Dear Metal Expert:
Any thoughts on the new Arcade Fire release?
Sincerely,
Crazy Joe Gallo
Dear Crazy Joe:
Two companion groups seldom mentioned as such are Blue Oyster Cult and Motorhead. With the exception of “Astronomy,” every song on side two of Secret Treaties could be a Motorhead Ace of Spades era song. If given the Motorhead treatment, one would never think to ask if Blue Oyster Cult had written these tunes. (Hawkwind with Lemmy could have probably passed off “Astronomy” as an original quite well). Scratchy guitar solos, vocal delivery, and crucially, early rock and roll as the reference point all play a part here (unfortunately pseudo-fascist imagery may also connect the two bands, sigh). Blue Oyster Cult probably couldn’t disguise Motorhead songs as originals let alone deliver something like ”The Hammer” but the companionship remains. So yes, I think both Motorhead and Blue Oyster Cult are great. Thank you for asking. Sincerely, -Rob
