Motor Sister is an act with a truly unique origin story – originally assembled as a band for Scott Ian’s 50th birthday-bash tribute to cult LA outfit Mother Superior – whereupon he was joined by Mother Superior frontman and guitarist Jim Wilson along with Pearl Aday, sublimely talented singer and Ian’s wife. The project soon evolved into what we now know as Motor Sister. With their first album comprising entirely of well-executed, intensely impassioned covers; “Get Off’ is the first to feature almost all original pieces by the lineup and absolutely screams of the enthusiasm and joy that the band members no doubt felt whilst making the record.
Motor Sister’s long-awaited follow-up album bursts straight out of the gate with riffs evoking Anthrax’s greatest moments infused with whiskey-soaked vocals and soaring classic rock melodies throughout. It is an album that even in its quieter more pensive moments refuses to let up or hold back, wearing the member’s enthusiasm for the work of ‘Mother Superior’ and rock & roll at large – on its sleeves. Get Off showcases blazing twin lead vocals courtesy of frontman Jim Wilson and Pearl Aday, bookended with inspired arena-grade classic rock guitar work from cover to cover.
On the writing and recording of the album, Aday says “We’re a bunch of songwriters with so much passion for the same kind of music, it just makes sense that we would make new music together, and it was easy as usual to follow Jim’s lead on this one. He was overflowing with songs and ideas so we all happily jumped right in.”
Whilst riff writing has a distinct ‘Scott Ian’ inflexion to it, it works as a perfect complement to Wilson’s occasionally soulful but powerfully impassioned performances. Accompanied by co-lead vocalist Aday, tracks “Sooner or Later” “Bulletproof” and lead single “Can’t Get High Enough” take on a hybrid of thrash inspired, down & dirty classic southern rock swagger, also complementing each other incredibly well.
Whilst Get Off doesn’t exactly cover new ground in the rock sphere, it’s catchy to the point of infectious, providing a sizeable quantity of riffs worthy of banging your head to along with truly remarkable vocal performances. Nods are seemingly given to the legends of rock and metal, with tracks such as ‘Lion’s Den’ an audible tribute to Black Sabbath or “Time’s Up”, a song that fits the bill as an ultimate celebration of KISS.
Made up of veterans of rock and metal, the line-up comprises drummer John Tempesta (ex-White Zombie, The Cult), Joey Vera (Armored Saint) joining Wilson, Ian and Aday.
Get Off is out now, via Metal Blade Records.
Review: Mike Lockheart
| Can’t Get High Enough | 3:15 | |
| Coming for You | 2:38 | |
| Right There, Just Like That | 3:04 | |
| Sooner or Later | 4:15 | |
| Excuse Me, Your Life Is Exposed | 2:39 | |
| Lion’s Den | 4:11 | |
| 1,000,000 Miles | 4:04 | |
| Pain | 5:04 | |
| Bulletproof | 2:42 | |
| Bruise It or Lose It | 3:30 | |
| Time’s Up | 2:49 | |
| Rolling Boy Blues | 3:20 |