Review Summary: The bastard son of Highway to Hell or the modern Flick of the Switch?
Say what you will about the 2000s retro rock revival, some bands seemed like they could potentially fill in the voids of a scene that wasn’t getting any younger. Airbourne was one such group, obviously following in the footsteps of their fellow Australians in AC/DC and Rose Tattoo with the sort of power unseen in Jet or Wolfmother. The riffs have that High Voltage brashness, the rhythms are simple but muscular, and the vocals are a hawkish yelp somewhere between Bon Scott and Steven Tyler. They even mirror the pattern of the Young/Van Halen brothers with the core pair of vocalist/guitarist Joel and drummer Ryan O’Keeffe.
Their debut album, 2007’s Runnin’ Wild, certainly starts off with a bang. “Stand Up for Rock ‘N’ Roll” is as clear a mission statement as one could make with its supercharged speed and ‘Hello Cleveland’ lyrics screaming live opener, but the tight transitions are impactful enough to keep from coming off contrived. The title track and “Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast” are even stronger, the former sustaining momentum with steady driving chugs while the latter eases to a more mid-tempo stride complete with the album’s most infectious chorus. “Diamond in the Rough” may not be quite as punchy but still benefits from another upbeat hustle winning out.
Unfortunately, the rest of the album doesn’t quite stick the landing as the band’s lacking personality compared to their inspirations starts to become more apparent. While one-dimensionality is to be expected when dabbling with the AC/DC mold, a certain degree of charisma can be enough to sell it. Alas, that charm wears thin as the basic writing makes the otherwise solid riffs on “Fat City” and “Cheap Wine & Cheaper Women” feel flat while the vocals never boast any range or emote beyond that persistent shriek. Even when “Blackjack” picks up the pace and “Heartbreaker” musters up some last minute memorability, it never really makes the most of the monotony.
While Airbourne’s debut seems poised to be the bastard son of Highway to Hell, the tapering momentum ultimately makes Runnin’ Wild feel more like a modern Flick Of The Switch. The band certainly has the sort of youthful gumption that would make their heroes proud and the presentation reflects their hard rock with a nice balance of rawness and modern sheen. The songs are never outright bad but the pedestrian approach can make even this otherwise snappy thirty-six minute runtime feel dragged out. As much as the first four tracks make for a great first impression that could push the album to an above average status, it still lacks the cheekiness or storytelling flavor that made their predecessors so special.
