AC/DC are without question one of the most consistent bands of all time. They’ve essentially made the same album for 40 plus years. With minor production differences along the way. As a result they’re one of the most enduring and popular acts in not just rock, but all of popular music. And as a result of being around for 45 years, there is a pattern of massive moments in the band’s career. Every four or five albums, one drops that’s just massive. The band is inspired, the music is particularly good and it hits at the right time. ‘PowerUp,’ the bands new release, I believe, is one of those moments.
‘PowerUp’ is really one of those albums that no one thought would happen. After ‘Rock or Bust’ came out, it seemed that everything was working against the band. Just prior to the albums release, rhythm guitarist and Angus’ brother Malcolm passed away. Original drummer Phil Rudd was in some major trouble doing meth and putting hits out on past wives. Brian Johnson suffered Menier’s disease starting on the first leg of the tour. Many, myself included, thought the band’s show at Dodger Stadium would be his last. Then they brought out Axl Rose to finish the rest of the tour. Then after that, bassist Cliff Williams announced his retirement. So, indeed, ‘Rock or Bust’ seemed like AC/DC’s swan song. But, as Angus Young said, ‘You can’t call an album ‘Rock or Bust’ and then go bust.’
So, Johnson got ear surgery that went really well. Phil Rudd cleaned up his act and came back. That prompted Cliff Williams to come out of retirement. So, pretty much, the classic line up is back together. With Angus’ nephew Stevie filling in for Malcolm. The result? ‘PowerUp,’ the strongest AC/DC album since ‘The Razor’s Edge’ in 1990. It’s fourty-one minutes of non-stop, in your face, blues hard rock done right. AC/DC haven’t sounded this inspired and refreshed in decades. It’s great that they’re back.
The album opens with the epic ‘Realize.’ The nearly spiritual introduction inspires the listener to simply jump up in the air with joy. The energy of the record is established immediately. We even get some background vocal melodies. Something hardly heard at all in an AC/DC track. ‘Rejection’ is an amazing follow up track. The band grooves on down the cool, hard rock track. This song has some serious swagger. The solo bridge is one of the strongest in a long time. A solid song. The albums single ‘Shot in the Dark’ is next. And it’s perhaps the most nostalgic sounding tune in the bunch. This track can fit on any AC/DC album in any production. As unimaginative as the song title is. It makes up for it with energy and passion. ‘Through the Mists Of Time’ is the closest thing that AC/DC will get to a ballad. It possesses a Cheap Trick vibe to it that’s very welcome. A good way to keep the album moving. ‘Kick You When You’re Down’ lays on attitude that could easily fit on the ‘For Those About To Rock’ album. The heavy chorus will hopefully be a big live highlight next year. If things are back to normal of course.
‘Witch’s Spell’ is more AC/DC than AC/DC. ‘Demon Fire’ is high wire, straight forward rocker. A head banger with a classic, speed AC/DC riff that rolls down the guitar while Angus duck walks across the stage. ‘Wild Reputation’ is the shortest and most bland song on the album. And it’s still pretty damn good. The energy sort of stays down just a touch with ‘No Man’s Land.’ It’s just a touch too repetitive. Something AC/DC can be prone to. It’s also something that’s been widely avoided on the album as a whole. But the energy picks back up with what’s arguably the strongest song on the album, ‘Systems Down.’ Cliff Williams is the MVP of this song with his kick ass groove bass work. And it’s some of the catchiest three to four chord guitar work Angus has ever done. With Stevie as strong rhythm guitar support. Breathing new life into AC/DC. Hopefully this will a concert staple as the years go on. ‘Money Shot’ is another typical track from the band. It strongly resembles what they did on the ‘Ballbreaker’ album. The riff during the chorus is particularly ear enticing. ‘PowerUp’ closes in typical AC/DC fashion with a total kick ass, bluesy, slinky, sexy, groovy hard rock piece entitled ‘Code Red.’ Right when the song kicks off you know it’s going to be a good one. It’s a great way to leave the album ingrained in the listeners brain.
All in all this one hell of an album from the true kings of hard rock. Exciting, inspired, spiritual, epic and enticing. There hasn’t been an album like that from this band since ‘The Razor’s Edge.’ There’s no such thing as a bad AC/DC album. But there are records that are stronger than others. And ‘PowerUp’ ranks among the top of them. I haven’t been this excited for AC/DC in a long long time. A tremendous album.
