AC/DC POWER UP

 

AC/DC’s seventeenth full-length album is their first new music since 2014 and uses the same producer Brendan O’Brien that they used for their last album ‘Rock Or Bust’ and ‘Black Ice’ before that.  Twelve new tracks, it’s the first record without Malcolm playing on it, but largely written by both Young brothers just prior to ‘Black Ice’ Mal got a chance to influence the direction of this new album before he left the earthly realm. It’s great to see Brian Johnson back where he belongs next to Angus delivering that AC/DC sound we know and love in an album which successfully continues the AC/DC legacy with strong tracks like ‘Realize’ and ‘Rejection’ that open the album.

 

The limited edition version of the album has a flashing neon AC/DC logo which lights up and gives a short blast of the single ‘Shot In The Dark’ out of a built-in speaker powered by USB. Loud, proud, in your face and probably just a little bit naughty: a real gun shot, the well known metaphor, a shot of whisky or something else that shoots to thrill in the dark? AC/DC wouldn’t be complete without a double entendre or four.

 

‘Through the Mists of Time’ is something new as there’s something Noddy Holder or Slade like about it, hard rockin, but commercial with a searing guitar solo. Both Angus and Brian have named it as a stand out track on the album and I think they are right. ‘Witch’s Spell’ is delightfully wicked and also one of my favourites. Biting vocals and piercing guitar make it a song for any AC/DC playlist.

 

I have seen criticism that at least some of this album is mining the tried and trusted AC/DC formula, but criticising AC/DC for sounding like themselves when they have such a signature sound is like criticising a spade for being a spade. But when you’re mining gold, why look for copper? On their highway to hell AC/DC would be damned if they didn’t sound like themselves, so let’s not damn them if they do. God forbid they should ever change tack and follow trends which by their nature are ephemeral.  They have stayed true to themselves, delivered another good album in the sound they pioneered and deserve credit where credit is due.

 

Dawn Osborne