ALBUM REVIEW: MortorJesus burns rubber to deliver Race to Resurrection

When a band called MotorJesus drops into your lap what are you to make of them? It conjures up lots of different images. Then you find out they are from Germany. So that makes it even harder to pin down what they are going to be like. Then you look at the title of their new album “Race to Resurrection”. Again, the ‘What the Hell?!?’ bells are ringing.

Then you put it on. And find out, like a major plot twist, this is a huge ‘grab you by the googlies’ album. Pure full-on petrol infused hard rock of the highest order.

Blasting you into the driving seat is the first song “Tales from the Wrecking Ball”, you immediately get the confirmation that this album is going to rock your socks and shoes off. With a very light ‘For Those About To Rock’ feel at the very start it accelerates down its own path with a vengeance. Chris’ vocals powerfully fit with the supped up riffage of this track. You may want to suddenly want to re-watch Drive Angry again (if you haven’t seen it yet – watch it.)

Next up is “King Collider” powers this album on with an absolutely rocking rhythm that is a foot stomping and headbanging tune. This track does not let up from start to finish with its catchy thrumming riffs, chucky drums and powerful vocals. Definitely a pedal to the metal track.

Keeping the revs going is “Re-Ignite” will have you up and rocking round the room before you realise it. It chugs along with a torque all of its own. It has such a beautiful Thin Lizzy vibe. Superb track. End off.

In keeping with their theme “Speedway Sanctuary” is another hard rocking tune perfect for a good headbanger workout. There is no slowing down on this Highway to heavy metal heaven. The vocals are well pitched and work perfectly with all the other instruments as they pump the gasoline encouraging you to rock out Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.

This will then satnav you towards “Casket Days”, a foot tapping, heavy thumping, full throttle tune that you won’t be able to ignore. Turn this one up to 11.

“The Infernal” slows the speedway racers down a bit in order to have a bit of a rest in the pit stop. A fantastic melancholic track to let you sit back, put your feet up and pour yourself a double JD. It has a very southern rock feel without going overboard. A great ballad.

Back into the driving seat with “Burning Black” you can see the rubber burnt smoke as this fast production model screeches off down your ear canals. Again it has a wonderful chunky, chugging rhythm to it that. This is hard driving hard rock par excellence with sweeping changes throughout.

Now you get a hard rocking Rock and Roll track with “The Damage”, a great track that keeps the accelerator firmly in the pressed flat down position.

Another fast and heavy beauty comes in the form of “The Storm”, with a bit of a hint of Bon Jovi, if Bon Jovi were hard metallers.

Again MotorJesus thunder in through your living room with “Engine of War”. . It may just be the vocals of Chris but this track that may put you in the mind of The Cult but much, much heavier.

Almost a feeling of Motorhead comes with “The Chase”. This is fast rock and roll without mercy, without remorse that hits you square in the face with a wall of metal.

The penultimate track, “Running Out Of Time”, fires on all cylinders to powerfully knock you into the fast lane.

The final track, “Awaken The Tyrants”, has almost an Iron Maiden feel about it from the start with Chris’ vocals having a tinge of the mighty Bruce about it. Still very much they are doing their own thing as this track muscles on right to the end.

MotorJesus, with “Race to Resurrection” have without doubt unleashed on the world a powerhouse of a petrol and nitrous infused album. This is their fifth and will definitely have you hoking for their back catalogue. It is heavy, rocking, catchy, and powerfully delivered. It has so much going in the right direction with a well balanced mixture of classic hard rock sounding tracks with a modern metal quality production and delivery.

Your collection will be all the poorer without this album.

The Band are Andy Peters (Guitars), Chris “Howling” Birx (Vocals), Oliver Beck (Drums)

You can find them parked up at their website, Facebook and YouTube

“Race to Resurrection” is released 15^th June 2018 on Drakkar Entertainment.