Let There Be Rock

“…we are one…we are the metal forces…”

Let There Be Rock is the first in a string of three eps spacing apart the three or so years between Onslaught full-lengthers The Force and In Search of Sanity. In the first year of this span bassist James Hinder and guitarist Jase Stallard leave this force of five, which is replenished with bassist James Hinter and guitarist Rob Trotman in time to record this three/four-tracker, three quarters of which is live.

I don’t know how many times I almost bought this same disc. From what I’ve gathered over the years, there are a couple different covers out there dependent on the format (light blue with this silver belt-like thing going across the sleeve 12”, black with the band and title in white letters 12”, a picture disc with some cartoon caricature of Angus ‘the original headbanger’ Young, a triple gatefold live band shot 7”, and the one I’m staring at now, which happens to be the same one that’s on the record’s page here. Wanna bet there’s more?). Don’t know if any versions are considered scarce, and since I haven’t heard any stories over the years around the collector’s campfire, I’m guessing none of ‘em are, which means it’s one less thing for me to keep an eye out out for.

My not really being much a fan of live footage would account for my almost leaving this in the rack, but since AC/DC had long been a childhood fave of mine since being turned on to the gritty, ominously-chorused tale (for a seven or eight year old) of “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” by a few of the older kids hanging out down by the creek, and since it was cheap, I figured what the hell. Found out these guys are pretty good live, almost unexpectedly so, which is exemplified with the help of a soundly mixed production thanks to Milton Reynes and the Great Linford Manor in the summer of ’87.

Most people know “Let There be Rock” as an undisputed AC/DC staple that was ten years old to the year by the time these five Brits got their paws on it, a recording that headlines what is my most celebrated of their discs which I also consider their heaviest and shiniest stretch of time. It’s one of the only times the Aussie five-piece has ever come within sniffing distance of the word ‘epic’. It’s also the first album I ever bought with my own money. Hey, no one cares, Dave. Anyway, knowing full well Onslaught weren’t gonna dethrone my awe for the original, I pretty much got what I wasn’t anticipating; a halfway decent, if not somewhat unwarranted rendition, that I was expecting to hear cutting through thrash waters like a runaway speedboat or something. But whatever.

Two from the debut and one from The Force cheers on side two and all I can think is they sound more like Raven in this setting than anything else. It’s a semblance owing no small thanks to vocalist Sy Keeler, who hits his share of clean highs when he’s not scratching the crap outta his vocal chords with John Gallagher’s medium-high hair brush. All else is thick, loud, and pretty much on the money to the applause of what appears to be a pretty nice crowd.

Nothing integral to the scene, but I've spent lousier time doing something I enjoy. However, one thing I’ve always found interesting (and at one time annoying) is on the back cover it warns us: “Coming soon: ‘Blood Upon the Ice’ double album”. What else could I assume but another future slab of Onslaught would be slipping and sliding toward us shortly? Which I waited for. And waited for. And eventually gave up hope on. Woulda been nice if Under One Flag let us in on the secret that it was actually a Bathory album they’re hyping...which of course still wouldn’t see the frosty breath of its master ‘til ’96.