It’s summer, it’s hot, and you’re looking for the perfect playlist for your weekend kegger. Well, look no more, because this Airbourne set has 40 minutes of ragers about beer, sex, rock & roll, and Hell to make that Genny Light go down easy.

You’ve probably heard that Airbourne sound exactly like AC/DC. They do, they’re damned proud of it, and what are you gonna do about it? Think Bon-era AC/DC, add a bit more crunch and snarl, and add a little 80’s hair metal in for good measure to get the full picture. It may be derivative, but it has Angus’ seal of approval, and that should be all that you need to get on board and enjoy. Here’s a quick overview of their five studio (and one odds & sods) albums to get you started.

‘Stand Up for Rock ‘n’ Roll’

The opening track from their debut Runnin’ Wild is not just a banger: it’s a statement of intent. The O’Keeffe brothers come out of the gates with all guns blazing and never let up.

‘Breakin’ Outta Hell’

Breakin’ Outta Hell is a return to form after the (relative) misstep of the prior record, and the opening track shows that it was merely an aberration. You can practically hear Malcolm on rhythm in the opening track, and the solo scorches mid-way through.

‘Raise the Flag’

This anthem to the gods of Rock ‘n’ Roll could’ve been lifted from Powerage, and that’s just as it should be. If you’re not rifling through your closet for your jean jacket and ready to raise the rock ‘n’ roll flag yourself after this banger, you’re no friend of mine.

‘Kickin’ it Old School’

This ode to the good old days goes out to all of the old heshers out there, and I count myself among you. This b-side slows the tempo down a little, but settles into a riff that will settle right into your bones. If there’s a better lyric than “I’m in a band that plays rock ‘n’ roll… we sing songs about rock ‘n’ roll,” I don’t know what it is.

‘Firepower’

Their third record, Black Dog Barking, was a departure for the band that threw off a lot of the fanbase. It’s a lot more polished and adds an 80’s hair metal vibe that I didn’t like much at first, but has grown on me quite a bit. This mid-tempo rocker feels like the later, Johnson-era of AC/DC, with a nice breakdown toward the end and a blistering solo to boot.

‘Switchblade Angel’

This scorcher from their most recent record, Boneshaker, sounds like it was lifted from Fly on the Wall or Flick of the Switch, and that’s just fine for me. Clocking in at just over two-minutes, it gets in, delivers the payload, and gets right back out.

‘Diamond in the Rough’

The lyrics here aren’t that subtle and won’t win any awards for furthering feminism, but again, that’s right on brand for early AC/DC. That aside, the riff here is fantastic and will put its hooks in you from the start.

‘No Way But the Hard Way’

This tale of a guy who’s down on his luck breaks out the gang vocals on the chorus and settles in as a slower burn with an infectious hook. The break down at the 2:20 mark will have all AC/DC fans smiling, and Joel’s guitar solo is downright tasteful.

‘Stand & Deliver’

We pick up the pace again with this ripper taken as a b-side from their first EP, and it’s everything you want in a rock song: catchy chorus, nasty solo, and a great break down (with a bass solo no less!). 

‘Back in the Game’

As mentioned before, Black Dog Barking is a departure, and this is straight-up Motley Crue, with Joel doing his best Vince Neil and some harmonics on the guitar. But the riff is so damned infectious that I guarantee you’ll have this stuck in your head at some point. The chorus is platinum-tier stuff.

‘It’s Never Too Loud For Me’

This is one of the songs that first got me into Airbourne: there was a two-week period where I had this track (and the whole album, for that matter) on repeat. This riff is everything I love about AC/DC, and the brothers pull it off magnificently. You want an anthem, you’ve got it.

‘Rock ‘N’ Roll for Life’

If there was any question of whether the boys still have it after nearly twenty years in the business, this scorcher put that to rest straight away. It hits full speed from the start and rarely lets up, making it the perfect way to cap off a playlist.

And there you have it: twelve certified, A-grade bangers packed into less than forty minutes. I could’ve easily added plenty more tracks from their discography, but consider this your appetizer. Now, take the t-tops out of your Camaro, crank that knob to eleven, and let this playlist be your summer soundtrack.