AC/DC

Rock or Bust

Columbia, 2014

During troubled times, it’s nice to know that you can count on some things never changing. AC/DC is among them. From start to finish, every track sounds like it could have followed a tune off their debut album, one of their mid 80’s releases, or even could be excerpted tracks from “For Those About to Rock.”

No surprise appearances by symphonies, no guest spots by crossover acts, or even sixteen measures of some rapper lending their street cred to these old dudes. Nope. Tried and true, steady as she goes, AC/DC stays the course of maximum distortion and mildly dirty locker room lyrics and don’t care if you don’t care about their stunted development.

Forty years on, this is the first album with founding member, and brother, Malcolm Young. Other brother Angus has stated these songs were culled from previous song writing sessions, prior to Malcolm’s illness.

No less than four songs contain the word “rock” in the title. Fair enough. And cliched themes are punched up with sufficient panache to still feel credible. “Play Ball,” is a solid bit of head shaking noise, and “Baptism by Fire” deserves more attention than it will ever receive. If you don’t already like these Aussies, this will not change your mind. Your presence will not be missed at the local sold out Enormo-dome show when they play your home town.

And still not one ballad to their credit. For this alone, we salute you.