Amplifier (Amplifier album)

Last updated
Amplifier
Amplifier cover.jpg
Studio album by
Released6 June 2004
RecordedThe Chapel / The Works
Genre Progressive rock, alternative rock, space rock, progressive metal
Length63:05
Label Music For Nations
Producer Sel Balamir / Steve Lyon
Amplifier chronology
Amplifier
(2004)
The Astronaut Dismantles HAL
(2005)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Fly Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [1]
Kerrang! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [2]
Metal Hammer (9/10) [3]
NME (9/10) [4]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Rock Sound (9/10) [6]

Amplifier is the debut album of the Manchester alternative rock band Amplifier.

Contents

Originally released by Music For Nations on 6 June 2004, it was re-released by the German-based label SPV in May 2005 after the collapse of the former. The Music For Nations release came in two formats: jewel case with 10 tracks, and digipack with 13 tracks. Unlike normal special editions, the 13-track version's bonus tracks are in the middle of the album, apparently forming the "true" album as the band intended it. The SPV release contains a bonus EP with four additional tracks (all previously released) and videos of two songs from the original.

The critical reception of the album was generally positive, with comments such as:

"A British rock-scene altering record. Enjoy it in all its infinite glory" Kerrang!

"No other record this year will have the audacity to field such lofty ambitions, let alone have the skills to fulfil them" NME

Track listing

All songs by Sel Balamir.

Music for Nations - Original Release

  1. "Motorhead" – 6:15
  2. "Airborne" – 8:28
  3. "Panzer" – 7:02
  4. "Old Movies" – 5:50
  5. "Post Acid Youth" – 6:05
  6. "Half Life" – 3:47
  7. "Drawing No1" - 2:09
  8. "Neon" – 4:16
  9. "On/Off" – 6:33
  10. "The Consultancy" – 4:59
  11. "Drawing No2" - 2:49
  12. "One Great Summer" – 5:56
  13. "UFOs" – 7:26


SPV - 2CD Re-release

  1. "Motorhead" – 6:15
  2. "Airborne" – 8:28
  3. "Panzer" – 7:02
  4. "Old Movies" – 5:50
  5. "Post Acid Youth" – 6:05
  6. "Neon" – 4:16
  7. "On/Off" – 6:33
  8. "The Consultancy" – 4:59
  9. "One Great Summer" – 5:56
  10. "UFOs" – 7:26

Bonus EP Tracks

  1. "Boomtime" – 4:51
  2. "Half Life" – 3:47
  3. "Throwaway" – 2:29
  4. "Glory Electricity" – 7:36

Credits

Related Research Articles

Larry Wallis was an English guitarist, songwriter and producer. He was best known as a member of the Pink Fairies and an early member of Motörhead.

Neon are a three-piece Australian rock band from Melbourne, Australia. Their "A Man" single made the top 50 of the Australian singles charts in November 2004 and has won critical acclaim in the British music media.

<i>Overkill</i> (Motörhead album) 1979 studio album by Motörhead

Overkill is the second studio album by the band Motörhead, released 24 March 1979. It was the band's first album with Bronze Records. Kerrang! magazine listed the album at #46 among the "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time".

<i>Another Perfect Day</i> 1983 studio album by Motörhead

Another Perfect Day is the sixth studio album by the band Motörhead, released 4 June 1983, on Bronze Records; which would also be their last full length original album with the label. It is the band's only studio album to feature lead guitarist Brian "Robbo" Robertson, best known for his work with Thin Lizzy.

<i>Orgasmatron</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Motörhead

Orgasmatron is the seventh studio album by the band Motörhead, released 9 August 1986, on GWR, their first with the label.

<i>The Golden Years</i> (EP) 1980 EP by Motörhead

The Golden Years is the first live recording by the band Motörhead, released 8 May 1980, on Bronze Records. It reached number #8 on the UK charts at the time.

<i>We Are Motörhead</i> 2000 studio album by Motörhead

We Are Motörhead is the fifteenth studio album by the band Motörhead, released 15 May 2000, on Steamhammer, their fifth with the label, equalling their Bronze Records total of full length original album releases.

<i>Hammered</i> (Motörhead album) 2002 studio album by Motörhead

Hammered is the sixteenth studio album by the band Motörhead, released 9 April 2002, on Steamhammer, their sixth with the label and beating the Bronze Records era total of original full-length album releases. It was also the beginning of distribution in North America, and other territories, under Sanctuary Records and their subsidiary Metal-Is.

