AC/DC album announced

HELL’S BELLS ARE RINGING: Columbia has just confirmed those rumors rumbling up from the netherworld, announcing the release of Rock or Bust, AC/DC’s first studio album in six years. The new record, hitting on 12/2, can be seen as a gift-wrapped present to the label’s Q4 bottom line; previous LP Black Ice debuted at #1 in 31 countries back in 2008 and went on to move nearly 8m units worldwide. Like its predecessor, Rock or Bust was produced by Brendan O'Brien (Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots) and mixed by Mike Fraser. Starting this weekend, baseball fans will be hearing a lot of album track “Play Ball,” which will be used extensively in Turner Sports’ coverage of the American League postseason. AC/DC will spend much of 2015 touring the world behind Rock or Bust, but they’ll do so without founding member Malcolm Young, whose ongoing medical condition forced him to retire prior to the recording sessions this spring. Stevie Young, nephew of Angus and Malcolm Young, plays rhythm guitar on the new album and will also be part of the band’s touring lineup. (9/24a)