Episode 161 is live! We wrap up our full review of Motörhead’s legendary Ace of Spades. From the blistering riffs to the relentless energy, we break down what makes this album a true rock ’n’ roll classic. Crank it up and join the chaos!

Ace of Spades is the fourth studio album by English rock band Motörhead, released in October 1980 via Bronze Records. It is the band’s most commercially successful album, peaking at number four on the UK Albums Chart and reaching gold status in the UK by March 1981. It was preceded by the release of the title track as a single in October, which peaked in the UK Singles Chart at No. 15 in early November.

It was the band’s debut release in the United States, with Mercury Records handling distribution in North America. In 2020, the album was ranked at 408 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time list.

By 1979, Motörhead had released two extremely successful classic albums, Overkill and Bomber, and had gained a loyal fan following by constant touring and television appearances. Their ferocious, loud proto-thrash playing style appealed equally to punks and heavy metal fans, but in 1979 Sounds writer Geoff Barton coined the term “New Wave of British Heavy Metal” (NWOBHM) to classify a slew of newer bands such as Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, and Saxon. Motörhead – a band that resented being labeled anything other than rock ‘n’ roll – was placed in this new genre, which would go on to influence the emerging thrash metal movement that would include bands like Metallica and Megadeth.

Motörhead
Lemmy – vocals, bass, backing vocals on “Emergency”
“Fast” Eddie Clarke – lead guitar, lead vocals on “Emergency”
Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor – drums

Production
Vic “Chairman” Maile – producer, engineer & mixing
Giovanni Scatola – mastering (2005 remaster)

Layout
Martin Poole – design
Alan Ballard – photography
Curt Evans – 2005 cover design
Joe Petagno – Snaggletooth

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