Reviews, interviews, articles and more!

Lots and lots of 'Black Ice' reviews lately. Some of them are worth be checked-out.

Popdose.com - Dw. Dunphy on...Black Ice
Review from BlogCritics.org
Uweekly.com - Back in 'Black Ice'
Canada.com - another Back in 'Black Ice'-titled review
DailyRecord.com - AC/DC takes it to the road one more time -The waiting for 'Black Ice'-
TorontoSun.com - AC/DC good/bad



Then, we have interviews:

USAweekend.com - Interview with Brian Johnson
Great interview with Angus form Undercover.com
Vancouver.24hrs.ca - Brian Interview - AC/DC ready to rock again-
Video Interview with Brian
Other interviews: from news.com.au, from thenewsstar.com, usatoday.com



Articles on AC/DC's best songs:
AC/DC's best 10 hits (canada.com)
Top 10 AC/DC songs (arcona.wordpress.com)


They still got blood, and if you want it, go buy Black Ice !



(there's also a Part 2 for this interview)

AC/DC announced the European tour dates! You can check them out here (they'll probably update the website with more dates soon. Most of them are sold out by now anyway).



Acording to their official website, The Answer will be the band who will open for AC/DC on their North American leg.

The Answer are a hard rock and blues rock band from Newcastle and Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland. They have achieved success with their debut album Rise selling in excess of 30,000 copies in the UK & Europe, 10,000 on day one in Japan and 100,000 worldwide on the whole. (Wikipedia)

Lead singer Cormac Neeson said - "It is an honour and a privilege for The Answer to be offered the opportunity to support probably the greatest rock 'n' roll act on the planet. We are incredibly humbled."


Q Magazine has a mini-site dedicated yo AC/DC, throw an eye on it!


A worth-checking-out interview with Angus (lots of new interviews with the boys on YouTube as well, so do a little research, 'cuz it worths):

My Black Ice Review

I managed to get my hands on Black Ice one week before its original release and it seems to grow on me more and more. Been listening to it for a couple of days, so I decided to make an in-depth album review, featuring each song (excuse my shitty English where necessary).


Rock ‘n Roll Train – You probably already heard this one. Great album opener, kind of Highway to Hell-like riff. It’s like listening to Brian 20 years ago, and the chorus just ‘sets my balls on fire’. Nice video too! Definitely a concert song!

Skies On Fire – I know that Brian worked his voice for this album, but man, the chorus part when he screams is just mind-blowing. And when Ang begins his solo, that skies are literally on fire!

Big Jack – After hearing the intro I expected a For Those About To Rock kind of song. Wasn’t that much alike, but it gets close! Sounds a bit like Night Of The Long Knives (which is great, IMO), with a more up-beat tempo. Anyhow, the chorus doesn’t kick so much ass! And by the way, it doesn’t have anything from the good, old The Jack song.

Anything Goes – Now this is the song that many people hate (or don’t like that much like the rest of the album). It’s more of a country song, doesn’t exactly follow the AC/DC formula, but I still think it’s pretty good (growing on me). The bridge riff reminded me of the one from FTATR song. It’s not the anthem FTATR was, but as I said, I think many people will find it…at least interesting.

War Machine – Probably heard this one too. Didn’t pay too much attention to the lyrics, but seems that it has some political stuff in it (which is not AC/DC-like). One of the best and heaviest songs from the album with a simple, but killer riff.

Smash ‘N Grab – Come on and blow your mind / You’re outta time. This one is pretty much typical AC/DC, with really nice vocals, but it’s not that outstanding. A good song, anyway. Take it while you can!

Spoilin’ For a Fight – Now this one is a song from the AC/DC we all know. Angus fires up some solos up and down the fretboard, with those pinch harmonics we love. He is pretty busy on his Gibson this time!

Wheels – This is rock ‘n roll! I personally love this song, Brian screams great on this one (I wonder if he can pull out this one live). Along with War Machine, a pretty heavy song for this album. Angus’ solo sounds very familiar and explosive. I don’t know why the intro reminded me of Day Tripper. Anyway, this song stuck in my head for some time. Another one for ‘The best stuff on Black Ice’!

Decibel – This one has a bluesy feel, sounds a bit like Gone Shootin’ from Powerage. Some people seem to love this song, some don’t like it at all. I actually think it’s very, very good (me likes bluesy stuff). It’s a really toe-tapping song and I love those guitar bits Angus does towards the end of the song (more like his Bon-era stuff).

