Not counting Bon Scott albums, this is my all-time favorite AC/DC album. Introducing Brian Johnson for the first time, it is AC/DC, simply at their best and to me, one of their heaviest.
No one thought Bon Scott would be easily replaced, and this album is a testament that Brian Johnson was indeed suited to take the throne. Many believed that this album was ridiculously loud, filled with songs about sex and booze, and of course it was. But, what most people forgot, in their complaining about Brian Johnson as a replacement was, that this was exactly what AC/DC were about. Blistering riffs, songs about sex, rock n roll and booze. A metal band’s main meal ticket.
What they forget to mention is Brian Johnson’s amazing vocal power that only is rivaled by the monster that is Angus Young on guitar. The lyrics to the songs are simple, but their meaning very clear. The album is masculine, and screams the desires that all men have for sex, rock n roll and booze. But it’s not just that. It’s great tunes, and an intro that still gets me every time. The opening of the bells tolling and the end of the bells tolling, just sends shivers down my spine.
Of course, everyone had a good whine about "Hell’s Bells" when it came out, saying that the band was satanic and devil worshiping. The song, to me, is one of the real gems. It’s blistering riffs, combined with Johnson’s vocal power just blow me away every time I hear it. It’s still one of my all time favorite songs.
The album just has this powerful force about it that you don’t see in many metal albums these days. It’s almost savage in it’s sound, yet the production of this album was very simple.
Article comments
1 - JC Mosquito
Yeah, it's a gooder, but I usually reach for Highway to Hell first.
2 - Jon
Appreciate seeing BIB reviewed anytime but AC/DC is not metal. It's just great rock 'n' roll music.