Ballbreaker

Ballbreaker is the thirteenth album on which AC/DC, on a foundation of the steady beat after the return of the great drummer Phil Rudd, sounds the riffs of Angus and Malcolm Young in a dry, raw texture. Produced by Rick Rubin, without adding any tricks, it pushes the songs powerfully forward on a single, centered rhythm and hooks alone. Led by the hit opener “Hard as a Rock,” the songs are short and sharp, sounding head-on the physicality of the rock and roll the band does best. From the groove of “Cover You in Oil” and the weight of “Hail Caesar” to the blues of “Boogie Man” and the tenacity of the title track “Ballbreaker,” a hard-edged, AC/DC-like appeal is in full bloom. It is a record that reaffirms the unwavering strength of its long-cultivated style without forcing change. That the band’s native groove is fully recovered through Phil Rudd’s return is significant. Winning on thick, sticky rhythm and the weight of the riffs over flash, it is a fulfilling record of mature rock and roll.