With Back in Black, AC/DC raised the bar so high that no one could top it, not even themselves. The only way you're not going to like For Those About to Rock is if you compare it to Back in Black, which is understandable, but for me personally I enjoy the album to the same extent as Back In Black.

The title track was inspired by a the saying "For those about to die, we salute you" and the band simply changed a word. The song features cannon noises which build up for a grand finale. It is a concert staple, and justifiably so, but there's plenty more noteworthy tunes, among them are the verse-riff tandem of "Inject the venom", the relentless rocking of "Snowballed", "Night of the long knives" had a Back in Black-style groove, "Breaking the rules" is an anthemic, semi-bounce track. I recommend "For those about to Rock" wholeheartedly.


AC/DC Broadens Their Horizons   July 31, 2002
 12 out of 14 found this review helpful

Of course, following up 1980's record breaking "Back in Black" would be quite difficult, whether you make that assumption by sales or by quality. But leave it to AC/DC to carry on the true tradition of classic rock-n-rollers, with 1981's "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)." Here, the band explores all of their expected territory with epic rock anthems (the classic title track) and the predictably fashioned wine, women, and song scores ('Let's Get it Up,' 'Put the Finger on You'). But in a stunning yet well balanced manner, AC/DC brings listeners to a world on the streets, taking elements of frustration (the excellent 'Spellbound'), distrust (superbly crafted 'Night of the Long Knives') and rebellion ('Breaking the Rules'). 'COD' is classic AC/DC all the way, while the marvelous rockers 'Evil Walks' and 'Snowballed' seem to contradict the quintet's classic subject matter. Lead vocalist Brian Johnson's lyricism and bellows give the album its broad feel, while the guitar playing of Angus & Malcolm Young lead the rhythm section of Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd. Here in its remastered form, "For Those About to Rock" is one of AC/DC's peak accomplishments.


What a jerk   October 11, 2006
 11 out of 14 found this review helpful

Dude how can you compare Dire Straits to AC/DC you know why you can't because it's impossible.They are nothing alike and you suck.


Yeah...It's Not "Back In Black"!   July 24, 2000
 8 out of 9 found this review helpful

I think that the main reason that this album is not looked at as a great AC/DC album is because people will not stop comparing it to Back In Black.

Yes, Back In Black is one of the best rock albums ever recorded. Yes, Back In Black is by far AC/DC's best album ever.

BUT....what you need to realize is that EVERY ALBUM AIN"T GONNA BE BACK IN BLACK! When a band has an extremly sucessful album like Back In Black, there is always an enormus amount of pressure to make the follow-up album just as good or better. And most always, it is not.

With this album, however, I think that the band put together a solid ten-course rock n roll feast. The title song is one of their best, the cannons rule! Also Snowballed, COD and Evil Walks are good songs.

So if you give this album the fair chance it deserves and listen to it without expecting Back In Black, you will like it, I PROMISE!


meaner and more hard-hitting than "Back In Black"   October 28, 2005
 7 out of 9 found this review helpful

Originally released in November of 1981, "For Those About To Rock We Salute You" is the third and final in a string of AC/DC albums produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. Its predecessor, 1980's "Back In Black", was a big hit at the time, and has gone on to become one of the most commercially successful albums in history, moving over 20 million units to date in the US alone.

"For Those About To Rock We Salute You" was no commercial slouch either, topping the US album chart and selling in the multi-millions, and it's actually a better album than "Back In Black". Lange's production on "Back In Black" tends to sound washed out, and songs such as "You Shook Me All Night Long" find the group in lame, Foreigner-style arena rock territory--in other words, the album was something of a sellout. Furthermore, many of its riffs sound perfunctory, as if they rushed into the studio too quickly following Bon Scott's death.

On the other hand, "For Those About To Rock..." is much meaner and more hard-hitting, as song titles such as "Inject The Venom", "Evil Walks", and "Night of the Long Knives" suggest.

The album opens with the irresistible anthem "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)"--the song starts off with arrestingly moody eighth-note picking from Angus Young before being complemented by the great main riff, and Brian Johnson's orgasmic "yeah yeah!" helps send the song up to the stratosphere. Okay, so maybe the whole cannon salute thing is a but much, but it's a minor gripe, and it sure is fun to hear Brian Johnson's screams of "fire!".

Contrary to what some folks will tell you, there are other great tracks here as well. "Let's Get It Up" is a great party rocker with one of its riffs being strangely reminiscent of the Stones' "Start Me Up". "Inject The Venom" alternates blasts of power chords with mind-blowing a cappella vocals from Johnson and has a gloriously pseudo-devilish chorus. "Evil Walks" is a slow-paced riff-fest with terrific use of dynamics and tonal variety.

Many of the other tracks are also strong. "Snowballed" is marred by the coda which mindlessly recycles "Highway To Hell"'s chorus riff, but it's still an exciting uptempo tune. "Night of the Long Knives" is a somewhat perfunctory power chord fest, but it has an irresistibly funky riff and a solid chorus. The fittingly-titled album closer "Spellbound" is an arresting mood piece, although the chorus feels a little bit underdeveloped. The verses of "Breaking The Rules" have an interesting and surprisingly complex chord progression.

On the downside... "I Put The Finger On You" is reasonably energetic, although it's a rather lame cockrocker and has an aggravatingly repetitive chorus. And "C.O.D." is frustratingly dull and feels like filler.

So, "For Those About To Rock We Salute You" isn't without problems, but it's still a solid album that's a must for any AC/DC fan.