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Back in ‘Black Ice’

By Steven Patrick

The agonizing 8-year wait is finally over. The mighty AC/DC has released a new album. On Monday, WalMart locations nationwide packed their shelves with "Black Ice" in what was the culmination of months of marketing the highly anticipated album. While they have received a great deal of criticism because of their exclusive deal with WalMart, the band defends the decision as a move to protect the album music format. Lead singer Brian Johnson told Reuters, "Maybe I'm just being old-fashioned, but this iTunes, God bless 'em, it's going to kill music if they're not careful. It's a...monster, this thing. It just worries me. And I'm sure they're just doing it all in the interest of making as much...cash as possible. Let's put it this way, it's certainly not for the...love." By releasing only physical copies of "Black Ice," AC/DC is spearheading an effort to promote the idea that an album is a work of art best appreciated all together.

Musically, "Black Ice" is an absolute monster of an album that should silence the perpetual critics that claim AC/DC is nothing but a one-trick pony. There are several moments throughout "Black Ice" that are pleasant surprises that are atypical for a band that doesn't usually stray from its winning formula. The song "Anything Goes" has an almost Springsteen-esque vocal timing to it, and is definitely one of the more accessible pop AC/DC songs of recent times. "Stormy May Day" features a rare slide guitar performance by lead guitarist Angus Young, and is a dark, bluesy gem in the middle of the album. The bouncy "She Likes Rock N' Roll" features a funky bass line which is unusual, considering the bass is almost always in the background of AC/DC songs. The slower paced "Rock N' Roll Dream" is another example of AC/DC expanding beyond their usual repertoire. The song weaves guitars and Johnson's voice to create a haunting atmosphere that this band has never visited before.

Die-hard fans should not fret: "Black Ice" still delivers AC/DC's signature power cords, infectious riffs, and anthemic choruses. The good news is that there are three songs on the album featuring the words "Rock N' Roll" in the title (unfortunately none have the word "Balls"). The lead single off the album, "Rock N' Roll Train" is exactly that: an unstoppable freight train hurtling through your ears. One listen and you are sure to be singing "Running right off the track!" along w/ Angus and his brother Malcolm. The song announces loud and clear that AC/DC is back with a vengeance and is the only band that can do what they do (I'm looking in your direction, Jet and Airbourne). Phil Rudd's steady-as-a-rock drumming is instantly recognizable and ties the whole song, as well as the whole album, together. Johnson's signature voice is in the best shape it's been in in years, and is absolutely unnatural, considering the man is 61 years old. The track "War Machine" starts off with a "Live Wire" bass line, courtesy of bassist Cliff Williams. "War Machine" is the true, fist-in-the-air, balls-to-the-wall rock song of the album. The words "War Machine!" in the chorus are reminiscent of the "Done Dirt Cheap!" in that older classic. The riff to the title track "Black Ice" is one of the catchiest of Angus' huge portfolio.

The true star of "Black Ice," as with most AC/DC albums, is the band's mascot and guitarist, Angus. While he co-writes all the music with brother Malcolm, it is Angus' searing solos that define AC/DC, no matter who is singing, playing bass, or beating drums in the band. If you're throwing a Halloween party soon, do yourself a favor by picking up a copy of "Black Ice," and change the usual spontaneous "Thunderstruck" drinking game to a "War Machine" one.

Originally Published: October 22, 2008

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