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Power Up (2020) - AC/DC - All About the Album

"I'm sure it's a good rock and roll album. Something you can sing along to! The great thing about this album is that you can distract yourself with it from what's around you..." - Angus Young comments.

Review of the album "Power Up" by AC/DC

"Power Up" (also called PWR or UP) is AC/DC's 17th studio album, released towards the end of 2020. For fans of the band, it marks the return of Brian Johnson, Phil Rudd and Cliff Williams, who left the band for various reasons after the release of "Rock or Bust". The album is also notable for being AC/DC's first studio release since the death of Malcolm Young.

"It's a tribute to Malcolm, you might say..." - commented his brother Angus.

Overall - the album was warmly received by critics and the public: it reached the top of the charts in more than 20 countries! At the moment it has sold about 1.5 million copies worldwide.

Prerequisites and Record...

AC/DC
AC/DC

The last few years had been unusually difficult for AC/DC: the band's future was repeatedly in doubt... The Rock or Bust tour was in jeopardy: vocalist Brian Johnson was told by doctors that he would go deaf if he didn't stop touring immediately! Then Exl Rose of Guns N 'Roses replaced Johnson so that AC/DC could play the remaining dates... Bassist Cliff Williams retired at the end of the tour, and drummer Phil Rudd was sentenced to house arrest: it should be noted that he had been convicted of a rather serious offence....

Most significantly, rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young passed away in 2017: he was preceded by younger brother George, who co-produced a number of the band's albums... Reflecting on the early years of AC/DC - a period when the band was just beginning its ascent - Angus Young said:

"Malcolm was - oh my God. He used to tell me, 'Whenever you go to a bar, the songs that get you going are songs with a hard sound - something with a dose of hardness!' We just need a good, hard rock and roll sound!" I was shocked, but he asked me, "Do you want to be a part of that?" And I thought, yes, of course I do!"

Malcolm Young
Malcolm Young

Five and a half years after the release of their groundbreaking debut album High Voltage, AC/DC were experiencing the sudden death of legendary frontman Bon Scott. It was 1980, and a few months later the band's seventh album Back in Black was released to worldwide acclaim. It was based on a tribute to Scott - their fallen comrade-in-arms, a soldier of rock 'n' roll... Four decades later, AC/DC released an album in which the close-knit rock 'n' rollers once again paid an almighty tribute - this time to Malcolm Ian....

Track list

shot in the dark (2020) - still from clip
"Shot in the Dark" (2020) - still from the music video

From the very first moments of the opening clip of "Realise" it's obvious that AC/DC haven't changed or softened their musical approach one iota and that they are as capable as ever of pushing their brand of bluesy hard rock. Brian Johnson sounds better than ever while lead guitar icon Angus Young remains a flamethrower! The song has the sort of plaintive groove that has made this lot a household name... 'Shot In The Dark' is the lead single in favour of an unbridled rock sense of freedom! Johnson's sassy vocals are sure to lift the spirits of rock fans everywhere! "Demon Fire" contains one of the coolest AC/DC riffs of all time, and Johnson once again rages into the microphone... The band's style is still minimal, perfect and straightforward, and the fact that it still works so well is solid proof of the truth of rock music....

"Realize."

"Rejection."

"Shot in the Dark"

"Through the Mists of Time"

"Kick You When You're Down."

"Witch's Spell"

"Demon Fire."

"Wild Reputation."

"No Man's Land"

"Systems Down"

"Money Shot."

"Code Red."

Graduation, Recognition...

In AC/DC's native Australia, "Power Up" debuted at the top of the ARIA chart. This made them the first band to have an Australian number one in every decade! Its sales exceeded 20,000 copies in the first 7 days! "Power Up" remained the leader for four weeks... AllMusic's review states:

"AC/DC are not fixated on the past. They rush forward... And their music fuels a special feeling... This album is a tribute to Malcolm Young - as a reminder of how powerful and timeless the very idea of AC/DC is...."

Conclusion...

AC/DC
AC/DC

AC/DC are not interested in musical experimentation. And that's why their fans don't expect any radical deviations from the tried and tested formula... In the best traditions of albums like 1978's Powerage or 1990's The Razors Edge, the heavy "Power Up" is accompanied by a heavy dose of boogie-woogie that will take your mind off your worries for a while... And for sure all the new songs from this album will be additions to the long-awaited next AC/DC tour! In the meantime, it's a vivid reminder that this band isn't finished yet.

"I'm sure it's a good rock and roll album. Something you can sing along to! The great thing about this album is that you can distract yourself with it from what's around you..." - Angus Young comments.

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