Power Up

AC/DC - Power Up
Critic Score
Based on 26 reviews
2020 Ratings: #347 / 871
User Score
Based on 491 ratings
2020 Rank: #1021
Liked by 30 people
November 13, 2020 / Release Date
LP / Format
Columbia / Label
Hard Rock / Genre
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CRITIC REVIEWS

91
Consequence of Sound
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.
90
Distorted Sound

It’s a brilliant AC/DC album. In fact, from start to finish, it’s genuinely possible that this is the finest work to bear the Acca-Dacca name since 1990’s fantastic The Razor’s Edge.

84
GIGsoup
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.
80
AllMusic

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.

80
Blabbermouth.net
It's not likely to creep into a long-time fan's rotation as much as "Back in Black" or "For Those About to Rock We Salute You", but "Power Up" is the best album that AC/DC has released in the last 20 or 30 years, one that takes its cues from the aforementioned, classic albums.
80
Classic Rock

You know what to expect with AC/DC's Power Up, but that doesn't stop it from being a thrilling ride.

80
Record Collector
Sounding once again like a band with something to prove, the performances are engaged and vibrant, and the songs relentlessly consistent.
80
The Arts Desk

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.

80
The Sydney Morning Herald

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.

80
Kerrang!

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.

80
The Telegraph
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.
80
The Independent

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.

80
Mojo

Power Up is one mighty curtain call, and listening to it feels a bit like playtime.

80
Uncut

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.

80
NME
‘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.
80
musicOMH
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.
70
Spill Magazine

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.

70
Clash
‘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.
70
Rolling Stone

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

70
Exclaim!

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).

70
XS Noize
Brian Johnson’s voice is still as potent as ever and from start to finish Power Up is a treat of endless, energy, spirit and attitude which pays homage to their globally loved formula of stadium-ready choruses and loud guitars as well as the productive partnership between brothers Angus and Malcolm.
60
The Observer
The band’s first album in six years is a riotous hymn to unreconstructed rock, not to mention something of a medical miracle.
60
Sputnikmusic

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.

60
The Irish Times
Same sound, same songs, but what rock songs they are.
60
No Ripcord

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.

Chode
30

Nice chord.

BradTasteMusic
10

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

nostalgia
30

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.

kal3nk
38

Jesus Christ this is BORING

tompa
50

AC/DC slop.

zzag
36

It's not... as bad as it COULD be.
Is it good? No. There's a few redeeming songs but all in all everything is the same and oh my god I'm bored
BEST: Shot In The Dark, Through the Mists of Time, Witch's Spell
WORST: Rejection, Systems Down, Code Red

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Track List

1Realize
3:37
46
2Rejection
4:06
44
3Shot in the Dark
3:06
56
4Through the Mists of Time
3:32
54
5Kick You When You're Down
3:10
46
6Witch's Spell
3:42
47
7Demon Fire
3:30
44
8Wild Reputation
2:54
47
9No Man's Land
3:39
46
10Systems Down
3:12
44
11Money Shot
3:05
41
12Code Red
3:31
45
Total Length: 41 minutes
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Added on: October 6, 2020