Label: Atlantic Records | Genre: Hard Rock | Release: Juli 25, 1980
I‘ve been thinking about, what album would be worthy to be the first one featured in this category.
There are tons of great records with lots of meaning to me, but I thought the most fitting choice would be the Album that gave this realm it‘s name.
AC/DC‘s 1980 classic Back in Black.
Back in Black is a special record in many different ways.
It was the first album featuring Brian Johnson as AC/DC‘s new lead singer after the tragic death of Bon Scott.
It‘s been defining the sound of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, and is quoted a huge Influence by many artists, such as Motörhead‘s Lemmy Kilmister himself.
As the first strike of the Bell hits fans worldwide are still getting goosebumps as they know whats coming.
There has rarely been an opening track with that much power forward, while also showing respect and bidding farewell to the past.
Angus Young‘s riffs got sharper then ever, while the rhythm section was stomping an laying the fundament for the iconic AC/DC sound.
And then there was the new guy in the Band, Brian Johnson, whose job was nothing less but filling the huge shoes Bon Scott left behind.
But boy did he deliver.
Though they were similiar in their style of singing, Johnson was still able to bring in his own notes.
Songs like Shoot to Thrill are a master class in his vocals.
Talking about the songs….
When I started listening again after quite some time I thought, well there must have been Back in Black, Hell‘s Bells and You shook me all Night long.
This record does not have one weak spot.
A no-skipper.
AC/DC has been the first band I fell in love with. And I‘m sure a lot of metalheads of my generation got their entrance to heavy music by Angus Young and his mates.
So what‘s the final resume?
This album doesn‘t have to be rated. It doesn‘t need it.
It set the tone for generations of rockers and metalheads and will forever be remembered as one of the greatest Rock records of all time.