Stormy May Day – The slide guitar stuff everyone’s been talking about. Led Zeppelin fans will recognize this one pretty quick. I was kind of skeptical about this song, but it turned out as one of the best ones on the album. Sounds like Badlands as well. Again a bluesy feel with a great chorus, and that bit (end of the song) when Brian has the soft singing part is pure awesomeness. Unfortunately, it’s too short (3:12) and it does not feature a solo.

She Likes Rock ‘N Roll – This one sounds so much like Brian! Cliff has a nice bass part here. Not that outstanding, but it has AC/DC-ish lyrics and, again, a mind-blowing chorus.

Money Made – The intro is similar to Decibel, but slowed down a bit. It will probably become a radio hit. It has a great feel and it definitely sounds like AC/DC !

Rock ‘N Roll Dream – This one is that controversial ballad. The guitar, drums and bass, all fall in their places along with the vocals, making a great song (it’s in my Top 5 songs from this album). The drums part when the chorus begins gives me chills. IMO, they tried to use the same formula as for Ride On. I would have been disappointed actually if this album didn’t have a song like this one.

Rocking All The Way – The chorus and solo are kind of similar to the ones from Highway To Hell. Well, RATW it’s not that kind of anthem, but it still better than some songs on this album.

Black Ice - …and when I thought it couldn’t get any better, Black Ice kicks in. This is both heavy and bluesy, with a ferocious chorus and with angry solos. This may be the last song from the band’s last album, so take a good listen!


All in all, Black Ice is one of AC/DC’s best albums and it will probably sell millions of copies. As someone stated on a forum, Black Ice is Powerage 2008.
Brian’s voice improved a lot, Angus is eager to ‘blow your mind’ (as the song goes), and the band is more tight than ever! The boys were really inspired and came up with great tunes, and, as Brian said, this album shows the versatility of this band.
When they were 17, they wrote songs from 17 years old kids. When they’re in their 50’s, even in their 60’s (Happy Birthday Brian!) they still write songs for 17 years old kids.
Great job, AC/DC ! Keep on rockin’!

The Album Has Leaked !

Black Ice leaked online! It is supposed to be released on October 20th.
Listen:

01. Rock 'N Roll Train
02. 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

I'll probably be back with some opinions, sooner or later!

Happy Birthday Brian Johnson!

Happy Birthday, keep rockin' and let's get it up! We're waiting for you!

Cover your tracks...

AC/DC - War Machine is here! The song speaks for itself! What do you think?

AC/DC - Rock 'N Rol Train -Full Video-

AC/DC - Rock 'N Rol Train -Full Video-

Watch it now and tell us what do you think about it!

30 seconds of Rock 'N Roll Train are here!

A 30 sec. preview of AC/DC's new single, Rock 'N Roll Train, was published today.
The scene where Angus does his duck-walk gave me goosebumps.
Enjoy!

New AC/DC Photos

December 9th, New York !

Click on the pics for a larger view!

AC/DC Reveals Fall Tour Plans

In support of its forthcoming studio album, AC/DC will launch its Black Ice World Tour on Oct. 28 at the Wachovia Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The 24-date North American leg of the arena jaunt is scheduled to wrap Dec. 18 at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C.

The worldwide trek follows closely behind the Oct. 20 release of "Black Ice," which will be sold exclusively in Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores as well as ACDC.com. AC/DC's first new single in eight years, "Rock'n'Roll Train," rockets 15-5 this week on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.

Tickets for the North American dates will go on sale during the weekend of Sept. 20 via Ticketmaster and ACDC.com. Specific on-sale dates and ticket prices have not yet been announced.

Following the North American run, AC/DC will visit South American, Europe and Asia, with dates to be announced. The Black Ice World Tour will be AC/DC's first outing since 2001.

Here are AC/DC's North American tour dates:

Oct. 28: Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (Wachovia Arena)
Oct. 30: Chicago (Allstate Arena)
Nov. 3: Indianapolis (Conseco Fieldhouse)
Nov. 5: Auburn Hills, Mich. (Palace of Auburn Hills)
Nov. 7: Toronto (Rogers Centre)
Nov. 9: Boston (TD Banknorth Garden)
Nov. 12-13: New York (Madison Square Garden)
Nov. 15: Washington, D.C. (Verizon Center)
Nov. 17: Philadelphia (Wachovia Center)
Nov. 19: East Rutherford, N.J. (IZOD Center)
Nov. 21: Columbus, Ohio (Schottenstein Center)
Nov. 23: Minneapolis (Xcel Energy Center)
Nov. 25: Denver (Pepsi Center)
Nov. 28: Vancouver (General Motors Place)
Nov. 29: Seattle (KeyArena)
Nov. 30: Tacoma, Wash. (Tacoma Dome)
Dec. 2: Oakland, Calif. (Oracle Arena)
Dec. 6: Los Angeles (The Forum)
Dec. 10: Phoenix (US Airways Center)
Dec. 12: San Antonio (AT&T Center)
Dec. 14: Houston (Toyota Center)
Dec. 16: Atlanta (Philips Arena)
Dec. 18: Charlotte, N.C. (Time Warner Cable Arena)

