


Unfortunately, this song comes a couple of tracks after the worst song on “Power Up”: “Rejection.” Besides sounding exactly the same as “Realize,” this song has lyrics that sound abusive.
#ACDC NEW ALBUM FULL#
He especially nails singing the second verse, which features the lines, “Shady lady / You think that money grows on trees / Rotten apples by the barrel ain’t a delicacy.” Johnson’s piercing passion is on full display in the song and I wish this energy was kept throughout the album. Along with great drumming from Phil Rudd and great bass guitar playing from Cliff Williams, Johnson’s vocal capabilities are fully realized. This is why the song “Kick You When You’re Down” is the best song on the album. I like how the band experimented with its style of writing, but the lyrics must match the singer and for Johnson, he needs lines that fit his range. With Johnson, his screechy kinetic voice doesn’t mix well with the fragile lyrics. The best example of this is on the song “Through The Mists of Time” when Johnson is singing the lines, “Hear the whisper of the whirlwind / Monster shadows, a light gone dim / Dark horses roam in my sleep / Mystic voices conjure up our dreams.” These pretty lines would fit perfectly with a softer vocalist like Kevin Parker of Tame Impala. Johnson’s vocals don’t mesh well when he is trying to sing poetic lines. Regardless, Johnson’s vocals are still on point with the aggressive tone AC/DC is known for. Hearing lead singer Brian Johnson on this track and album is weird given that in 2016, Johnson had to step back from touring due to hearing problems. The lyrics are nothing to write home about, but they keep listeners bobbing their heads to Angus Young’s solid guitar work. The opening track, “Realize,” starts off with the band’s signature gritty guitar work and heavy drumming. Their newest album, “Power Up,” sees the band trying to stay relevant in a new decade, and while there are moments of progression and innovation, AC/DC provides more of the same on this LP. Forty years ago, Australian rock band AC/DC released “Back in Black,” an album that has sold over 50 million copies to date and gave us hits such as “Shoot to Thrill” and “Hells Bells.” In the two decades following “Back in Black,” AC/DC has released 10 albums with varying degrees of success.
