Aussies go for it on album four
Isn’t it odd how time flies. Either it isn’t possible that Airbourne’s debut album is NINE years old, or it really is and MVM is getting old.
Turns out it’s the latter. Bugger.
What that means, though, is that Airbourne are probably legitimately eligible for the classic rock tag.
Whether they’ve realised that themselves on album number four who knows, but what we can say for damn near certain is this. Airbourne reckon they’ve been around this block long enough to know two things.
First, those that don’t like them are never going to, and second, because of that, they are in a position to do what they please.
What that means in practice is “Breakin’ Outta Hell” – their first for new label Spinefarm – is just a little bit more of an OTT version of the same.
Which is exactly why they’ve got a song like “Do Me Like You Do Yourself” right here. Look, Airbourne are to subtlety what Shane Warne is to gymnastics at the best of times, but here its not so much Double Entndre’s as being smashed over the head with a dodgy 1970s sitcom joke about stroking pussy cats: “I was flicking your doorbell/when you buzzed me inside/you said come up the stairwell/I’ve been waiting all night” sings Joel O’Keefe with no trace of irony.
These lyrics, mind you, are worthy of Shakespeare compared to “Down On You”. If you have any doubt at all that the song is about what you think it is, then lines about “gonna make your honey run, cos I love the taste” make it clear.
So, why then, given that it is a set of words that Warrant would have rejected in 1992, being sung over music that is not even trying to pretend to be anything other than AC/DC and Rose Tattoo obsessed, is “….Hell” so good?
The answer is as simple as the ethos. This is good-time hard rock for a blue collar party, and nobody does nudge-nudge-wink-wink better in 2016 – and that includes Angus and the boys.As god-like as AC/DC might be, if they tried to have the type of night that is laid out on “Go Crazy When I Drink” then it’d just daft, whereas Airbourne are still just about young enough not to care that they know better.
The four piece have long been one of the best – and loudest – live draws on Planet Rock and this collection is designed with more than half an eye on those shows. The title track kicks things off at full throttle and they don’t take their foot off the pedal throughout.
There’s no hint of balladry, no hint of introspection, no thought given to apology, instead, “Rivalry” wants to fight you, “Get Back Up” still fancies a scrap, and if “Going To Hell For This” is as close as we get to regret then you best believe that Airbourne just don’t care.
Ultimately, the record is summed up not by the sub Young Ones lyrics, but by “Thin The Blood” a turbo charged boogie through a booze, and by “All For Rock N Roll” – which is this abum’s “Rock N Roll Aint Noise Pollution” if you will, and is Airbourne saying “it’s ok, we’ve got this, we’ll carry the torch. “ It might be actually be about Brian Johnson – but only they’ll know that.
Those that don’t like Airbourne still won’t after this. Those that do are in for a real treat.
Rating 8.5/10
