AC/DC Power up Review
AC/DC Power up Review
There are rock bands and there are ROCK bands. The latter being the group of bands that have amazing longevity as well as success- Iron Maiden, Def Leppard Judas Priest spring immediately to mind, although there are others.
AC/DC fit this category like a glove and so a new album – Power Up – is quite an exciting prospect.
I have only ever seen AC/DC play live once – Monsters of Rock 1984- and I am still stuck on Back in Black and For Those About to Rock as my favourite listens, but still, a new album could be great right?
With the reuniting of the Rock or Bust line up, Power Up has potential pedigree.
I must admit I was a little bit sceptical about the idea at first. These guys have been around forever- why a new album? Why now? Would it actually be any good?
I am a fan but not a devotee of the band, so would have no problem in calling them out if I thought Power Up was not worthy, buy I honestly have to say I loved it!
It only took 2 or 3 listens to really start appreciating that this a great album full of tunes, riffs and rhythms that work together to produce a thoroughly excellent piece of work.
You know what to expect from AC/DC . Proper rock songs , bit of blues influence to the writing and not a ballad in sight !
This is exactly what you get. No one else quite manages to combine the rawness and power like these guys do. It is almost impossible to produce good quality recordings of good songs without making it sound over produced and too polished, but ACDC have always managed to do this and Power Up is no exception.
The songs are short and punchy with a decent sprinkling of guitar riffs from Mr Young and they are accessible without being simplistic. Tunes like Rejection, Shot in the Dark and Kick You When You’re Down are, in my opinion, the pick of the bunch but there is not really a weak link.
My own personal favourite is Code Red. This is the final song on the album and is reminiscent of the title track from Back in Black- similar riff structure and rhythm. Anything that reminds me of such an iconic song, without being a rip off, is impressive.
To sum up, this is NOT a band putting out a mediocre offering in a desperate attempt to cash in before it is too late. This is a band who know what they are good at- who know what works and have delivered an album that is worthy to carry their name.
Let us hope that a vaccine arrives soon so we are able to hear them play it live in the near future. My suggestion would be the whole of the new album first followed by a short interval and then a load of back catalogue bangers- a man can dream!
Meanwhile, have a listen to Power Up. You will not be disappointed.
The track listing for Power Up is as follows.
01. Realize
02. Rejection
03. Shot In The Dark
04. Through The Mists Of Time
05. Kick You When You’re Down
06. Witch’s Spell
07. Demon Fire
08. Wild Reputation
09. No Man’s Land
10. Systems Down
11. Money Shot
12. Code Red
By James Griffiths.
AC/DC Power up Review at Rock band T-shirts.
