Spring Break
Music Review: AC/DC rocks once more on 'Black Ice'
Dylan Polk / Staff reporter
Issue date: 11/7/08 Section: The Verge
4½ of 5 stars
Powerful rhythms, shredding solos and ear-splitting vocals have defined Australian rock legends AC/DC since the early 1970s.
Their first album in eight years, "Black Ice," stands among the band's best work.
Since 1980, the band has tried to live up to their best-selling album, "Back in Black," with some mediocre results.
However, "Black Ice" stands as one of the band's heaviest and greatest albums yet.
Lead guitarist Angus Young proves he isn't too young to put on the schoolboy uniform and thrash all over the stage with the same powerful solos that made the band famous. Backed by older brother Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar, the band returns to its classic, hard-hitting sound on songs like "Rock 'n Roll Train" and "Smash 'n Grab."
Lead singer Brian Johnson sounds better than ever.
Fans may note a slight difference in the delivery of every screeching line.
What's that? Is he actually singing?
Rather than simply screaming or occasionally growling as he has on previous albums, Johnson now delivers songs with inflection in his voice, an uncharacteristic move for a singer whose voice sounds like he eats razor blades for breakfast.
But it works.
High-pitch delivery has been characteristic of the band since the days of late singer Bon Scott, but never before have the vocals been sung with such a bluesy feel, delivering the band back to their roots.
Johnson - and the rest of the band, for that matter - especially shines on the catchy "Anything Goes." With an infectious hook and a head-banging rhythm to go with it, it stands as possibly the band's greatest song since 1990's "Thunderstruck."
Don't let an exclusive Wal-Mart deal fool you: AC/DC is back and better than they've been in 18 years.
Whether or not you're a fan of these high-energy rock gods, "Black Ice" is a must-listen.
Powerful rhythms, shredding solos and ear-splitting vocals have defined Australian rock legends AC/DC since the early 1970s.
Their first album in eight years, "Black Ice," stands among the band's best work.
Since 1980, the band has tried to live up to their best-selling album, "Back in Black," with some mediocre results.
However, "Black Ice" stands as one of the band's heaviest and greatest albums yet.
Lead guitarist Angus Young proves he isn't too young to put on the schoolboy uniform and thrash all over the stage with the same powerful solos that made the band famous. Backed by older brother Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar, the band returns to its classic, hard-hitting sound on songs like "Rock 'n Roll Train" and "Smash 'n Grab."
Lead singer Brian Johnson sounds better than ever.
Fans may note a slight difference in the delivery of every screeching line.
What's that? Is he actually singing?
Rather than simply screaming or occasionally growling as he has on previous albums, Johnson now delivers songs with inflection in his voice, an uncharacteristic move for a singer whose voice sounds like he eats razor blades for breakfast.
But it works.
High-pitch delivery has been characteristic of the band since the days of late singer Bon Scott, but never before have the vocals been sung with such a bluesy feel, delivering the band back to their roots.
Johnson - and the rest of the band, for that matter - especially shines on the catchy "Anything Goes." With an infectious hook and a head-banging rhythm to go with it, it stands as possibly the band's greatest song since 1990's "Thunderstruck."
Don't let an exclusive Wal-Mart deal fool you: AC/DC is back and better than they've been in 18 years.
Whether or not you're a fan of these high-energy rock gods, "Black Ice" is a must-listen.
The Daily Eastern News encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The DEN also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.
Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.
Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.
If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Online Editor at DENNews.com@gmail.com.
Be the first to comment on this story