MusicRadar

AC/DC's Black Ice: a rock masterpiece

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Skies On Fire
A stark drum beat gives way to a tangled chordal guitar riff. The syncopated beat of the verse is a bit different for AC/DC, but it works. Johnson sings a vocal line "I know you and you know me/ tell me what you want me to be" that is vaguely Lennon-esque. A biting bluesy solo from Angus.

Big Jack
From the title alone I know I'm going to like it, and I'm not wrong. This is one to play in the car, an up-tempo stomper with power chords that stumble overtop one another and land in all the right places. Angus pulls off some beautiful top-string riffing underneath the chorus. It's hard to tell if Brian Johnson is singing "Big Jet" or "Big Jack," but who cares? It rocks six ways to Sunday.

Anything Goes
There's no opening riff; instead, it bursts right in the door and wastes no time getting going. It's kind of a rock 'n' roll Irish jig, somewhat reminiscent of Slade's Run Runaway, only better. Angus lets loose with some intense top-string trills before firing off another bracing solo. A winner all the way.

War Machine
Whoa…it's getting ominous. The chord progression of the verse and chorus are in the same vein as Givin' The Dog A Bone, only more sinister. But if any band has a right to nick from themselves, it's AC/DC. Freaking hot solo, natch.

Smash N Grab
Is that a minor chord I hear in the pre-chorus? Nah, it can't be. It is! Well, I'll be…In truth, this mid-tempo rocker is the first coulda-been-a-contender so far. Not bad, but not one for the ages.

Spoilin' For A Fight
Now, this is a riff! I have to learn how to play that tangled little beauty, for sure. Actually, the riff is the backbone of the song, as it should be - it's that good! Brian Johnson snarls and howls as if he really is ready to inflict some facial rearrangement on somebody here. An air-drum, air-guitar slam-dunk.

Wheels
Straight out of the playbook from Highway To Hell - and that's a good thing. For the first time, Johnson sounds like he's straining for the notes. I've always wondered if he has to grab his Brian Johnson when trying to get to those special places. Beautiful vibrato in the guitar solo. Best instrumental break yet.

Decibel
A delicious, grinding, thumping bit of blues-rock. This might be the number where Angus performs his striptease live - it's got that smirking kind of bad-boy vibe to it. Strong stuff all around. Is Brian Johnson singing "decibel" or "Jezebel"? Hard to tell. Not important though.

Stormy May Day
Wow, what a cool, greasy slide guitar riff! And those floor toms punch you right in the chest. A gritty, punchy mid-tempo stand-out with some surprising minor key changes. Great change of pace.

She Likes Rock N Roll
Ding-ding-ding! We have another winner, folks! With a beat so undeniably sexy, this song just might replace Girls! Girls! Girls! as the next de rigueur strip club anthem. A tight verse and chorus that absolutely floors you. Gang vocals galore - "She likes rock n roll/ I like rock n roll!" Oh, yeah. I'm playing this in my car.

"Only brothers could pull off synchronicity such as this"