You know what to expect with AC/DC's Power Up, but that doesn't stop it from being a thrilling ride.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Power Up is one mighty curtain call, and listening to it feels a bit like playtime.
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).
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
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.
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.
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.
#1 | / | Louder |
#18 | / | Kerrang! |
#36 | / | musicOMH |
#44 | / | Consequence of Sound |
#45 | / | Rolling Stone |
/ | AllMusic |