Black Aces – Shot In The Dark

album by:
Black Aces
Version:
Audio CD
Price:
£11.35

Reviewed by:
Rating:
4
On 12 November 2016
Last modified:13 October 2020

Summary:

Black Aces have come up trumps with this debut album. Very heavily influenced by AC/DC but there's nothing wrong in that, they write their own songs just in a similar vein. If you like bands like AC/DC, Airbourne, Blackbird and The Deep End then you will surely like Black Aces too. So take a Shot In The Dark and add it to your record collection!

Aussie Wrecking Crew stalwarts Black Aces released their debut album Shot In The Dark at the end of September 2016 via French record label Bad Reputation. The album was produced by Craig Harnath and mixed by Jim Giddings at Hothouse Studios, St Kilda’s and mastered by Tony Mantz at Deluxe Mastering.

On first listen I hazarded a guess (or you could say Shot in the Dark) that this band were Australian. I wasn’t wrong, although I have made that mistake before when I reviewed Blackbird’s Of Heroes and Enemies, I would have sworn blind that they were Australian when they are in fact German, that said Blackbird state their influences as AC/DC and Airbourne and those influences are apparent in Black Aces too. I could say recommended if you like the aforementioned bands and just end the review there but, that wouldn’t be fair so, here are a few observations. Opening track is the title track Shot In The Dark which reminds me of Bryan Adams’ Run To You albeit heavier. Girl Like You with it’s strong beat and Angus Young style riffage has a modern AC/DC vibe, I say modern as, I’m thinking of something from their latest Rock Or Bust album say the title track or Play Ball. 

Back On The Chain, with it’s driving beat, is one of those songs which you want to play loud in your car and just put your foot down on that accelerator to, reminding me of Drive It Like You Stole It by Colour of Noise. Let It Roll is like an amalgamation of AC/DC’s Shoot To Thrill and Have a Drink on Me, blend together, sprinkle on a bit of Hell’s Addiction‘s Rocker and out comes Let It Roll! For Rough Touch think Airbourne say Stand Up For Rock n Roll meets Blackjack. Burnin’ Up The Highway another AC/DC type number, I’m thinking more It’s a Long Way To The Top  (minus the bagpipes) than Highway To Hell.  Interesting Stevie Vai style riffage starts (Take It To) The Wire before we hit a wall to end on the mellower The Walls with an AC/DC’s Hells Bells (minus the bell) vibe!

Well, walls can be climbed and we didn’t quite hit a brick wall as there are three European bonus tracks, a cover of Girls Got Rhythm, which I was pleased about, as it’s my second favourite AC/DC song (after Can I Sit Next To You Girl – hint for their next AC/DC cover!). Then comes the superfast Shake The Ace. Wanted Man the thirteenth and, unluckily for us, final track actually reminded me of The Cult’s Wildflower to begin with before merging into more of an AC/DC’s Live Wire style number although I may have been swung to think of that track with the words ‘I’m a live wire’ being included in the lyrics, but it was definitely more AC/DC than Motley Crue!

Black Aces have come up trumps with this debut album. Very heavily influenced by AC/DC but there’s nothing wrong in that, they write their own songs just in a similar vein. If you like bands like AC/DC, Airbourne, Blackbird and The Deep End then you will surely like Black Aces too. So take a Shot In The Dark and add it to your record collection!

Track List:

1: Shot In The Dark
2: Girl Like You
3: Back On The Chain
4: Sick As A Dog
5: I’m Your Nightmare
6: Let It Roll
7: Rough Touch
8: Burnin’ Up The Highway
9: (Take It To) The Wire
10: The Walls

European Bonus Tracks:

11: Girls Got Rhythm (AC/DC cover)
12: Shake The Ace
13: Wanted Man

Band Members: 

Lead Guitar/Lead Vocals – Tyler Kinder
Bass Guitar – Alex McMillan
Drums – Pete McMillan
Rhythm Guitar – Jarrad Morrice

Links: 

Facebook / Website / Twitter

Black Aces have come up trumps with this debut album. Very heavily influenced by AC/DC but there's nothing wrong in that, they write their own songs just in a similar vein. If you like bands like AC/DC, Airbourne, Blackbird and The Deep End then you will surely like Black Aces too. So take a Shot In The Dark and add it to your record collection!

About Louise Swift

I first went to a gig in 1981, Gillan at Leeds University. I've been a regular gig goer ever since. I haven't kept count of how many gigs I've been to over the intervening years, but it's a lot! My favourite bands are AC/DC then, in no particular order, Anti-Nowhere League, Slaughter and the Dogs, Towers of London and Dirt Box Disco. I tend to like Glam/Punk and rude offensive lyrics, not sure what that says about me but as Animal would say 'So What!' The question was recently put to me - did I write for any online publications? My reply - No, but I'd like to! Planetmosh was suggested and I found myself offering to review Aces High Festival. Easy peasy I thought! Well not quite, if a jobs worth doing it's worth doing well! I had sixteen bands to research. I found I actually enjoyed that and it kept me too busy to be making lunatic comments on Facebook! ;) Then I felt a bit inadequately qualified. I mean, who am I to comment on others, when my musical expertise extends to being able to play a mean Greensleeves on the recorder and a passable Annie's song on the flute! Haven't picked up either instrument for years! What I do have, however, is over 30 years of experience as a gig goer, so I can comment on what I like and what I don't! It's only my opinion and, if I don't like a band it doesn't mean they are bad, just not to my own liking. I admire anyone who has the guts to get up on that stage and have a go!