Album Review - AC/DC’s ‘Rock or Bust’

Artist: AC/DC
Album: Rock or Bust
Release date: November 28, 2014
Label: Columbia

Everybody’s favorite Australian hard rockers return in Rock or Bust, AC/DC’s sixteenth studio album. They return, however, without key player and band co-founder Malcolm Young. Having been diagnosed with dementia, Malcolm’s tragic departure is the most radical change the band’s line-up has faced since the death of singer Bon Scott nearly 35 years ago. At the helm of rhythm guitar for Rock or Bust and beyond is Malcolm’s nephew Stevie Young. The substitution is seamless throughout the album and preserves the iconic sound AC/DC have always been known for. Longtime fans can breathe a sigh of relief and raise their lighters in the air (although some may rely on a cane or walker to do so).

The album opens with a guitar riff reminiscent of “Back in Black” and dives confidently into the explosive title track. The ten tracks that follow are of varying quality, but consistently provide the noise and atmosphere the band is known for. Never will the listener forget that this is an AC/DC album. Party songs such as the single “Play Ball” and “Baptism by Fire” stand out as some of the album’s strongest tracks, thundering with positive energy. As singer Brian Johnson suggests on “Baptism by Fire,” “Bring a lot of bottles and enjoy the trip!” “Rock the Blues Away” and “Miss Adventure” are also stand-out moments, with the former sounding almost Springsteen-esque and the latter featuring some wildly screechy and exciting vocals. “Dogs of War” is a gritty track that compares the hardworking, make-ends-meet, middle-class mentality to the turmoil of war.

It seems that, for the most part, the music quality rides a downward slope as the album progresses. “Got Some Rock & Roll Thunder” is a pretty reserved and insignificant track. “Hard Times” has a very when-the-going-gets-tough atmosphere but just comes off as cheesy (and for AC/DC, that’s saying something). “Rock the House” and “Sweet Candy” are the obligatory sexual songs of the album, but both fall flat and are not particularly note-worthy. The final song “Emission Control” ends the album on a decent note. Much like the entire album, it’s very AC/DC, but nothing special.

The music itself is certainly not the strongest of AC/DC’s catalogue, but Rock or Bust still features stand-out moments that remind fans and observers alike why the band has been active for more than forty years. If the listener is searching for anything progressive or experimental, well, the words “innovative” and “AC/DC” should not even be in the same sentence. AC/DC is the sort of band that thrives on their lack of evolution; the fans always know what to expect and the haters should not expect to be converted. The music is created for those about to rock.