How AC/DC resurrected their sound using a vault of unreleased riffs and memories
In short: Released in 2020, Power Up serves as a tribute to co-founder Malcolm Young, who passed away in 2017. By raiding a vault of unreleased songs co-written with his brother Angus, the band crafted a high-voltage record that reached number one in 21 countries, proving their enduring, indomitable rock legacy.
The creation of Power Up was a process of musical archaeology. Following the death of rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young in 2017, Angus Young faced the challenge of compiling riffs they had written together years prior. Assisted by their nephew Stevie Young, Angus arranged these fragments into a cohesive record. The band recorded the album over six weeks in August and September 2018 at Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, the same location used for their three previous albums, under the guidance of producer Brendan O'Brien.
The album marked a significant reunion for the group, with lead singer Brian Johnson, drummer Phil Rudd, and bassist Cliff Williams returning to the fold. This return followed a tumultuous period for the band; during the 2014 Rock or Bust tour, Rudd faced legal issues, and Johnson was forced to step aside due to hearing loss, eventually being replaced by Axl Rose for the tour's conclusion. Williams had initially announced his retirement in 2016, calling the band a changed animal, but rejoined for this project.
Upon its release on 13 November 2020, Power Up was a commercial and critical success. It became the sixth best-selling album worldwide in 2020, with 1.37 million copies sold. In Australia, the band made history as the first act to achieve a number-one album in five consecutive decades. Critics praised the record as a nourishing, high-octane celebration of life, noting that the band managed to find depth and variety within their signature, minimalist hard rock sound. Despite the loss of a founding member, the album stands as a testament to the band's ability to barrel forward, focusing on what they still possess rather than dwelling on the past.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Power Up (album)
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