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!

Angus and Brian on Black Ice

Brian thinks that Black Ice is better than Back in Black!
Check out the interview (which is pretty short, unfortunately) !

The verdict on AC/DC's new album

Australian rockers AC/DC have delivered their best album in decades, based on a sample of tracks from the upcoming album Black Ice. NEWS.com.au today heard seven tracks from the new album in the studios of the band’s Sydney headquarters, Albert Music.

The songs – Anything Goes, War Machine, Stormy May Day, She Likes Rock N Roll, Money Made and Black Ice, along with the current single Rock N’ Roll Train – suggest the band has made a remarkable return to form after a series of fan-only albums in recent years.

Judging by these songs, the 15-track album is the band’s most consistent and accessible release since Back in Black.

Anything Goes has the potential to be the band’s biggest hit since You Shook Me All Night Long if released - under one plan - as a second single.

Opening with a guitar sound that recalls Bon Scott’s bagpipes in Long Way to the Top, Anything Goes is a delicious 1970s tune with blood-pumping, 2008 production values.

The Young brothers would disagree, but it is the closest thing to a pop song the band has done and will pull in many new fans.

The songs heard today draw from periods throughout the band’s career.
Black Ice is a head-banging anthem from the For Those About to Rock era, with a riff as good as any the Youngs have written.

War Machine is a hard and fast affair reminiscent of Back in Black’s Given The Dog a Bone.
Money Made is a bass-heavy boogie with guitar chords that seem to hang back, teasing, before sling-shotting into a chorus from the Blow Up Your Video era.

Stormy May Day offers something new - a huge over-driven slide guitar hook that is a favourite in the Alberts studio.

Producer Brendan O'Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, The Offspring) and long-time AC/DC mixer Mike Fraser should take a major credit for the album, delivering a very contemporary sound -- probably the best production value of any AC/DC album to date.

The vocals are one of the big surprises of the album. In a modern medical miracle, front man Brian Johnson’s vocal chords have patched themselves up to deliver his best vocal performance since the 1980s.

O’Brien has also worked hard on the back-up vocals, which makes a tremendous difference in the choruses.

This is not Back in Black. It won’t sell the 45 million copies of the 1980 classic.
But on a first listen it is by far the best thing AC/DC has produced in a quarter of a century.

Black Ice is due out in Australia on October 18 and around the world on October 20.

Source

Reactions

So far, it looks like people's reaction are pretty good regarding the new single. Fans seem now even more excited about the new album (including me). I think it's gonna be one hell of a song to play in a concert. The chorus at least kicks major ass!
High expectations for the forthcoming album!

Listen to the song one more time:

Rock 'N Roll Train

The song is streaming non-stop at AC/DC's official website.
You can also find it at AC/DC's MySpace and on YouTube (poor quality).

The song is pure AC/DC, good old rock 'n roll, catchy riff, Brian's vocals are more than I (and others) have expected. All that topped with Angus' explosive solo...one hell of a song! Can't wait to get my hands on the full album!

later edit> found another YT vid, better quality this time!

New AC/DC Pic

Brand new AC/DC photograph.

Just a little bit longer...

In about 2 or 3 hours, AC/DC's new single Rock 'N Roll Train will air on X Rocks 105.7 radio (00:00, 28th August). It will also play the whole next day, but it'll probably appear on YouTube as soon as it airs for the first time.
So check this page out, as well as this one, this one and this one :) !
I'll post the song here as well, so be sure to check the blog for more news and stuff :D .

News!

AC/DC Italia fansite reports that AC/DC's Black Ice will be available in three colors, each one with different graphics too!

Looks like the new album AC/DC are releasing got people pretty excited. Many fans (or not) thought that they should resurrect their AC/DC collection by buying some of the band's best albums. On this week's ARIA chart, TNT reached no. 47, Highway to Hell no. 61, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap no. 62, Who Made Who no. 74 and The Razor's Edge no. 92 .

The mysterious 30 second sample of Rock 'N Roll Train published on AC/DC's MySpace disappeared as quickly as it appeared, but not before it got some radio airplay. It is strongly believed that it was the real song, but we'll know for sure in less than 24 hours, when the full-length sound will be broadcast here.

And guess what, SoloDallas, the YouTube guy who covers AC/DC songs like no other is back! Can't wait to see him replicating the songs from the new album.

See an AC/DC Rehearsal

Win A Trip To See AC/DC's First Full Tour Rehearsal in The USA!

There are two ways you can enter:

If you are going to the Reading/Leeds festival 2008 (22^nd -24^th August) then checkout the ACDC ‘Angus’ posters all around the festival site. All you have to do is pose underneath Angus Young’s head with your most awesome air guitar pose ever! We really want to see you give it some AC/DC rock god action!

