AC/DC - Black Ice

Wed 26th Nov, 2008 in Music Reviews

The best thing about AC/DC is that you know exactly what you’re going to get from each and every album that they release. You know that there’s going to be songs that rock. Songs that have – œrock’ in their title. Songs that hurtle along with the speed of a runaway train – indeed, their latest opus even opens with a tune with – œtrain’ and – œrock n roll’ in the title. The worst thing about AC/DC is…that you know exactly what you’re going to get from each and every album they release.

It’s not so much that their predictable as that they can be completely relied upon to deliver what is that they do, and have done, and will seemingly continue to do forever and ever (amen). Black Ice is no exception in that regard; with one minor caveat – on this album they do it for longer than ever before, and also augment a number or two with extraneous instrumentation that comes as a complete surprise. Did you ever really believe you’d hear strings – yes, strings! – on an AC/DC release?

At fifteen songs, Black Ice outstays its welcome by about half an album. At ten of the best tracks, Black Ice would be another fine addition to their oeuvre, ranking comfortably alongside their post Back In Black material. But, with the influence of Pearl Jam/Bruce Springsteen producer Brendan O’Brien apparent, the legendary band have clearly elected to stretch themselves musically, with Angus Young playing slide guitar on Stormy May Day and Brian Johnson crooning rather than screaming on occasion. It’s created decidedly mixed results.

But, at its best – as on single Rock n Roll Train, the electrifying War Machine – AC/DC deliver exactly what is expected of them: high octane rock – œn roll wonderment. They’re not reinventing the wheel (and they never ever claimed to be doing so at any point in their illustrious career), but on Black Ice AC/DC has certainly added new rims and experimented with the size of the tyres on their muscle car.

Black Ice is out now on Alberts/SonyBMG.