Black Ice - AC/DC
Black Ice Image
Metascore
69 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 74 Ratings

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  • Summary: The hard-rock band's first album in eight years was produced by Brendan O'Brien.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. The A.V. Club
    91
    Black Ice will trigger nostalgia in the devout, but inasmuch as the album reaffirms AC/DC's power, there's nothing backward-looking about it.
  2. Mojo
    80
    "Back In Back" it ain't, but it's certainly a real return to form. [Nov 2008, p.102]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Uncut
    60
    If Black Ice has a weakness, it’s that it betrays an anxiety. As if AC/DC really might be uncharacteristically worried that their grasp on the planet is in danger of slipping. As if they’ve tried to discreetly update their sound, while hoping that their rebarbative old fans won’t notice what they’ve done. Invincibility suits AC/DC. Self-doubt, even a microscopic hint of it, does not.
  4. Tiny Mix Tapes
    20
    As a whole, Black Ice is a mess of tired conventions shoved noisily at the listener, as though just getting them all on record was good enough.

See all 24 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 28
  3. Negative: 1 out of 28
  1. linkinitup1105
    10
    it has the raw power of AC/DC's old albums but contains more well versed lyrics by the young brothers. an explosively satisfying album. also has more Angus young guitar work in it as well… Expand
  2. MarkK
    8
    Same as before, nothing new, nothinig exciting, nothing fresh (one of the tunes sounds similar to highway to hell), but still a very enjoyable album. It get's an extra point because of that.… Expand
  3. JohnDoe
    7
    OK, we all know that AC/DC haven't had a great album since Back in Black, its kinda difficult to top an album that is the second mist bought album of all time, after thriller. But this one shows some of the greatness that they had in Back in Black, with songs like 'Rock 'n' Roll Train' and especially 'Spoilin' for a Fight'. The latter gives us a classic rock riff from the Aussie Rockers, the thing that has made them possibly the best classic rock band of all time.… Expand
  4. WesM.
    4
    Typical AC/DC release: shaking up the formula, improving upon and reinventing various genres, really putting alot of effort into their songwriting. Wait, what?… Expand

See all 28 User Reviews

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