After a gap of 8 years (mighty long even for battled hardened veterans like themselves), AC/DC returns with a bloack of hard rocking anthemns titled Black Ice. It’s the 15th studio album put out by Australia’s finest & most beloved exports, produced by Brendan O’Brien and released in October. AC/DC were working on the album as early as January 2006, but it got delayed because of an injury to bassist Cliff Williams and a change of record labels to Sony Music, and in turn Columbia Records. Recorded in Vancouver, Canada, Black Ice is a great success, having sold around 1,762,000 units in its first week, shipping 5,000,000 copies worldwide. The album went #1in 29 different countries, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and United States. In its first week, it sold 784,000 copies in the US alone, with it receiving a three times platinum certification in Australia and selling upwards of 110,000 in the UK.
There’s something to be said for sticking to your guns and never changing. Right from the start Rock n’Roll Train fills the speakers with fat guitar riffs from brothers & guitarists Angus & Malcolm Young while drummer Phil Rudd pounds swinging drum fills one after the other with consummate ease. Skies On Fire, Stormy May Day & Black Ice have some kind of meteorological connection in their lyrics. Big Jack is about a tough guy who liked to party with pretty girls, fight and play poll.
Anything Goes sounds like it’s a song about a partying groupie. War Machine, Smash N’Grab & Spoiling For A Fight follow similar beats & riffs and could fit in any buddy cop / fun filled action thriller soundtrack. Wheels is about driving fast with a woman who is hot for some action. Decibel, She Likes Rock n’Roll, Money Made, Rock n’Roll Dream & Rocking All The Way
mr hobbs takes a vacation online download
is all out what the 5 Aussies love best – rock n’roll their style and the dream of playing across the globe in front of thousands in areanas every night. Whew! That’s 15 songs with great guitar riffs and drums. Brian Johnson sings a little more restraint than usual, as expected as they years catch up with him, but the effect is still the same.
This is probably one of their best albums ever and certainly their best since 1990’s The Razor’s Edge. They have made a solid comeback, won a few more thousands of new fans, will make a lot of dough with the world tour that supports this album. And they have shone the kids what it means to have staying power. So sticking to your guns and having an instantly recognizable sound is not too bad at all.
Here’s the video of the first single Black Ice. For those about to rock, I salute you.