AC/DC or Motorhead?

 

AC/DC are the ultimate interpretation of Heavy Blues, but Motorhead are progressive in nature by their assimilation of so many styles; MC5, Groundhogs, Beatles (among many) and obviously Hawkwind and the Pink Fairies.

 

Album to album;

 

High Voltage (Aussie original) vs On Parole.

 

Motorhead win hands down - On Parole is a brute of an album that would have made Punk Rock seem lightweight - it would have taken most of the impact of punk away, had United Artists been brave enough to release it in 1975. The original High Voltage has a blinding cover of "Baby Please Don't Go", but it also has a Love Song on it, which sucks. There are NO sucky tracks on "On Parole".

 

Motorhead 1, AC/DC 0

 

 

"Motorhead" vs High Voltage (International), TNT, Dirty Deeds and Let There Be Rock

 

The Chiswick release is a bit tamer than "On Parole", but it's still a great album, with an iconic sleeve. The Int. version of HV lacks the raw edge of the Aussie original, but it's still great. TNT has the mad Chuck Berry cover "School Days", Dirty Deeds contains "Big Balls", and Let There be Rock contains the most epic Blues song ever recorded (the title track). Let There be Rock makes up for the fact that the other 3 are all simple extensions of what the DC produced on their first album, but with less of a raw edge. Let There be Rock is an awesome album.

 

Motorhead 1, AC/DC 1

 

 

"Overkill" vs "Powerage"

 

Overkill contains the most varied mix of eclectic and brutal heavy metal you'll find before Metallica, 5 years later. Powerage is a great, hard album, but shows more of a tightening than a progression of style. Overkill kicks so much ass, it gets 2 points. But Powerage is so hard, it gets 1. Overkill is teh Pwnage.

 

Motorhead 3, AC/DC 2

 

 

"Bomber" vs "Highway to Hell"

 

Jeepers, where to begin? Bomber is the most brutal... well, it's the fastest... er... noisiest? The thing is, Bomber is a kind of extension of where Overkill was going. Highway... is probably the most brilliant rock album in the world ever. This time, AC/DC get the 2 points, because Highway is sooo good, in no small part thanks to Robert Lange's bone-crushing production, but Bomber has to have 1 for sheer brutality.

 

Motorhead 4, AC/DC 4

 

 

Ace of Spades vs Back in Black.

 

No contest. These albums both kick so much ass, that at the end of a contest, it could only be a draw, as there would simply be no ass left to kick. Mutually assured Destruction. The title tracks alone rule the universe of rock - but only Ace of Spades has torn up the charts on multiple occasions and been used as the backing track for just about anything that requires a jolt of adrenaline. Both albums are varied, from "We Are the Road Crew" to "The Hammer", from "Hells Bells" to "Shake A Leg". While Motorhead might claim a win with the title track, they blow it with the album cover. "Back In Black" contains more hits, and they were all hits because they crushed the competition, but Ace of Spades blows everything else out of its unstoppable path. However, it's down to the album cover; Leather cowboys vs None More Black? Which is more metal to you? Exactly!

 

5 points apiece.

 

 

Iron Fist vs For Those About to Rock.

 

These guys don't make things easy, do they?

 

"Devil's Grip, The Iron Fist..." vs "For Those About to Rock... FIRE!!!!!!" I think AC/DC get this one, even though Motorhead marginally progressed their style.

 

Motorhead 9, AC/DC 10

 

 

Since that golden period, both bands have been inconsistent. "Fly on the Wall" and "Flick of the Switch" were utter tosh, while "Razor's Edge" was pretty good. "Another Perfect Day" is inconsistent, while "Orgasmatron" kicks almost as much ass as Iron Fist.

 

 

Motorhead are the underdogs - and everyone loves the underdogs, so technically, Motorhead win.

 

But only AC/DC can get an entire crowd of 250,000 or more bouncing up and down uncontrollably to the kangaroo-powered boogie that they deliver. You may see headbanging a-plenty at a Motorhead gig, but at a large festival, only a hardcore will be into them. You can't help but get into the DC when you see them live - they're the best in the biz.

 

Motorhead 10, but AC/DC go up to 11.

 

 

So obviously, I voted for the underdog - who I fully expect to come second but claim a moral victory.