AC/DC - Black Ice - review
AC/DC - Black Ice - review
Tracklist
01. Rock 'N Roll Train02. Skies On Fire
03. Big Jack
04. Anything Goes
05. War Machine
06. Smash 'N Grab
07. Spoilin' For A Fight
08. Wheels
09. Decibel
10. Stormy May Day
11. She Likes Rock 'N Roll
12. Money Made
13. Rock 'N Roll Dream
14. Rocking All The Way
15. Black Ice
A review by
Jeff November 05, 2008
"Black Ice" is weird on a side. This is weird because some songs are pure classic AC/DC songs with the basic composition: verse, chorus, verse, chorus, guitar solo and etc. Take "Rock N Roll Train", for example, the song is really classic and at first you'll just say to yourself, "nothing is new here". You'll be right but if you listen to it again and again, the magical AC/DC effect will catch you and you'll like a lot the song. But even if "Black Ice" looks like a pure AC/DC album, this is actually a surprising release on some aspects. Believe me or not, the band has tried some new roads on this album and you can find bluesy calm songs like "Smash N Grab", a melancholic FM ballad with "Rock N Roll Dream" or, and that's extremely surprising a pure "Aussie" rock with slide guitars on "Stormy May Day". This is not something that I was expecting but even if it lacks a bit of energy and craziness, this is really cool! "Black Ice" is better than "Stiff Upper Lip" in my opinion, because if the Blues is still really present, this is a lot more Rock N Roll and even if finally we don't have a lot of mega anthems a la "Highway To Hell" (except maybe with "Rock N Roll Train", "Big Jack" and "Black Ice") the album doesn't have any letdown. Sure this is not the best album that the band has ever done but this is a really good album of Hard Rock which simply lacks of thundering songs like "Let There Be Rock" (but hey they're not so young now!).
After so many years without any news from the guys, I'm sure that you're all wondering if they're still so good. Well even if they're all around 50 years old now, the guys are excellent, especially Brian Johnson who gives one of his best vocal interpretation on this release. Let's just see how it will be live but I'm sure that Angus will still run everywhere and that he will even do his little strip-tease! No really, AC/DC is still a good band and the perfect production of the album (again?) with a really simple but extremely catchy cover (the big AC/CD) lead me to the conclusion that you'll not have the right to miss this album if you pretend to like the band.
I hope that you already have your ticket for the next tour, I've seen some pictures of the new stage and this is just demoniac, the ones who will miss this tour will miss something? About the album, I really think that a lot of people will like it. This is not the most "extreme" album of AC/DC but this is cool as hell nonetheless. It's good to see them back and I hope (well I'm quite sure of it actually) that they will not wait so many time to produce their next album. No my friends, AC/DC is not dead and I hope that the ones (radio, TV, journalists, pseudo music lovers) will understand this time, with the help of AC/DC that we, the metalheads and fans of rock are a lot and believe in our music (yes 10 000 000 of albums and a world in big venues sold out in some minutes guys?). Rihanna, and all those people can still dream, they will never be legends like AC/DC and all the big Rock bands. Rock is not dead, hail to Angus and AC/DC!
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 10 |
Written by Jeff | November 05, 2008
Comments
Comments:
26
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367 users
 Posts: 3857 |
Posts: 3857
I can't agree with this rating. Anything Goes has to be their worst song EVER. Overall, the album is tediously predictable. I like AC/DC. I wasn't expecting anything but AC/DC, but this album is mediocre at best.
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Posts: 2198
I was waiting for this review as I haven't listened to it yet. Indeed, I was not really enthusiastic to only get one more AC/DC album and nothing else... (even if a new album of AC/DC is always good to set). If this new stuff contains some surprising aspects and if band has tried something new, I will try it for sure now.
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 Posts: 2751 |
Posts: 2751
Well... I am no sheep. I always download before I buy and I must agree that it is just regular AC/DC, nothing new here. "Skies On Fire" is a great song though... I am going to see them in 12 days so I had to listen to this thing a few times just to get pumped.
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Posts: 3857 Written by Introspekrieg on 05.11.2008 at 22:10 Yeah, I was going to get a ticket for a show around here (not Philly, sold out fast), but for almost a hundred dollars a ticket? I don't think so...
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Posts: 2751 Written by Fat & Sassy! on 05.11.2008 at 22:16 Yeah my Stepdad hooked it up through his "connections", he didn't say how much it was, just that it was a Xmas gift. I would never pay that much to see a band, unless it included a keg, 3 course dinner and a lapdance.
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Posts: 3857 Written by Introspekrieg on 05.11.2008 at 22:18 I paid more than that to see (front row) AND meet Dream Theater... but that is special I guess. AC/DC is legendary (or should I say Angus Young is), but 100 bucks for anywhere in the house? Are they turning into Led Zeppelin?
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Posts: 2751 Written by Fat & Sassy! on 05.11.2008 at 22:30 Yeah meet and greet/VIP backstage stuff is different... they are turning into the Rolling Stones lol. Geriatric tour to pay da bills... I reread the review and must commend that it is very good... nice work.
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 Posts: 9726 |
Posts: 9726
Hmmm, sounds promising. Not on the wishlist but I will probably end up getting this if theres nothing else at the CD store...
---- "I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck." - George Carlin
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Posts: 129  |
Posts: 129
This album bored the fuck out of me, it was way repetitive.
---- Blat Blat
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 Posts: 3564 |
Posts: 3564
Queen is back this year? edit: 11/11: WTF was that above ^^
---- Kick Ass, Die Young Less is More Stay Pure Stay Poor Music was my life, music brought me to life and music is how I will be remembered long after I leave this life. When I die there will be a final waltz in my head that only I can hear.
