QUICK PICKS: AIRBOURNE, ANGEL DUST

AIRBOURNE: Australia’s Airbourne rock like AC/DC to a fault, but I’m pretty sure they’d take that as a compliment. Lots of E, A, and D chords, and Joel O’Keeffe’s voice is a deadringer for Brian Johnson. Good songs always win out, and Airbourne certainly delivers in that regard. And judging by the photo, these are definitely dudes we’d want to hang out with!

[Visit Airbourne on MySpace]

ANGEL DUST: We don’t think there’s a Faith No More connection, but nevertheless these German power-metallers bring the goods. They’ve been around for a while, but as is often the case with European bands it’s been a slow percolation to this side of the pond. Guitar-shred glory abounds, and everything is epic. What else do you need to know?

[Visit Angel Dust on MySpace]

-VN