No Bull: The Directors Cut is a newly edited, comprehensive DVD of the band's famed July 1996 Plaza De Toros De Las Ventas concert in Madrid, Spain - this is a bull fighting arena, hence the titular reference, friends - and is also available on Blu-ray. This rehash "features over 2 hours of classic AC/DC in concert with bonus features including "Angus-cam" songs and 2 rare performances from the Ballbreaker tour." The whole thing has been remixed in Dolby Digital Stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound.

Some would argue that the VHS version, which is apparently out of print, is superior or at least adequate when compared to this version. That is neither here nor there since this reviewer does not have the original, but suffice it to say that No Bull... is a testament to AC/DC's masterful live show, particularly if you have the sound system and big screen to properly experience it. Even on the smallest of small screens, however, coupled with some ample imagination, this thing still rocks, and that ain't No Bull....

The "Angus-cam" songs have the same audio as the rest of the material but the camera is constantly on Angus - duh. These are the songs in question: "Shoot To Thrill," "Hail Caesar," "Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution," and "You Shook Me All Night Long." There are also a pair of bonus tracks on the DVD unavailable on the original, or perhaps elsewhere, and they are "Cover You In Oil" from Göteborg, Sweden, and "Down Payment Blues" from Daytona Florida. These songs were performed on the Ballbreaker tour, just not in Madrid.

If a fan of the band seeking a live performance to sink one's teeth into, this very well may satisfy, particularly if the original is absent from the ol' collection. If never a fan of the band, this is largely unnecessary so why read this? If interested in checking out AC/DC because under a rock is the domicile of choice, other places are better suited for such (see Highway to Hell, Back in Black, and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap).

written by Tony Belcher

Playing time: 2 hours