Outside of the boys’ headline-grabbing current events – the highly rock-and-roll antics of meth possession and hitman-hiring, or the sadder, real-life issues of dementia – you know what you’re going to get with AC/DC. Namely, prototypical, blues-based classic rock on women, cars, amps turned up to 11, booze and smokes, and just about everything else cock rock.

Depending whom you ask, Back in Black is either the second, third, or fourth best-selling album of all time, so there’s really no need for them to release any new material – even if they want to tour until they drop dead. Nevertheless, Rock or Bust came out November 28, and it’s exactly what you’d expect.

These guys are the most ‘Merican Auzzies to ever leave down unda. If this wasn’t tailor-made for a beer commercial, I don’t know what is; [LISTEN] to “Play Ball:”

Play Ball

Some notable, very slight variations, in both music and lyrics come on “Dogs of War” and “Baptism by Fire.” The former goes just a touch metal while examining the plight of “soldiers of fortune” with “boots on the ground” imagery, and the latter goes for a faster-than-usual riff to spice up the old macho Vegas-“party” shtick.

There aren’t any timeless, classic riffs here, but it weirdly also doesn’t sound like they’re trying to get blood from the stone of rock-and-roll. Everything is still solid, which is admirable of a band with almost 20 albums under their belt in the same, narrow genre. Maybe it works because they know who they are – a guitar band – and it’s their religion – “in rock we trust, it’s rock or bust.” They believe in the Rock, the whole Rock, and nothing but the Rock, so help them Rock.

Whatever view you have of the quintessential just-rock band – adulation, irritation, apathy – will only be confirmed further on this album. What will change, is that AC/DC is probably getting their piece of the NFL pre-commercial bumper pie alongside Foo Fighters and USMNT’s Jack White, because nothing says stars’n’stripes more than a good power chord. Which, to be fair, isn’t always an automatic ‘home-run’ that we’ll all accept – just ask Scott Stapp.

All said, it does its job – like Thai food delivery. Maybe not the best (or best for you), but you know what you’re going to get. Thanks be to Rock.