Category: AC/DC

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.

AC/DC Power up Deluxe light box is here. Finally after waiting for what seems like forever the New AC/DC album is coming on November 13th. The boys are truly back in town with a classic line up with Mr Brain Johnson back at the helm.

Malcolm may have left us but he certainly hasn’t been forgotten as this album uses some of his unused riffs. Angus said “Power Up is as much in his honour as Back in Black was to Bon Scott.”

The brothers have lots of unused songs from the years of writing together, Angus said.

“At that time he said to me, ‘We’ll leave these songs for now. If we keep going, we’ll be overboard. We’ll get them on the next one.’

“That always stuck with me. When I went through and listened to them, I said, ‘If I do anything in my life, I have to get these tracks down and get these tracks out.’”

“Even when I sit at home and pick up my guitar and start playing, the first thing that enters my head is, ‘I think Mal will like this riff I’m playing.’ That’s how I judge lot of stuff.”

The new single “Shot in the dark” is now out, Angus had this to say about it.

“It’s got that great AC/DC vibe about it, great swagger, and a good AC/DC rock and roll chant. The title is a little bit cheeky because we all like a little nip [of alcohol] in the night or a few shots in the dark. I was very glad when the record company heard it [that] they felt it was a very strong song and should be the first one that people hear.”

Watch the video here

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

Now we get the the the Power up light box package. It’s USB chargeable, has a built in speaker that plays the opening bars of shot in the dark and The ACDC sign on the from lights up. It also comes with a 20 page booklet. I know what you’re saying “Take my Money”

Pre odder your AC/DC Power up Deluxe light box right here.

Watch Angus and Brian show us the new AC/DC Power up Deluxe light box.

Lets hope that one day he put the uniform back on and bring back the AC/DC live experience.

Rock band T-shirts has all your AC/DC Merch.

It’s hard to believe but after 46 years on the road the legend that is Angus young still suffers from stage fright. When he donned the now classic uniform all those years ago he said “That was the most frightened I’ve ever been onstage” But thank God, I had no time to think. I just went straight out there. The crowd’s first reaction to the shorts and stuff was like a bunch of fish at feeding time – all mouths open. I had just one thing on my mind: I didn’t want to be a target for blokes throwing bottles. I thought if I stand still, I’m a target. So I never stopped moving. I reckoned if I stood still, I’d be dead.”

Lets hope that one day he put the uniform back on and bring back the AC/DC live experience.

Rock band T-shirts has all your AC/DC Merch.