Album Review Ac/Dc\'s New Album,

Album Review

AC/DC's new album, Black Ice, fits neatly into the rock'n'roll of the bands previous output. The album faithfully observes the genre's conventions - hard riffs, songs about partying and a little bit of sexual innuendo AC/DC has built a career trading on standard rock'n'roll themes and since that is at the core of their appeal, they do not intend to change that now.

The album maintains a fairly steady hand in terms of quality, though the first half definitely has stronger moments than the somewhat lackluster back half. That said, the high points and low points are fairly similar to one another - the band displays little variance from their classic sound. Because AC/DC stays so close to their core, this album will appeal mainly to the band's existing fan base. This is understandable. To branch out a bit more would risk alienating one of the most loyal fan bases in rock'n'roll. AC/DC does not really need new fans, and they are not looking for them.

In terms of creativity and craftsmanship, there is little of either on this album. The band draws mainly on their own previous body of work. Granted, AC/DC in the 1970s created a unique sound that has remained unmistakably theirs ever since, but thirty-odd years later it lacks originality. AC/DC are not technical musicians. Their musical competence is limited but on Black Ice they play within these limitations, getting the most out of Angus Young's driving riffs and Brian Johnson's shouts. Young and Johnson have long been at the heart of the AC/DC sound, and that has remained so on Black Ice. Drummer Phil Rudd plays steadily, but uninventively while the remainder of the rhythm section stays in the background.

Thematically, Black Ice touches upon the usual rock'n'roll themes. There are nods to partying, women, and general rebelliousness. AC/DC does not take themselves seriously, except when discussing how seriously they rock.

Overall, Black Ice is not the sort of album that will stand the test of time. AC/DC has many albums that have done so already, and by this point in their career they have likely exhausted their best energy and ideas. That is not to say that Black Ice sounds tired, but it certainly is not a breakthrough record that will be long remembered in the way that, say, Back in Black, was.