Hear AC/DC’s Riff-Heavy New Song ‘Play Ball’

AC/DC in promotional photo for ‘Black Ice’ in 2008. Photo: Courtesy of Sony Music

“Play Ball,” the first rollicking, riff-heavy track to emerge from the Aussie hard rockers’ upcoming Rock or Bust, has debuted online. Previously, a snippet of the song had aired during promos for Turner Sports’ Major League Baseball Postseason campaign. The song is a straightforward, meat-and-potatoes AC/DC cut that tops out at just under three minutes. It will be available as an instant-gratification track to fans who preorder Rock or Bust, which is due out on December 2nd.

The group has also revealed the track list and 3-D, lenticular cover art for Rock or Bust, which will be available on CD and vinyl versions of the album and shows the band’s logo exploding when moved in different directions. A gif of the cover is viewable here.

Rock or Bust will be the first AC/DC album without rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young. In April, the band had revealed that the guitarist would be sitting out on recording this album, due to a “debilitating illness.” When it announced Rock or Bust last month, the group confirmed that Young would not be returning to the band, “due to the nature of Malcolm’s condition.” Late last month, Young’s family confirmed that Malcolm was suffering from dementia.

Young’s nephew, Stevie Young, played in Malcolm’s stead on Rock or Bust and will be filling in for him on AC/DC’s world tour, which will take place in 2015. “Stevie, Malcolm’s nephew, was magnificent, but when you’re recording with this thing hanging over you and your work mate isn’t well, it’s difficult,” frontman Brian Johnson told Classic Rock in July. “But I’m sure [Malcolm] was rooting for us.”

AC/DC, Rock or Bust track list:

1. “Rock or Bust”
2. “Play Ball”
3. “Rock The Blues Away”
4. “Miss Adventure”
5. “Dogs of War”
6. “Got Some Rock & Roll Thunder”
7. “Hard Times”
8. “Baptism By Fire”
9. “Rock the House”
10. “Sweet Candy”
11. “Emission Control”