Throwback Thursday: "Black Ice", by AC/DC

In 2008 hard rock legends AC/DC put out what many (including myself) consider to be their last true album: Black Ice, as it was the last one with the iconic five members. While the band's popularity had waned just a bit over the years, this album chocked full of brand new eargasmic high voltage rock n' roll catapulted them back into the spotlight instantaneously. Track after track after track of this album was highly praised and thus they went on a big world tour that lasted quite a while to support it.

Black Ice sticks to the famous AC/DC style, but it wasn't afraid to explore a little bit outside of the boundaries in order to give some of the songs a little more flavor. I think that is what made the album as special as it is. They don't stick to the generic formula entirely and thus were able to create the best album they had in a REALLY long time. The songs are still bluesy and rocking, but there are some songs where they do a bit more finger picking, slide guitar, playing around with arrangements, and even make things a bit more melodic in certain places.

Rock n' Roll Train was an excellent choice as a first single from Black Ice. It screams classic AC/DC all over it without sounding like any of their other songs. The guitar tone especially makes it sound like it could have been on Back in Black. I like how creative the riff is, though. It's not just a set of basic block chords or arpeggios. This is them getting a little more complex while still rocking it up the way they do. Angus Young of course has his moment in the spotlight with his classic iconic bluesy soloing and it's brilliant as ever. It's blood boiling, heart pounding, high voltage rock n' roll in its finest form.

Skies on Fire is an under rated track from Black Ice, if you ask me. It combines some of that classic early 80's AC/DC sound with a bit more modern dirty gritty punch in a rather seamless way. I especially love the backing vocals. Malcolm Young in addition to being a great rhythm guitarist and song writer is also great at doing the kind of evil dirty backing vocals that no one could ever seem to emulate. The song also showcases the fact that vocalist Brian Johnson can do more than just scream bloody murder at the top of his lungs. He actually has a REALLY nice rumbly gritty lower range that makes for an interesting bluesy cocktail.

Black Ice in my opinion is the culmination of the iconic AC/DC line-up's creativity and passion. In my opinion it was one hell of a way for that line-up to say goodbye even if they didn't realize that was what was happening at the time. Even all these years later I still jam this album from time to time as loud as I possibly can and it puts that same smile back on my face. It will always be one of the fondest memories of my teenage years, that's for sure. That said, I can't recommend it anywhere close to enough.

Black Ice, by AC/DC receives 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Rock n' Roll Train
2. Skies on Fire
3. Big Jack
4. Anything Goes
5. War Machine
6. Smash n' Grab
7. Spoilin' for a Fight
8. Wheels
9. Decibel
10. Stormy May Day
11. She Likes Rock n' Roll
12. Wheels
13. Rock n' Roll Dream
14. Rockin' All the Way
15. Black Ice

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Ice-AC-DC/dp/B00O75QDIC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503648965&sr=8-1&keywords=AC%2FDC+Black+Ice