AC/DC Fan Club

Can't get enough AC/DC? Join the AC/DC Fan Club and get more of the world's most electrifying rock & roll band than you can 'shake a leg' at!


As part of the Fan Club, you'll enjoy special access to tickets should concert dates be announced, an exclusive AC/DC gift mailed to your door, discounts on merchandise, and entrance into all areas of ACDC.com, including the AC/DC message boards, members-only contests and more.

Join the AC/DC Fan Club today!

Cost: $ 40.00

AC/DC Radio

Legendary Australian hard rock band, AC/DC, whose popular Back in Black album sold over 42 million copies worldwide, will host their own limited run satellite radio channel Sirius Satellite Radio beginning next Monday.

AC/DC Radio will be broadcast on Sirius channel 29 and will debut on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 6 pm ET and run through to January 15th of next year.


The channel will play all the classic AC/DC rock recordings such as "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)," "You Shook Me All Night Long," and "Back in Black" as well as new songs from their Brendan O'Brien produced album, Black Ice , the band's first studio album in eight years.

The channel will also feature AC/DC band members Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams, Brian Johnson and Phil Rudd describing their rock & roll career spanning more than 30 years and sharing their personal insights into their music.

AC/DC has sold more than 200 million albums worldwide including Back in Black which is the fifth highest-selling album of all time. AC/DC was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in March 2003.

Words: Digital Home Canada

Rock 'n Roll Train has been storming radios across the world till it's release. People can't seem to have enough! Blabbermouth says: AC/DC's first new single in eight years, "Rock 'N Roll Train", is the first song to debut at No. 1 on the Rock (spins) chart in the BDS (Broadcast Data Systems) Canada era (beginning 1997) and the first AC/DC song in the BDS era to reach No. 1.


AC/DC has 6 albums in the Australian Top 50 this week, including one in the top 20 with collective sales that out sold the number one album this week.

AC/DC positions in this week's chart are:
20. TNT (1975)
26. The Razors Edge (1990)
27. Highway To Hell (1979)
28. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
30. Who Made Who (1986)
45. Stiff Upper Lip (2000)

Brendan O'Brien says that the new album will get the same treatment as any other AC/DC effort. AC/DC gets back to basics: I was hoping the songs would lend themselves to more of a — 'pop' is the wrong word, but hooky sort of treatment," O'Brien told Rolling Stone. "Like 'Back in Black' or 'Highway to Hell' and even 'Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.' I was trying to just make people remember, 'This is the same band. I have missed this band. I love this band. Where have they been?'

O'Brien said their demos had a very unique sound: If it's Angus' song, he's doing a guitar riff or the drum machine or a drum sort of thing, and he'll sing this very mumbly melody, very superlow, three octaves down, he explained.

And by the way, Angus won't give up his school-boy outfit: At first, when I think about 'Hey, I haven't worn it in a while,' it takes me a little bit of psychology to get into it," he told Rolling Stone. "But I promised myself I'm not gonna think — I'll just put it on.

The Eighties

AC/DC 101 is updated! The 80's are up!



Just as they were prepared to finally capitalise on all of their years of hard work and long nights on the road, AC/DC experienced tragedy with the sudden death of their singer Bon Scott on 22 February 1980.
[...]

Brian officially joined the band in April, starting a new chapter in the group's history. AC/DC would remain the band that everyone knew and loved, but with Brian onboard they were soon to be known on a level never before dreamed.

Read more here!

No Bull Director's Cut gets reviewed

Give AC/DC credit for one thing – or actually, make that a couple of things. They’ve got longevity. No doubt about that.

But what you’ve really got to respect about Angus and the boys is not just that they’ve stayed on top for more than three decades now, but that they’ve done so without really changing a thing. [...]