Motorhead (song)

"Motorhead" is a song written by Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister while he was a member of the English space rock band Hawkwind. It was later recorded by Motörhead, as he called it this instead of Bastard on his then manager's advice.

Amplifier (band)

Amplifier are an English rock band originating from Manchester. The band has released six albums and four EPs since its inception in 1999. Their music has been described as "Soundgarden, Tool, Black Sabbath, Oceansize and Pink Floyd taking copious amounts of mind-altering substances and venturing on a trip through time and space, and back again." Their music is characterised by guitarist Sel Balamir's effect pedals, Matt Brobin's complex drumming, extended heavy sections, atmospheric compositions and philosophical lyrics.

<i>Mechanix</i> (album) 1982 studio album by UFO

Mechanix is the tenth studio album by the British hard rock band UFO; it was released in 1982. The contemporary music-press adverts on the album's release carried the tag-line 'Mechanix: it will tighten your nuts'. Immediately after the completion of the tour in support of the album, founding member and bassist Pete Way left the band to join former Motörhead guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke in Fastway.

Scum Pups

Scum Pups were a grunge, punk rock, three piece band, that formed in Leicester, England in November 1989. The band formed while at sixth form college with Matt Day (Midge) heading the trio. The band recorded their first single EP with Hinckley-based Motivate Records while still teenagers in September 1990. This led to a strong teenage fanbase with a reputation for enjoying stage diving and moshing at their gigs.

<i>Kiss of Death</i> (Motörhead album) 2006 studio album by Motörhead

Kiss of Death is the eighteenth studio album by the band Motörhead, released on 29 August 2006, on Steamhammer, their ninth with the label.

<i>Insider</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Amplifier

Insider is the second album of the Manchester alternative rock band Amplifier. It was released in 2006 by the German-based label SPV on 29 September in Germany and Austria then in the rest of Europe on 2 October.

Jonny Sniper

"Jonny Sniper" was the third physical single, and fourth overall, by Enter Shikari and the third single to be released from their debut album Take to the Skies. The band have referred to the single as a "double a-side", possibly due to the positive response to "Kickin' Back on the Surface of Your Cheek", the b-side from the previous single.

<i>Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers</i> 1980 EP by Motörhead

Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers is an EP by the band Motörhead, released on 27 November 1980. The EP consists of four tracks recorded during sessions for their first album Motörhead, in 1977 at Escape Studios, Kent, England, but were previously unreleased. The EP was released by Big Beat Records, a subsidiary of Chiswick Records, who the band were signed to when the tracks were recorded in 1977. The release was not authorized by the band, though they did not oppose it.

A Very Still Movement is an EP by British rock band Oceansize, released in August 2001 on the record label Soviet Union. The tracks "Catalyst" and "Women Who Have Men Who Love Drugs" were re-recorded for the band's debut Effloresce. The EP was produced and mixed by Sel Balamir, singer and guitarist of Amplifier. Balamir is also featured in the last track, "Sizeofanocean".

Relapse is an EP by British rock band Oceansize, released in October 2002 on Beggars Banquet Records. It was produced by Tim Smith of the band Cardiacs, and Sel Balamir of the band Amplifier contributed to mixing. Two of the EP's tracks, "Amputee" and "You Wish", were re-recorded in 2003 for Effloresce. An earlier version of "Relapse" appeared as "Ebb" on the Amputee EP.

<i>The Octopus</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Amplifier

The Octopus is the third studio album of the Manchester space rock band Amplifier. The format of the album is double CD. It was released to fans online in December 2010 and was commercially released in January 2011. In reviewing the album, the BBC stated that it was "an album that commands respects and time to be afforded to it, but the rewards are plentiful. If two discs seem slightly overwhelming at first, then the other perspective is that there is so much quality to digest here that your value for money is not even in question." The album can be listened to online at a mini-site set up by the band. The Octopus vinyl edition was released in October 2019 with "The Eternal" as an exclusive bonus track.

<i>Bastards</i> (Motörhead album) 1993 studio album by Motörhead

Bastards is the eleventh studio album by the band Motörhead, released 29 November 1993, on ZYX Music, the first and last for this label.

References