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CRITIC REVIEWS
91
Simply put, AC/DC went in and kicked out the proverbial jams, crafting their best album in years and igniting a spark of joy into the stark timeline that is 2020.
3mo
84
Overall, this was a declaration that AC/DC is not done yet with the expected fire and passion here to remind us rock is not dead…and the boys from down under are here to stay.
3mo
80
‘Power Up’ is a joyous celebration of the unbridled heavy rock that has served them well for almost 50 years and, we can hope, a unifying cry for the future.
3mo
80
You know what to expect with AC/DC's Power Up, but that doesn't stop it from being a thrilling ride.
3mo
80
This is wicked. It’s banter. It’s everything you want from music that categorically doesn’t ‘do’ sad. It’s just AC/DC being fucking brilliant. As they sang themselves on Rock And Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution, ‘Rock’n’roll ain’t gonna die.’ In the darkest of times, that’s important to know, and even better to hear.
3mo
80
The continuing appeal of AC/DC lies in the fact that this self-proclaimed bunch of “noisy little guys” consistently sound like they’re having good-hearted, OTT fun.
3mo
80
They may be down a couple of members and one eardrum, but AC/DC's 17th album is still a riot of juddering riffs and anti-PC slogans.
3mo
80
There's a depth of feeling to the levity on Power Up, as if the band decided that the best way to pay respect to what they've lost is by focusing on what they still have. They don't dwell upon the past, they barrel forward with a set of turbocharged blues and high-octane rock that doesn't merely sound good, it feels nourishing.
3mo
80
The bottom line is: don't come here looking for any radical variation from AC/DC's tried-and-true formula. Angus cares not for musical experimentation. In the tradition of albums like 1978's Powerage or 1990's The Razors Edge, this is hard, heavy and comes with a big dose of boogie to shake your cares away.
3mo
80
In a recent interview, Brian Johnson said he hoped that fans would enjoy the songs' simple musical honesty, that it would take them away 'from politicians and viruses'. It does precisely that. For those trying to forget that 2020 ever happened, Power Up is a humdinger.
3mo
80
There being no imaginable mileage in comparing any of Power Up to anything but previous AC/DC albums, it's a solid second-tier AC/DC record.
3mo
80
Sure, there may be a huge Elastoplast stuck over the band rather than just glue holding the bones in place, and you will hear many an echo of past tracks throughout, but as the superb Witch’s Spell proves, this show ain’t over ‘til it’s over.
3mo
80
Power Up is one mighty curtain call, and listening to it feels a bit like playtime.
Print Only
3mo
70
‘Power Up’ revels in a universe populated by devils and demons, with evil tugging at your sleeve, inviting you into a nearby roadhouse bar for one last game of winner-keeps-all poker and some whiskey on the rocks. A force of nature, ‘Power Up’ finds AC/DC growing old disgracefully – we’re sure that, wherever he is, Malcolm Young is proud of what he helped create.
3mo
70
While the album understandably contains some filler within its bottom third, POWER UP nonetheless falls securely within AC/DC's great B-level albums; just as solid and memorable as Let There Be Rock or For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).
3mo
70
Naturally, there are no real surprises here: Power Up sounds unapologetically like AC/DC, and Angus has likened the LP to a tribute to Malcolm the same way that Back in Black was a back-pew eulogy for Bon Scott
3mo
70
The singles are massive, the deep cuts are strong – sometimes even a touch unique – and, with a united band, Power Up may very well be their best release in the last two decades.
3mo
60
Power Up is not just about the music, it’s about perseverance and determination. It’s about never giving up, regardless of what life throws on you, old age, deteriorating health, or even death.
3mo
60
The band’s first album in six years is a riotous hymn to unreconstructed rock, not to mention something of a medical miracle.
3mo
60
Ultimately, Power Up revitalizes a brand that continues to endure after 45 plus-years, even if what we're getting is exactly what we'd expect from them.
3mo
Ok let’s do this
Realize: this hurts my fucking ears. This sounds like complete compressed dog shit. Fucking awful start to this album which I didn’t even care too much about in the first place
0/10
Rejection: ok this is a tiny step up. It sounds like some dated B side from any AC/DC album. Super boring
2/10
Shot In The Dark: it sounds like a song from AC/DC... the lyrics are fucking awful. This means literally nothing
2/10
Through the mists of time: I’m about ready to ... read more
Realize: this hurts my fucking ears. This sounds like complete compressed dog shit. Fucking awful start to this album which I didn’t even care too much about in the first place
0/10
Rejection: ok this is a tiny step up. It sounds like some dated B side from any AC/DC album. Super boring
2/10
Shot In The Dark: it sounds like a song from AC/DC... the lyrics are fucking awful. This means literally nothing
2/10
Through the mists of time: I’m about ready to ... read more
There's just so much to love about this album. From Brian Johnson's beautiful, angelic vocals, to the poignant and emotional songwriting displayed throughout, to the incredibly intricate and complex guitar patterns and instrumentation, 'Power Up' is one of the most unique and mind-blowing albums I've heard all year.
NO BAD MUSIC
NO CREDIT CARDS
NO BULLSHIT
100% PURE UNCUT COCK FROM THE FOREFATHERS
If you don't like AC/DC, you're just a little kid that doesn't understand real music. Back in the good ol' days we would listen to this, not all of this rap stuff. This new album by the legends is no different. Literally no difference. And that's what makes it good. Made me cry off first listen.
AC/DC is a legendary rock group. There's no doubt about it. AC/DC was founded in 1783 by John Lennon and Paul ... read more
NO CREDIT CARDS
NO BULLSHIT
100% PURE UNCUT COCK FROM THE FOREFATHERS
If you don't like AC/DC, you're just a little kid that doesn't understand real music. Back in the good ol' days we would listen to this, not all of this rap stuff. This new album by the legends is no different. Literally no difference. And that's what makes it good. Made me cry off first listen.
AC/DC is a legendary rock group. There's no doubt about it. AC/DC was founded in 1783 by John Lennon and Paul ... read more
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Year End Lists
| #1 | / | Louder |
| #18 | / | Kerrang! |
| #36 | / | musicOMH |
| #44 | / | Consequence of Sound |
| #45 | / | Rolling Stone |
| / | AllMusic |
Track List
- Realize
- Rejection
- Shot in the Dark
- Through the Mists of Time
- Kick You When You're Down
- Witch's Spell
- Demon Fire
- Wild Reputation
- No Man's Land
- Systems Down
- Money Shot"
- Code Red
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3mo
How is this their lowest rated album when Flick Of The Switch, Fly On The Wall and Ballbreaker exist?
![Black Sabbath - Vol 4: [Super Deluxe Edition]](https://cdn2.albumoftheyear.org/200x/album/333546-vol-4-super-deluxe-edition.jpg)
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Added on: October 6, 2020