BLACK ACES – Shot In The Dark [European CD version +3] (2016)

“Shot In The Dark” is the full length debut from denim-clad Melbourne quartet BLACK ACES, a high voltage rock n’ roll album. I said ‘high voltage’ on purpose, as the AC/DC references are obvious all over the record.
Of course Black Aces sound much modern than Angus Young & Co, some kind of Airbourne, but there’s also other influences like early Aerosmith or late 80s Junkyard, and the guys add a polished output sound which made their songs accessible.

Title track ‘Shot In The Dark’ opens the record, and you get the general idea from the opening 8 bars. The bass and drums kick in under the enormous riff, and then the shrieking vocals take it to another level.
The upbeat ‘Girl Like You’ follows and you hear a slightly rock&pop feeling, a single that would have made some noise in classic rock radio decades ago.
Jarrod Morrice (formerly of Melbourne legends The Deep End) holds the whole thing together as rhythm guitarists should. The intro to ‘Back On The Chain’ is a cracking little lick which gets the foot tapping immediately and doesn’t let up throughout, and Tyler Kinder’s vocal style backed up by the rest of the guys for the chorus makes this a little 2:30 min. rocking gem.

‘Sick As A Dog’ has the title and the sound to fit on any of the early AC/DC records and rolls smoothly into ‘I’m Your Nightmare’ which has that slightly slower, meaner riff to it, some wild vocals, and a great guitar solo, before morphing into a more upbeat rhythm to close.
‘Let It Roll’ pursues the theme, and gets the pace back up a bit, and you know that this will be a cracking song live – in a crammed steaming club, with sticky floors, sweat running down the walls, and fists pumping the air as the heads bang in unison.

‘Rough Touch’ has a real Airbourne type feel to it – just a bit faster and more urgent than the other tracks, with some raucous backing vocals and a ripping solo over the incessant beat from the McMillan boys on Bass (Alex) and Drums (Pete).
Groovier, mellower and a good fun take on early AC/DC ‘Burning up the Highway’ wins you over with its insistence more than its originality, while ‘(Take it To) The Wire’ seems to echo a song from Back In Black I particularly like. Let’s face it – it’s not rocket science but it still moves you.

“Shot In The Dark” was originally released by the band in Australia. Its quality catch the attention of French label Bad Reputation who are releasing the CD in Europe with 3 extra tracks: the fun “Girls Got Rhythm” which somehow reminds me a Great White song, the fast ‘Shake The Ace’, and the groovy ‘Wanted Man’.

I don’t know if this Euro CD version has received a sonic treatment, but compared to the digital download version (original Aussie version) it feels much more slick and commercial (remixed perhaps?).
Anyway, Black Aces and “Shot In The Dark” will not push too many musical boundaries, and the band does not pretend they are trying to do so – but the songs are so well put-together, the band is tight as their jeans, the guitars sound huge, and the backing vocals really add to overall stadium sound.
This isn’t new, isn’t original, but by f@ck it rocks! Dig out the denim jacket, crack open a stubby, and turn this up to 11.

01 – Shot In The Dark
02 – Girl Like You
03 – Back In The Chain
04 – Sick As A Dog
05 – I’m Your Nightmare
06 – Let It Roll
07 – Rough Touch
08 – Burnin Down The Highway
09 – Take It To The Wire
10 – The Walls
11 – Girls Got Rhythm (CD Bonus Track)
12 – Shake The Ace (CD Bonus Track)
13 – Wanted Man (CD Bonus Track)

Tyler Kinder – vocals, lead guitar
Jarrad Morrice – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Alex McMillan – bass, backing vocals
Pete McMillan – drums

BUY IT !
www.nehrecords.com/shop/BlackShot.htm
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