"Tonight, Mathew I'm going to be...Lemmy Kilmister"

Whilst that might not actually be correct there is no denying that during a large section of Nitrogods' self titled album vocalist/bassist Oimel Larcher sounds unerringly like Motorhead's legendary frontman.  Whilst I'm sure the band has heard the comparison many times before there is still no denying that this album may just be the rock 'n' roll album of 2012.  In the words of the band themselves their sound is "Three men, three corners and down to earth no bullshit rock 'n' roll" cross-referencing such influences as Motorhead, Rose Tattoo, ZZ Top and Status Quo whilst claiming they don't copy artists they pick up a bands spirit and take it further.

Joining frontman Oimel Larcher in Nitrogods are two former members of German metal legends Primal Fear, namely guitarist Henry Wolter (who was also in Thunderhead) and drummer Klaus Sperling (also of Freedom Call) moving away from their old school metal roots and embracing rock 'n' roll with a vengeance.  Stand out cut for me is 'At Least I'm Drunk', a smoke fuelled, whiskey sodden blues number, sounding not unlike Screaming Jay Hawkins jamming with Reverend Horton Heat, that leads nicely into 'Whiskey Wonderland' a fantastic, frenzied rock 'n' roll number that celebrates one of the most rock 'n' roll of beverages and kick starting the party and feature Nazareth's Dan McCafferty on the mic.

'Lipsynch Stars' is also a great number exposing the numerous bands in today's music scene that use technical wizardry in the recording studio to hide their inadequacies, sounding just like the Quo in their 70's heyday before they discovered the Margarita in the drinks cabinet.  Australia rockers Airborne have been continually criticised for their similarities to their fellow Aussies AC/DC, and whilst there is no real argument against that allegation there is no denying that their debut album 'Running Wild' sounded far better than later day AC/DC with far better songs than their peers had released in almost two decades, and to a degree the same can be said for Nitrogods.

As for the remainder of the album, it basically sounds exactly like Motorhead, in particular in the vocal delivery of Oimel Lorcher who sounds more like Lemmy than err...Lemmy!!! Okay the musical style may have more of a rock 'n' roll flavour than Motorhead, with added slide guitar, harmonica and blues. Whether it be the country swagger of 'Rifle Down' or the track that could easily have fitted on the Head's '1916' album 'Wasted In Berlin' that curiously has Motorhead's original six stringer Fast Eddie Clarke guesting on it, I can't help but wonder what was going through his mind when the vocals kicked in.

There are tales of life on the road with the once again Motorhead inspired song title 'Licence To Play Loud' and 'Riptide' and 'Demolition Inc' could easily have fitted on any of the classic Motorhead albums. Before you believe the band have turned into a mere tribute act though there is a change of vocalists for the fantastic rock 'n' roll stomp of 'Gasoline' that brings back memories of Swedish rockers Hellacopters in their prime.

In their self titled album Nitrogods have delivered a prodigious rock 'n' roll album, one to get any party started or to put it another way "The greatest Motorhead album that Motorhead never recorded".

http://nitrogods.de/

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