HD DVD Music Review: Motörhead - Stage Fright

Originally released on DVD in January of 2006, Stage Fright makes its appearance on HD DVD in grand form. This blistering live show from Motörhead is a perfect fit for the format, and the multiple audio options make this an incredible way to experience the band at home. Some material is dated, but this is still a worthy purchase for any fan.

Twenty songs fill this 90-minute concert, starting with "Dr. Rock" and finishing with "Overkill." Fan favorites like "Ace of Spades" and "No Class" are likewise covered and easily accessible through the always accessible menu that doesn't require the show to stop playing to find what you're looking for.

Presentation: The show itself was shot in Germany in late 2004. Camera work can at times be disorienting with the speed of the cuts, but it also captures the intensity of the show. Lighting is spectacular, and the crowd is nicely featured as the show moves on.

The concert alone will be enough to peak fan interest. It's hard to imagine a better show picked for a video release. The editing may not be flawless, yet this is an energetic, loud, and amped up concert regardless of the presentation.

Video: The video simply looks stunning here, flawlessly handling smoke without noticeable compression. Close ups showcase amazing detail on the bands faces, and looking over the crowd, it's not hard to pick people out from 50 rows back when the lights are on full force. The resolution makes a difference here, making the show more involving while adding to the feeling of being there.

Sound: Audio fans have two choices, including an immersive DTS-HD 5.1 mix, and a front loaded DTS 2.0 master. The 5.1 mix is incredible in its depth, handling highs and lows on equal levels. The crowd never interferes with the music from the rear speakers when its not supposed to. Quality is unmatched, and the clarity will be a substantial increase over the standard DVD.

Extras: The added features here begin with a picture-in-picture commentary that is one of the exclusive features of this new release. Featurettes follow, though most are short. Fans is a brief look at some of the fans at the show, completely in their original language with no translation of any kind. Testimonials has various other bands, all of whom were influenced by Motörhead, discussing their music while praising the work of Lemmy and crew.

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Article Author: Matt Paprocki

Matt Paprocki is a 12-year movie and game critic. He currently freelances for Blu-ray review site DoBlu.com and video game site MultiPlayerGames.com.

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