But even a band of notorious bad boys like AC/DC has to eventually make some concessions to the economic reality of todays music business. To that end, their new re-release of the live DVD No Bull: The Directors Cut, like their upcoming new album Black Ice, will be a WalMart exclusive – meaning that’s the only place you will be able to buy it.[...]

No Bull: The Directors Cut is an updated version of a 1996 AC/DC concert that was filmed by David Mallet at the Plaza De Toros De Las Ventas, which is a bullfighting arena in Madrid, Spain. The new version has been re-edited in high definition and given a fresh new Dolby 5.1 remix job.

For their part, Angus, Malcolm and the rest of the guys sound tight as a thirteen year old virgin here, and the video is equally crisp and clean. It’s everything you’d expect from a AC/DC concert. Angus Young wears his schoolboy outfit and does his modified Chuck Berry duckwalks when he’s not otherwise running all over the stage. Brian Johnson screeches his lungs out and continues to prove why he’s the only guy alive who could have replaced original vocalist, the late Bon Scott, and gotten away with it.[...]

What AC/DC do, simple though it may be, is something that they are better at than anybody. And No Bull: The Directors Cut is as good a video document of that as you are likely to find. You’ll find it at your nearest WalMart on September 9.

Full article here!

AC/DC on Criminal Minds

CBS has unveiled its first promo for the new season of Criminal Minds. Helping deliver the message with style are veteran rockers AC/DC.
Laying the pulse-pounding foundation for the promo is AC/DC’s “Rock ‘N’ Roll Train,” from the band’s first studio album in eight years, Black Ice (streeting Oct. 21). Minds exec producer Ed Bernero, having been afforded an advance listen to the track a while back, seized the chance to edit the promo himself. “We love AC/DC,” he tells me, “and just wanted to play with our images and this amazing piece of music.”



Starring Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore, A.J. Cook, Matthew Gray Gubler and Kisten Vangsness.

"Breuer Unleashed" with Brian Johnson

Jim Breuer and very special guest Brian Johnson, lead singer of AC/DC rock out on "Breuer Unleashed", exclusively on Sirius Satellite Radio.

Exclusive BW&BK: Producer Mike Fraser Talks About New AC/DC Album

“I Think It’s Back More In The Direction Of The Razor’s Edge”
Special report by "Metal" Tim Henderson:

BW&BK had the opportunity recently to speak to a true icon in the Canadian music business, one that “hangs out” in circles we can only dream of, populated by the likes of METALLICA, JIMMY PAGE, AEROSMITH, VAN HALEN, RUSH, WHITESNAKE, MOTLEY CRUE and THE CULT. Well, maybe not actually hanging out, but his magical hands have been on the boards, mixing, mastering and producing these giants. And that’s just the hard rock/heavy metal portion of his career. Some of his recent clients include ELVIS COSTELLO and NORAH JONES. And we can’t forget some of his Canadian content - LOVERBOY, KIM MITCHELL, TOM COCHRANE, CHILLIWACK and of course BRYAN ADAMS’ monster, Reckless.

At this juncture, Vancouver-based Mike Fraser - who calls home Warehouse Studio - is being talked about in AC/DC circles, as he’s one of the masterminds behind the sonics of the Aussie band’s more than eagerly anticipated new album, Black Ice, due out on October 20th. You may recall he’s worked with the boys before on 2000’s Stiff Upper Lip, 1995’s Ballbreaker and 1990’s The Razor’s Edge, as well as having remastered the band’s entire catalog in 2003.
Here are a few excerpts from the chat - more will be online soon!

BW&BK: It’s been pretty quiet in the AC/DC camp since the spring. As news slowly trickles out to the masses, how far into this process are you? Fraser: “Well, Black Ice has been done since April. So it’s been sitting there waiting to hit the airwaves since then.”

BW&BK: How much pressure is there knowing that Black Ice is easily one of the most anticipated rock/hard rock records over the past few years? Do you guys feel it inside? Fraser: “Oh sure, I do. I’m not sure if the band does. They are pretty low-key, easy-going guys. They don’t think about any of this kind of stuff. They just come in and get it done. As Malcolm (Young) says, when they are writing songs, if you can thump your foot to it, it’s worth a go. I don’t think they think in terms of that. For sure Brendan (O’Brien) and I did. It’s been nine years since Stiff Upper Lip and at one point there I was thinking, is there ever going to be another AC/DC record, because that’s a long time. Finally they gave me a call. We started March 3rd on the record and I was like, ‘Somebody pinch me; we’re actually sitting here listening to new AC/DC!’”

