{"id":47154,"date":"2014-11-26T16:44:12","date_gmt":"2014-11-26T21:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=47154"},"modified":"2014-11-26T16:44:12","modified_gmt":"2014-11-26T21:44:12","slug":"acdc-rock-or-bust-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2014\/acdc-rock-or-bust-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"AC\/DC | Rock or Bust<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Matt Karpe<\/span>
\n– Senior Columnist —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"ACDCWhere do you start with Rock or Bust?<\/p>\n

The anticipation surrounding the release of AC\/DC\u2019s 15th international studio album has been heightened by both tragedy and chaos. First, it was announced that the pulse of the rock legends; Malcolm Young, had been diagnosed with dementia. Being in such an advanced stage of the illness, it was obvious that he was in no fit state to continue playing in the band that he helped create.<\/p>\n

It would have been easy for the remaining members to call it quits there and then, but after Malcolm\u2019s nephew Stevie was brought in to take over guitar duties, Rock or Bust<\/em> suddenly became a reality again.<\/p>\n

Then, to add to the soap opera-like drama, Phil Rudd, who had already completed his drumming duties for the record, was arrested on suspicion of paying to have two men murdered. It was a charge that was later reduced, but still this naughty boy faces a lengthy prison sentence if found guilty.<\/p>\n

It sounds like a bad publicity stunt gone horribly wrong, and I\u2019m sure AC\/DC wish this was the case!<\/p>\n

Now, finally, the music can rightly take center stage.<\/p>\n

Rock or Bust<\/em>, AC\/DC\u2019s first album since 2011s\u2019 Black Ice<\/em> was never going to break the mould. It was never going to hit the lofty heights of Back In Black or Highway To Hell. Simply here are eleven straight up rock n\u2019 roll songs by a band who have stood the test of time, and if this is to be their final furore, then they are definitely going out swinging.<\/p>\n

The title track is classic AC\/DC, like a step back in time to the glorious 80s\u2019. A swaggering anthem full of Angus Young\u2019s tasty guitar hooks and Brian Johnson\u2019s raspy vocals, it\u2019s like the boys have never been away. <\/p>\n

\u201cPlay Ball\u201d continues the fast pace with a good chorus before \u201cRock The Blues Away\u201d keeps the mood upbeat with a party atmosphere stomper. <\/p>\n

\u201cDogs Of War\u201d steals the show with another vintage show of musicianship and a simple yet massively addictive chorus.<\/p>\n

Then the record slows down and rather meanders along. This doesn\u2019t mean the songs are bad- c\u2019mon, this is AC\/DC people!<\/p>\n

The bluesy \u201cGot Some Rock & Roll Thunder\u201d fails to truly erupt, \u201cHard Times\u201d is soft and weak and \u201cSweet Candy\u201d isn\u2019t to irresistibly tasty. <\/p>\n

\u201cBaptism By Fire\u201d threatens a short revival and the pace once again quickens as the guitars amp up, showing a decent relationship between lead and rhythm axe men Angus and Stevie.
\nWith all this being said, maybe there was too much expectation, because after taking a step back and thinking about it, Rock or Bust is still a good AC\/DC record.<\/p>\n

Even without the music, Malcolm is a massive miss. Add his guitar playing talents to the table, then there is a gaping hole that really cannot be filled. On the positive side, there are some good tunes here, especially the excellent \u201cDogs Of War\u201d- there is enough to behold and enjoy.
\nIf it\u2019s a simple but effective rock n\u2019 roll record you are looking for, Rock or Bust<\/em> delivers, and that is good enough because you know it has AC\/DC\u2019s stamp on it.<\/p>\n

Genre: Hard Rock, Rock<\/p>\n

Band:
\nBrian Johnson- Vocals
\nAngus Young- Lead Guitar
\nStevie Young- Rhythm Guitar
\nCliff Williams- Bass
\nPhil Rudd- Drums<\/p>\n

Track Listing:
\n1.\tRock or Bust
\n2.\tPlay Ball
\n3.\tRock The Blues Away
\n4.\tMiss Adventure
\n5.\tDogs Of War
\n6.\tGot Some Rock & Roll Thunder
\n7.\tHard Times
\n8.\tBaptism By Fire
\n9.\tRock The House
\n10.\tSweet Candy
\n11.\tEmission Control<\/p>\n

Record Label: Albert, Columbia<\/p>\n

Website: www.acdc.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven Rating: 6.5\/10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Matt Karpe – Senior Columnist — Where do you start with Rock or Bust? The anticipation surrounding the release of AC\/DC\u2019s 15th international studio album has been heightened by both tragedy and chaos. First, […]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":47155,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10848],"tags":[10337,10339,10340,10341,2317,3425,1103,10342,2387,10338],"class_list":{"0":"post-47154","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arcrvws2014","8":"tag-acdc","9":"tag-albert","10":"tag-angus-young","11":"tag-brian-johnson","12":"tag-cd-review","13":"tag-columbia","14":"tag-hard-rock","15":"tag-phill-rudd","16":"tag-rock","17":"tag-rock-or-bust"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47154"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47154\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}