Warfare: The Lemmy Sessions, 3CD Set Review

6th March 2023 0 By Jon Deaux

The long-fabled yet not forgotten, a long-lost mix of Warfare‘s Metal Anarchy album, mixed by LEMMY. Yup, you read that right, Lemmy ‘fuckin’ Kilminster mixed the album. The ONLY album he mixed outside of Motorhead.

Due to the tape thought being lost they’re not in the best shape and has a few dropouts, which adds to its charm. This is the mix that the band would approve for the finished album and it’s in the correct running order as opposed to the more polished release (featured on the 2nd disc).

The Lemmy mix is immense. Tonnes of raw punk energy coupled with the early days of the NWOBHM sound. You can see why Lem was a fan of this band and offered his services

The finished released version is excellent, although it is missing a certain something. But it’s still the album that provided the much-needed missile to explode the sound of British Metal.

The third disc that completes this set features 2 E.Ps ( Two Tribes and Total Death) along with a different mix of the track Two Tribes.

You’ve never heard Frankie Goes To Hollywood sound so metal.

Warfare was often compared to Venom. Venom may’ve sold more albums and signed to the same label (Neat), but Warfare was championed by Lemmy. That says it all really as not many bands were.

This 3CD collection still holds up to the test of time and is a brutal remembrance of what eventually gave birth to British Thrash Metal. To be honest, I’m ashamed to admit it, but admit I will, this is a band I regret not listening to back in the day. But fuck me, I’m glad I have now.

Highly recommended purchase
Score 8/10

Track Listing:

DISC ONE
THE LEMMY SESSIONS (METAL ANARCHY: THE LEMMY MIX)
1 Psycho Express
2 Disgrace
3 Death Vigilance
4 Metal Anarchy
5 Living For The Last Days
6 Electric Mayhem
7 Warfare
8 Military Shadow
9 Wrecked Society

DISC TWO
METAL ANARCHY (1985)
1 Intro
2 Electric Mayhem
3 Warfare
4 Death Vigilance
5 Wrecked Society
6 Living For The Last Days
7 Disgrace
8 Military Shadow
9 Metal Anarchy
10 Psycho Express

DISC THREE
TWO TRIBES 12” (NEAT 45)
1 Two Tribes
2 Hell
3 Blown to bits
TOTAL DEATH EP (NEAT 49)
4 Metal Anarchy
5 Burning Up
6 Rape
7 Destroy
BONUS TRACK
8 Two Tribes (From Hell Mix)

Label – HNE Recordings
Release – March 24, 2023