BW&BK: Is there any particular reason for the nine years? You take a look at any number of high profile artists - it may be years between records due to touring commitments, label delays, marketing set-up etc. But why did it take nearly a decade to return? Fraser: “I think it’s a combination of things, and you’re right, so much of the world has opened up for touring, they are often out on the road for three years almost solid. So that’s gotta take a pretty heavy toll on things, including your personal lives. And once they’re done with that, they want to take some time off. Time seems to go fast - they probably took a couple of years until they started writing again. I know the writing process for this took quite a while. They have a little studio in London, so Malcolm and Angus (Young) are holed up there for quite a while, sitting there going through ideas. At one point Malcolm had told me that they had about 60 or 70 song ideas on the back-burner. Then they had to sort through all those and pick the best ones. I think they took their time on this - they aren’t in any rush. I’m sure the world is waiting for AC/DC, but they don’t necessarily need to be making more money! I’m sure they have everything they want and they’ve sorta ‘been-there-done-that’ several times. So where is the inspiration to get out there? I know they love playing and they love getting out in front of people, but really, what’s their rush? They like to wait until it’s right. And now was the time it felt right... ‘Let’s go do it.’”
BW&BK: Over the past week, the entire world has only heard the first single. You’ve been listening to and building this record for almost half a year! What is your opinion? Obviously you are a fan and you’ve leaned pretty heavy music-wise in your career. And AC/DC must rank pretty high as one of your favourites with all the work you’ve done with them in the past. Fraser: “I think it’s back more in the direction of The Razor’s Edge. The band only does records that they want to do, and what they’re into. For instance, on Stiff Upper Lip, what they wanted was a really dry, bluesy-type record - not so rip in your face rock. And that’s what they did and delivered. This one they wanted to kick it up another notch and rock. And I would say as a fan, it’s back towards The Razor’s Edge era, a little bit more up-tempo stuff.”
ultimateacdc.blogspot.com salutes you!
BW&BK (joking): Aren’t these guys too old to be up-tempo?! Fraser: “(Laughs) You tell them that! They are never going to get back to that Flick Of The Switch or High Voltage sound, because they aren’t the 20-year-old kids anymore either. Your whole persona kind of changes. How do you write about getting laid and drunk every night if you’re not doing it, if you know what I mean (laughs). There are a lot of bands that have been around for a while, and I think they have a harder and harder time to stay street-connected with the kids, when you aren’t really a kid yourself. I have kids that are teenagers now, but I keep in the loop through them, and not through my own personal experiences anymore. I think a band that has such a long life like ‘DC, Metallica, Aerosmith, it’s really hard to keep coming up with those cool things that are now going to connect with kids that could almost be your grandkids.”

BW&BK: Very few bands can say they have such a wide demographic... Fraser: “The cool thing about AC/DC - everybody has got their genre of music that they love, but no matter what genre you are talking about, everybody loves AC/DC. They seem to cross over so many boundaries. You go to their shows and you see grandparents with dusted-off leather jackets and they are there with their grandkids in leather jackets. It’s just amazing that they appeal to such a broad range of people. It’s a testament to their hard work.”

Source

AC/DC 101

"Rock 'N' Roll Train" is just the first page in the latest chapter in AC/DC history. Don't fear! ACDC.com's got you covered with the entire history book. Check out our new feature, AC/DC 101, for an interactive, in-depth look at each decade of the Acca Dacca annals.

First up is the 1970s. Click here to watch, read and listen as AC/DC grows from humble beginnings in the nightclubs of Sydney to riding down the highway to hell of fame in just a few short years.

You might have heard the tale before, but it's never been told quite like this. With vintage video footage, recovered photos and a new spin on an age-old story, AC/DC 101 is a crash course in the history of the world's most electrifying rock & roll band.

So, go get your schoolboy uniform starched and pressed because class is now in session. Don't be tardy!



And be sure to come back next week - same place, same time - as your next lesson awaits. You won't want to miss it.

High Voltage and Black Ice

I think I've spotted a few similitudes between High Voltage album and Black Ice.
First, the last track gives the album its name (High Voltage is the last track from the HV album, Black Ice is the last one from this album). Third track on HV is The Jack, third track on Black Ice is Big Jack. The first tracks from both albums have videos. On HV we have Rock 'n' Roll Singer, on Black Ice we have Rock 'n' Roll Dream. High Voltage was AC/DC's first album (released internationally), Black Ice may be their last one.


Whether this are just coincidences or not, it's up to you to decide!