OR, if you were not lucky enough to get Reading/Leeds festival tickets – you can download the poster and fiddle about with it at your leisure – superimposing Angus’ head over your own picture of you pulling some superb rock god posturing! Then, upload the finished picture to our Rock‘N’Roll Angus wall...

AWESOME – and the prize is too.

For those about to upload – we salute you!

Official Website

Another 'Black Ice' Review

After an eight-year layoff from the studio, AC/DC storms back this fall with "Black Ice," a 15-track extravaganza that frequently echoes the down-and-dirty rock'n'roll of its iconic 1980 album "Back in Black."

Due Oct. 20 exclusively in Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores as well as ACDC.com, the set opens with the single "Rock'n'Roll Train," a riffy blast sure to please longtime fans. The track goes to U.S. radio Aug. 28.

Elsewhere, "Big Jack" nods to the vintage major-key rocker "Who Made Who," while "Wheels" is a hands-in-the-air nod to old favorites such as "Highway to Hell" and "Givin' the Dog a Bone."

Frontman Brian Johnson is in fine form on tracks like "War Machine" ("Better watch your back and cover your tracks!," he warns), the sparse "Decibel," partially sung in his deep, natural voice, and the anthemic "Anything Goes."

"Black Ice" ends with its title track, an old-school blues rocker that finds Johnson growling, "I'll gouge your eyes out."

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Source

Rock n' Roll Train Preview

ATTENTION PLEASE!!!

A preview (30 sec) for the single Rock 'n Roll Train from AC/DC's new album Black Ice is now available.



Also available at AC/DC's Myspace.
Whether is the real thing or not, we'll se when the song previews from Wal-Mart will be published.

100!

Today, Friday, 22nd of August, is the day when this blog reached the 100 viewers milestone, 6 days from its start point! I hope that in another 6 days, we'll have 1000 viewers, then 10.000 and so on!
Thank you, AC/DC Fandom viewers!

AC/DC's Black Ice Review

Renowned American Music Industry Figure Bob Lefsetz Reviews AC/DC's Black Ice

Bob Lefsetz - the American music industry figure and author of the email newsletter and blog, the Lefsetz Letter, has issued the following review of AC/DC's new album, Black Ice, which will be released on October 20th through Columbia Records.

"I'm sitting here at Shutters listening to the new AC/DC album on Steve Barnett's MacBook Air.

To tell you the truth, I usually avoid this. What are you going to say as the label head watches you listen to his baby. But after discussing the Wal-Mart deal at lunch, hearing all about the plans for release, I was eager, the same way you are after school, when you ride your bike to the record store to buy the album the day it comes out.

You rush home, rip off the shrinkwrap, drop the platter on the turntable, lay the needle down and you hear...

ANGUS' GUITAR!

Now this isn't far from the master, THIS IS THE MASTER! And suddenly, my whole body starts to throb, THIS IS THE SOUND!

Oh, Phill Rudd's bass drum. You know that "Back In Black" sound, kicking you in the gut, so powerful, yet so pure!

Every AC/DC album sounds the same. Only the songs are different. "Black Ice" continues the tradition. I could sit here and digest the 55.5 minutes over and over again. But not having all day, I've played the single, "Rock N' Roll Train", a few times, and am now sampling...

I'm gripped by "Smash N' Grab".

This ain't Crocs music. This ain't made for Sephora. This is the sound that drove your parents away, that they didn't only tell you to turn down, BUT THROW OUT!

It's a rough tough tumble world we live in. Where sold-out whores tell us what to like and try to make us believe we're losers. What are we supposed to do?

Listen to AC/DC. Turn it up and nothing else seems to matter. The sound obscures the rest of the world, it's just you, equal to everyone you hate, who's got you down, your dad, your principal, the President...

Wow, you should hear the intro to "Spolin' For A Fight"! This is "Shoot To Thrill"!

Dressed to kill!

The groove to "Decibel"... Like you've just stripped naked and are sauntering to the bed to stick your rod into a woman who's BEYOND FANTASY! Wow, this is too much, PURE SEX!

There's a slide on "Stormy May Day" straight off a sixties English blues record, followed by another guitar in the other ear with a stinging report. There's a FULL MINUTE INTRO!

I don't remember any other AC/DC track sounding like "Rock N' Roll Dream", it's positively SENSITIVE! Kind of like something off "Straight Shooter", the second Bad Company album... Wow, this is my favorite so far, at least until the freight train/explosive chorus. I love the intimacy, like you've stayed up all night drinking after you've been dumped.

This ain't no "Ballbreaker", no "Stiff Upper Lip"... It's like the band believes, it's the best thing they've done in EONS!

How good is it?

WHO GIVES A FUCK! I'm sitting here, with the headphones cranked, listening to NEW AC/DC!

