by Bob Rob

Created on: April 30, 2009   Last Updated: May 01, 2009

Slipped on Black Ice

AC/DC's 15th studio album Black Ice could be the final sign that they are done. Over the years listening to AC/DC yell about rocking and different weather elements mixed with heavy even danceable guitar rhythms and face-melting solos has been fantastic. Their lack of decent lyrical work has finally caught up to them, however, along with Brian Johnson's voice, which will make any listener cringe knowing he may finally suffer from a permanent sore throat.

The thing about AC/DC which has kept fans with them for so long is the fact that they literally have never changed their sound. This could be good and bad. It could be good in the fact they never put out an album like St. Anger as Metallica did in attempt to revamp their sound to what would be radio-friendly for metal/hard rock, but the bad part is that eventually this sound will catch up to them. You must simply know your limits in music and clearly AC/DC refuses to accept the fact they have gotten old and something needs to change if not for the fans, for themselves and their music.

The band starts off with a triple shot of nothing special. "Rock n' Roll Train", "Skies on Fire" and "Big Jack" will make you do nothing but sit in your seat. Same AC/DC style rhythms with guitar solos that lack imagination and Brian Johnson barely getting out of the songs alive. Not a good start to the album, but I was actually surprised they only used the word "rock" once in these first 3 songs. The song dedicated to AC/DC's love of music, "Anything Goes", is where I finally took notice of the album and why is that? Because AC/DC finally did just a tiny revamp and it sounded great. It was a bit slower so Johnson could actually keep up, but still had a solid rhythm and a fantastic solo from Angus Young. "War Machine" is actually a fantastic song to follow-up "Anything Goes". Unfortunately after this, AC/DC, goes right back to boring.

AC/DC does their normal lyrical genius and take common sayings like "Smash N' Grab" and "Spoiling for a Fight" and basically keep repeating them for the next two tracks. At this point I can play the album on a loop and have no idea when one song ends and the other begins. I'm sure you can imagine exactly how the refrains of "Wheels" and "Decibel" go, so I will not even bother to mock them. "Decibel" attempts an old, slower, bluesy AC/DC, but is missing a real solo and the man who used to sing for AC/DC.

"Stormy May Day" has very good slide work done on the guitar, however, Johnson's

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>