AC/DC is back and better than ever with ‘Power Up’

Ricky Podgorski, Editor-in-Chief

Making their music debut in 1973, AC/DC is arguably one of the greatest rock bands to ever take the stage. The crew from Australia has experienced an array of changes in their line up over the past 47 years, but has consistently kept the same sound and attitude. ‘Power Up’ is the newest addition to AC/DC’s lengthy discography, and is a must listen.

On October 7, the band released a single called ‘Shot In The Dark’, one of the lead songs off the ‘Power Up’ album. Louder Sound, a popular Classic Rock news site states “Every inch of Shot In The Dark sounds just like AC/DC. Which is just as it should be. It’s difficult to describe the song without using the word ‘trademark’.

After the release of the single, AC/DC fans across the globe were excited for a new album, the first from the band since 2014. ‘Power Up’ was released on November 13 featuring 12 songs, and an emphasis of classic rock and roll.

Songs like ‘Realize’, ‘Demon Fire’, and ‘Kick You When You’re Down’ sound as if they could have been a part of of the bands most classic and well known albums like ‘Highway to Hell’ and ‘Back In Black’. The guitar riffs and upbeat percussion remind listeners of the good ole’ AC/DC.

The album is a tribute to the band’s recent loss of longtime guitarist Malcolm Young who died in 2017. Remaining members of AC/DC made sure to honor Young by creating strong bass and electric guitar riffs throughout every song on the album.

For AC/DC’s younger listeners, like myself, all you can do is appreciate the consistency the band has shown over the years as they are still bad to the bone. For the older audience that grew up with AC/DC, ‘Power Up’ is a great refresher and nod to the musical culture of the mid 1980’s.

Nearly no other band in music history has had the same longevity of AC/DC. The majority of rock and roll bands fall off or break up after about 10 years and tend to have only one to two hit albums. ‘Power Up’ has topped the charts in 2020, adding to the list of AC/DC’s chart topping discography. The band has maintained their rock and roll style for nearly 50 years, and ‘Power Up’ ensures AC/DC will remain one of the greatest bands to ever do it.