Motörhead – Orgasmatron (1986)
Album Overview
Orgasmatron is the seventh studio album by legendary British heavy metal band Motörhead, released on 9 August 1986 through GWR Records. The album marked a major comeback for the band after several lineup changes and industry struggles during the mid-1980s.
With Orgasmatron, Motörhead returned to their trademark formula of aggressive riffs, fast tempos, and Lemmy’s unmistakable gravel-voiced vocals. The record blended heavy metal, speed metal, and hard rock, and has since become one of the band’s most respected releases of the decade.
Although it did not reach the massive commercial heights of earlier albums like Ace of Spades, the record helped reestablish Motörhead as one of the most powerful bands in heavy music.
Background and Recording
During the mid-1980s, Motörhead experienced significant lineup changes and label issues. By the time recording for Orgasmatron began, the band had a refreshed lineup:
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Lemmy Kilmister – bass, vocals
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Phil Campbell – guitar
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Würzel – guitar
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Pete Gill – drums
The album was originally produced by Bill Laswell, though the band later expressed dissatisfaction with the final mix. Despite the production issues, the songs themselves became some of Motörhead’s most powerful material of the 1980s.
Tracklist
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Deaf Forever
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Nothing Up My Sleeve
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Ain’t My Crime
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Claw
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Mean Machine
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Built for Speed
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Ridin’ with the Driver
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Doctor Rock
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Orgasmatron
Notable Songs
Orgasmatron
The dark, slow-burning title track is one of Motörhead’s most powerful and atmospheric songs. Its lyrics criticize war, religion, and political corruption, making it one of Lemmy’s most thought-provoking compositions.
Deaf Forever
A fast and aggressive track that became a fan favorite and demonstrated the band’s renewed energy.
Built for Speed
One of the album’s most recognizable songs, later featured in the Iron Eagle (1986) soundtrack.
Doctor Rock
A heavy, driving rock track that captures Motörhead’s classic blend of speed and attitude.
Cover Art
The album cover once again features Motörhead’s iconic Snaggletooth war-pig mascot, designed by artist Joe Petagno.
The artwork shows the monstrous figure emerging from a mechanical or industrial setting, reinforcing the album’s dark and aggressive tone. The design continues the visual identity that had become synonymous with Motörhead since the late 1970s.
Fun Facts
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Lemmy considered the songwriting on this album some of the strongest of the band’s 1980s output.
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The band famously disliked the final mix by Bill Laswell, calling it muddy and overly processed.
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Despite the production complaints, the album gained strong support from fans.
Trivia
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The title track “Orgasmatron” later became one of Motörhead’s most important songs and has been covered by multiple metal bands.
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The album introduced the dual-guitar lineup of Phil Campbell and Würzel, which became a long-lasting era for the band.
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Several tracks from the album became staples of Motörhead’s live shows.
Did You Know?
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The song “Orgasmatron” was famously covered by Sepultura in the 1990s.
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Lemmy often described the title track as one of the most meaningful songs he ever wrote.
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The album helped revive Motörhead’s reputation during a difficult period in their career.