Doesn't matter how many stars the album gets in "Rolling Stone", what the "New York Times" says, never mind Pitchfork or Stereogum. If you're a fan of a band, in this case one of the most legendary in the business, only eclipsed by the Beatles in sales, you're EAGER! It's like Moses, it's like JESUS has come back to Earth... You want to hear what he's got to say!

Maybe AC/DC is the band at the second coming. That's what it sounds like, THUNDER! Drowning out all that's irrelevant. All that matters is the music.

I'm in hog heaven. "

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Source

Now this got me even more excited about the album. Hope Wal-Mart will post those song previews pretty soon. I wonder how Rock 'n Roll Dream sounds like. Well, I know it will rock, like any other song from the boys. But man, AC/DC does a sensitive song! Can't wait to hear it!

Video-shoot pics / Saluting AC/DC

Pictures from the AC/DC video-shoot on 15th August were posted on this site. Check them out! The background with the factory and all looks pretty cool. Hope the band looks the same!

In other news, looks like a tribute concert will be held at Adelaide International Guitar Festival:

Saluting AC/DC A STAR-STUDDED line-up of local and international artists will stage a tribute concert to AC/DC at this year's Adelaide International Guitar Festival. The AC/DC We Salute You concert will close the festival on December 7 with main-stage acts performing their favorite AC/DC songs.

Full article here!

Shopping

You can pre-order AC/DC's new album 'Black Ice' at the band's official store for 11.88$ . Click here!
Also, you can buy bundles including T-shirts, caps, magnets and, of course, the CD. More here!

Apart from that, on September 9, No Bull: The Director's Cut will hit the stores (available on DVD and Blu-Ray), a remastered version of band's performance from Madrid's Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, on July 10, 1996. You can pre-order it here, for 10.99$ (DVD) and 20.99$ (Blu-Ray).

A YouTube-er who claims that he attended to the video-shoot posted a video where he tries to replicate the guitar work on "Rock n' Roll Train". Give it a listen:



Sounds good to me!

Stay tunned for more news!

News Confirmed!

AC/DC officially announced the name of their new album, and that's "Black Ice". Fans will get their hands on it on 20th of October. But until then we will enjoy the single "Rock 'n Roll Train", which comes out on August, 28 (video available in September).

It seems that the album's cover will be this one:

We're still waiting for the tour dates. AC/DC will probably start the rockin' in October, probably November until sometime in 2009. Hell, after a 8 years break I hope their batteries are fully charged. I'd kill to see Angus doing his duck-walk one more time!

And let's not forget about the track listing:

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. Money Made
13. Rock N Roll Dream
14. Rocking All The Way
15. Black Ice

Wal-Mart launched an advertising campaign, so keep an eye on this page, song previews are coming soon!

‘Black Ice’ will be sold exclusively through Wal-Mart in the USA for $11.88. It will be distributed through Sony for the rest of the world.

About the 'Rock 'n Roll Train' video:

The video itself takes place with the band playing in front of an industrial factory backdrop although plenty of green screen footage was also shot during the afternoon. The sheer energy created in the room though was something to truly behold. Awe-struck at the fact that the band were literally within touching distance, both audience and band were firing on all cylinders. Angus, dressed in a navy blue school uniform, and Brian Johnson in a cut off Harley Davidson shirt were particularly inspired, whipping everyone into a furious frenzy.

After finishing their final take, the band all went to the front of the stage to shake hands and sign autographs for everybody and in doing so also let slip a few details of what to expect from AC/DC in the future. 'Black Ice' will feature 15 tracks with Johnson describing them to people as "14 songs that are all as good as this one ('Rock N' Roll Train')". He also said that Europe would see the band sooner rather than later when the band tour the album.

Source

Cheers!

Flick of the Switch 25th Anniversary

Twenty-five years (and two days) ago, on August 15th 1983, AC/DC released its ninth album, Flick of the Switch. Although many people consider this album a disappointment, it's a "must have/listen" around true AC/DC lovers. So shove the CD into your computer and let the power rise one more time!

"Freeze", said the man cruisin' the beat
"You get your hands up and spread your feet"
"Don't you move an inch", I heard him say
"Or you'll be doin' time until the judgement day"

Nervous Shakedown
Give it a listen!

See an AC/DC Dress Rehearsal

Dress up as Angus and you could win a once in a lifetime trip to see the band

AC/DC are kicking off their comeback at Reading Festival (August 22-24) by offering fans a unique chance to see a one-off dress rehearsal from the band in the US.

However to qualify fans must dress up as the band's guitarist Angus Young.

Two giant billboards are being erected at the Reading site which fans in fancy dress must have their photo taken in front of. The snaps should be uploaded to Acdcrocks.com/uk.

The best "Angus" will win a two-person trip to the US to see the band perform the exclusive gig.

Source