When it comes to the prospect of a fourth Airbourne album, who out there was anticipating the lads from Warrnambool would deliver anything but the loud and proud, raucous riff mongering rock n roll that they’ve built their unwithering reputation on over the past 13 odd years? Crickets I hear?….thought so!! Their own words pretty much sum the album up perfectly “you hear this record and you just forget all the worries in the world. You have a good time. There’s no ballads, no bullshit.” For those who’ve already been cranking this one like me, ain’t that the truth….
Breakin’ Outta Hell sees Airbourne at their recorded best. Switching across from past record label Roadrunner to Spinefarm, provided the guys the opportunity to record this back home in Australia. Which amazingly is the first time they’ve done so and maybe why there’s the sense of extra hunger and energy in their delivery of these songs. They’ve also teamed up with Bob Marlette who produced their debut album Runnin’ Wild and roped in Mike Fraser (Aerosmith, Van Halen, Metallica) to engineer. With this combination, the sound is expectedly thunderous.
The title track starts things hurtling down the tracks and the pace is relentless to the very end. Airbourne know their audience and hit them right between the eyes. Whether it be anthems for the underdog (Get Back Up), for Friday night drinking (When I Drink I Go Crazy) and Saturdays hair of the dog (Thin The Blood), anthems for the dwindling small live music venues ( Rivalry, It’s Never Too Loud For Me) and not so subtle single entendres (Down On You).
It’s All For Rock N Roll closes the album and is their poignant tribute to the late, great general of rock n roll, Lemmy. And equally so, this song in itself is the spirit of what Airbourne is all about. Just like Motörhead and their other great influence AC/DC, Airbourne is all about shattering eardrums, storming stages and marshalling the troops around the world to keep the spirit of rock n roll alive. For that, we salute them.
TRACKLIST
Breakin’ Outta Hell
Rivalry
Get Back Up
It’s Never Too Loud for Me
Thin the Blood
I’m Going to Hell for This
Down on You
Never Been Rocked Like This
When I Drink I Go Crazy
Do Me Like You Do Yourself
It’s All for Rock n Roll
