AIRBOURNE "Boneshaker"

AIRBOURNE

“Boneshaker”

Well, if you didn’t already know it, AIRBOURNE sounds a lot like AC/DC. Surprise, surprise! With that astonishing revelation out of the way, the one question left is: do they sound like GOOD AC/DC?

On “Boneshaker”, they really do. This is Bon Scott-era stuff that aligns really well with gritty classics like “Powerage” and “Let There Be Rock”. I’ve liked AIRBOURNE’s previous efforts, but this album has a great natural sounding production that is authentically 70’s. The guitars have a great “dry” sound that you just don’t hear much of anymore, even from bands trying to find that elusive 70’s magic. The drums and bass are as real sounding as it gets.

A good production is nice to have, but not worth much without real songs attached. “Boneshaker” gives us 10 snappy hardass rockers that fly by in a flash. Stripped down and riff based rockers, everyone of them. There’s high energy crankers like “Burn Out the Nitro”, “Switchblade Angel” and “Rock N Roll for Life” that run hot and heavy...this was the kinda stuff that we called “headbangers” back in the day. There’s also lots of chunky rock tracks that rely on super catchy mid-paced riffs and a bluesy feel, such as the title track, “Backseat Boogie” and the excellent “This Is Our City”. No time is wasted and only one cut exceeds the four minute mark...that is “Weapons of War”, which is a little bit darker and more serious for AIRBOURNE but doesn’t suffer at all because of it.

This is firmly dedicated to the proposition that rock n roll should not be rocket science. If you can find it in your heart to forgive the band’s heavy resemblance to AC/DC, then “Boneshaker” will for sure fill your hard rock craving.

SPINEFARM

AIRBOURNE