AIRBOURNE

Following up a great album is a tough chore, even for the hardest working bands. It is even more difficult when the style played largely mimics classic AC/DC, not a band known for its musical progression from one album to the next. Be that as it may, the music of "No Guts. No Glory." from sons the Australian kings AIRBOURNE is a gritty and capable follow up to "Runnin' Wild", an album that took a well known style and made it fresh and relevant as not only a tribute of sorts, but also as an ass whippin' good time.

If you've already indulged in AIRBOURNE's previous works, then you'll know exactly what to expect from "No Guts. No Glory.". It is 13-track collection of songs that sticks closely to a conventional songwriting format of terse riffs, screaming solos, in-the-pocket drumming, and a wild 'n wooly approach that hones right in on the rock 'n roll sweet spot of wine, women, and blown amplifiers. The difference is that while "Runnin' Wild" was packed with several great anthem-quality tracks, as well as possessing as an indefinably magical and wholly electric vibe, "No Guts. No Glory." offers an album's worth of good songs and consistent writing, but there is little in the way of over-the-top bell ringers. Songs like the "Blonde, Bad and Beautiful", "No Way but the Hard Way", and true-to-form, balls out album closer "Back on the Bottle" are highly energetic and easily digested for their sing-along qualities. Those ringing riffs with a tone that reminds of AC/DC cuts like "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" are present in spades, as is Joel O'Keeffe's banshee wails and earsplitting solos. All of it rocks with a vengeance and none of it is disingenuous.

Taken without comparison, "No Guts. No Glory." is a thoroughly enjoyable exercise in decibel dealing hard rock that begs for the accompaniment of multiple bottles of whiskey; no question about it. But there is just no topping "Runnin' Wild", at least this time around.