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Posts: 268  |
Posts: 268
I don't see how a fan of something as dynamic as metal could be interested in this stuff.
---- As above, so below.
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Posts: 163  |
Posts: 163
I like the album... rocks. maybe it's the last AC/DC album before the end. 9 
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| Deathamphetamine
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 Posts: 4331 |
Posts: 4331 Written by Arcesse Eum on 08.11.2008 at 10:12 Because not everyone wants to hear dynamic music all the time. Metal gets repetitous just like the old classic rock bands. Sometimes a bit of rock and roll is more desiring than metal. Im actually getting sick of 'complex' music, sometimes a simple tune is just as good if not better than continous vocal lines or drums beats. Arcturus is a good example of a band in metal that is like this (which i see you like).
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Posts: 268 |
Posts: 268 Written by Dark Cornatus on 12.11.2008 at 07:28 I know what you mean, but I think even the rockin' stuff on Sham Mirrors is complex in its own way. I'm no techy-junky, but I just can't get into AC/DC
---- As above, so below.
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Posts: 268  |
Posts: 268
Complexity is not the same as good!! This is a very common error in metal and rock music this days. A lot of bands and fans think that the more difficult the song, the better it is. That's not true, sometimes the beauty is in the simplicity. The album has nothing new, but is still good, I liked it a lot.
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 Posts: 1023 |
Posts: 1023 Written by juanopereira on 12.11.2008 at 18:46 Hah, this is the first comment to this review that I really agree with. My favourite genre is progressive rock/metal and most of my favourite bands belong to either of those genres - 90% of my favourite bands could be described as "complex". But I still think "Black Ice" is at least 8,5/10 - it's an incredibly good album and I'm really amazed that they can use such simple riffs with their old formula and still create interesting and good songs.
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Posts: 180  |
Posts: 180
Most of their early stuff is good, not great but good. They wre able to take simple riffs and make good songs with them. Bon Scott was a great singer, one of rocks very best. When Brian Johnson came to the band they were still pretty good. But the bands last couple albums have been carbon copys of their work in the 80's, and they keep getting weaker. However, Black Ice is their best since the Razors Edge, but that still deosnt mean much, just another AC/DC album. The band probably should have stoped making new music after The Razors Edge because they never change. This album is ok, but nothing new or special.
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| JohnDoe
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JohnDoe
Account deleted
What changes do you people want AC/DC to make with their sound???You are taking this band way too seriously. They have never been the experimental type of band, trying too add new ideas too their sound, it's just blues-rock/hard rock, but well done most of the time. I don't want anything else from them. What should they do? Collaborate with Trent Raznor?Go industrial? Add keyboards?  I for one can forgive AC/DC for being repetitive; it's just a fun to listen, "let's have a beer" kinda band (while listening to their music).
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Posts: 80  |
Posts: 80
Get out of here kids and Dragonforce's fanboys  . hehehehe Now we are talking like adults and AC/DC simply rules supreme!!!! I haven't heard the album yet, only the single Rock'n'Roll Train (shame on me) but yesterday I heard Anything Goes in the radio and went nuts!!! What a great catchy tune! Today I bought the album and I'm amazed how these guys still make the best rock'n'roll music over the world. Shit on Metallica with that boring Death Magnetic... AC/DC are the guys that never had sold their souls for MTV or any shit like that. They ROCKS and they are still in great shape!!! LONG LIVE AC/DC!!!! WE SALUTE YOU!!!! 
---- MrSpaceman_
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 Posts: 9570 |
Posts: 9570
I was dissapointed its not as kickass as old ac/dc it sound soft...
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Posts: 6675 Written by Boxcar Willy on 15.09.2010 at 22:02 Agreed. Its very mundane and pedestrian. Of course, its AC/DC, so it's not THAT much sonically different to earlier albums, but there's no fire in their songs anymore. IMO the last AC/DC album to feature any real barnstorming rockers was The Razor's Edge. On the last 3 albums, its just like they're going through the motions, this latest one especially.
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Posts: 9570 Written by Angelic Storm on 15.09.2010 at 22:16 ballbreaker was good too!
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Posts: 6675 Written by Boxcar Willy on 15.09.2010 at 22:17 Its okay I guess, but I found it disappointing after The Razor's Edge. There's nothing on it which is as electrifyingly anthemic as "Thunderstruck", There's no full throttle rockers like "Fire Your Guns", nor anything as catchy as "Are You Ready". Everything just seems slowed down too much, and none of the songs particularly stand out. Its not as flat sounding as Black Ice certainly, but its definitely a step down from Razors... IMO. xD
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 Posts: 64384 |
Posts: 64384
Think what I did not like here into lyric are school boy and school girl, somehow for such old lads it don't fits ... or its just me, who sees there something, but guess what Angus still is in school age, band never grew up
---- I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens. Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"  I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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Posts: 1469 Written by Arcesse Eum on 12.11.2008 at 17:55 AC/DC and technicality or complexity don't belong to the same sentence. AC/DC is as basic as it can get. It is among the first stuff they start to teach you when you take your first guitar or drums lessons. Same basic beats and small fills all the time, same simple guitar riffs over and over. Good stuff to learn to play on time and in line with other instruments but nothing complex or evolved. Not necessarily bad (I like some songs very much, to tell the truth) but of course it gets repetitive. Keeping things so simple doesn't allow much experimentation or variation.
---- "Why would we fear death, when life is so much more frightening?"
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