Reviews (page 2 of 14)
This is a one-note album with no variety. Ultra macho at best and misogynistic at its worst, these lot took the worst parts of Led Zeppelin and ran with it. Brian Johnson is a grating vocalist. He shows no range and is straining throughout the record. The lyrics are unintelligent. Just when you think that they will vary the formula when you hear the slow start of 'Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution', the song properly kicks in and you are back to the same old slop. The title track and 'You Shook Me All Night Long' are tolerable as dumb rock radio anthems, but there is where my faint praise ends. There's nothing wrong with dumb music. Ramones are one of my favourite bands. Those guys had charm, range and a hint of self-awareness to their stupidity. AC/DC do not have any of those qualities.
No one needs to hear any song on this album ever again.
To me this just feels like a horny 90lb man with emphysema rasping out vocals about how badass he is over power chords.
The Angus Young and Brian Johnson show
Probably my favorite album of all time.
So good
A monolithic classic of hard rock - timeless and indelible!
All bangers
So good!! This band knows how to rock.
Awesome album, all the way through. It’s a classic with several big hit songs from the era that remain timeless for rock and roll. Lead singers voice is unique but perfect for rock-n-roll.
A fantastic straight on rock n roll album. Song after song of high energy music. Johnson has one of the great rock voices ever.
AC/DC are a band that made many great songs, but I feel like they never put out a truly great album, this is about as close as they got. The band found a formula and stuck to it for most of there careers, however the Brian Johnson era definitely has a more bluesy feel compared to the Bon Scott albums, This is so close to being a 5 star album to me, if nothing else due to Nostalgia as AC/DC were my introduction to rock as a teen
This is as good as simple straight swinging rock n roll can get. No need for complications or some deep lyrical themes, because that is not the point! So I am confused why are people even expecting that shit and getting dissapointed then whey don't get it. Not every music must be Dylan. This is, no doubt, a masterpiece, 5 stars.
# AC/DC's *Back in Black*: A Triumph Forged in Tragedy Released on July 25, 1980, *Back in Black* is far more than just a comeback album; it is a cultural milestone that redefined the possibilities of hard rock . Arriving just five months after the tragic death of beloved frontman Bon Scott, the album saw the band recruit new vocalist Brian Johnson and channel their grief into a raw, powerful, and surprisingly celebratory collection of songs. The result is the second-best-selling album of all time and a masterclass in musical resilience. ### A Celebration, Not a Dirge: Lyrical Themes and Meaning The genius of *Back in Black*'s lyrics lies in their defiance. The band, particularly the Young brothers, was adamant that their tribute to Bon Scott would not be a morbid affair but a celebration of his life and the rock 'n' roll spirit . Brian Johnson, tasked with penning the words, was given a clear brief: it had to be a "good thing," a "positive song" . The title track perfectly encapsulates this ethos. While the all-black album cover served as a sign of mourning, the song "Back in Black" reclaims the colour as a symbol of power and rebirth . The lyrics, particularly the iconic lines "I got nine lives, cat's eyes / Abusin' every one of them and running wild," were written with Scott's wild, indomitable spirit in mind, immortalizing him as an untamed force who always seemed to cheat death . This celebratory defiance runs throughout the album. Tracks like the drunken toast "Have a Drink on Me" and the raucous "You Shook Me All Night Long," a one-night-stand anthem, are firmly in the classic AC/DC tradition of rock, sex, and booze . However, as one critic notes, Johnson's persona differs from Scott's; where Bon sounded like a "criminal," Brian comes across as a "rowdy scamp," giving the album a more accessible, party-like atmosphere . The record contains few songs about anything other than these subjects, but the sheer commitment and energy make it feel like a world-conquering statement rather than a series of clichés . ### The Mutt Lange Touch: Music and Production Musically, *Back in Black* is a monument to sonic perfection, largely due to the meticulous production of Robert John "Mutt" Lange. Having already polished the band's sound on *Highway to Hell*, Lange pushed them even further . He is famous for his "hair-splitting" attention to detail, which included coaxing vocal takes out of Brian Johnson until they were flawless . According to Johnson, Lange would reject takes if a note was held too long or there wasn't "room for a breath," ensuring that the vocals were both powerful and perfectly in the pocket . The legend of Lange's perfectionism also extends to the guitar work. While debates persist about whether he recorded riffs "one string at a time," an approach more commonly associated with Def Leppard's *Hysteria*, his influence on AC/DC's sound is undeniable . He helped the band achieve a massive, polished, yet raw sound that was both radio-friendly and crushingly heavy. The result is an album that is a masterclass in musical economy. The band's rhythm section—Phil Rudd on drums and Cliff Williams on bass—provides a relentless, powerful, and "in-the-pocket" groove that is the bedrock of the record . As one musician notes, "The drummer isn't hitting hard. He's sitting in the pocket. Malcolm isn't just riffing away, he's grooving... It is heavy but not painful on the ear. It hits you in the pocket and makes you dance" . This swing, combined with the Young brothers' formidable riff-writing, makes every track an anthem. ### Enduring Influence and Legacy The influence of *Back in Black* is staggering. Its iconic guitar riffs, particularly that of the title track, are among the most recognizable in music history . The album's massive commercial success, with over 50 million copies sold globally, helped legitimize hard rock and heavy metal as a dominant commercial force in the 1980s . It has become a "cultural touchstone," sampled by hip-hop artists like the Beastie Boys and Eminem, covered by artists as diverse as Shakira, and featured prominently in films like *Iron Man*, video games, and sporting events . It is consistently ranked on "greatest albums of all time" lists and is widely considered the definitive hard rock album . ### Pros and Cons **Pros:** * **Iconic Songwriting:** Contains some of the most legendary and recognizable songs in rock history, including "Back in Black," "You Shook Me All Night Long," and "Hells Bells" . * **Triumphant Tone:** A masterclass in turning grief into a celebratory and powerful statement of resilience . * **Superb Production:** Mutt Lange's meticulous production delivers a polished, powerful, and timeless sound that remains a benchmark for rock albums . * **Brian Johnson's Debut:** Johnson's performance is a revelation, proving to be a worthy successor with a unique, powerful voice that perfectly fits the band's new direction . * **Massive Influence:** It has shaped the sound of countless bands and remains a cultural touchstone across generations and genres . **Cons:** * **Lyrical Subject Matter:** Like most of the band's work, the lyrics are almost exclusively about sex, drinking, and rock 'n' roll, offering little variety or introspection . * **Formulaic Structure:** The album adheres very closely to AC/DC's established formula, which, while brilliant, can be seen as lacking in experimentation or risk-taking . * **Bon Scott's Shadow:** While Johnson succeeds, the album is forever tied to the tragedy of Scott's death, making it an emotional listen that may not be as carefree as it sounds . Ultimately, *Back in Black* is not just a great album; it is a historic document of a band at its absolute peak, rising from the ashes of unimaginable loss to create one of the most enduring and powerful rock statements of all time.
This was already going to score a 5 for me and then the legendary riff of Back in Black started. Holy mother of God. And then You Shook Me All Night Long. Wow. All timer. 5/5 no notes.
Brilliant. A perfect R&R LP.
Banger after banger, pure rock'n'roll greatness. No skips, and the only downside of this album is that it isn't 50 songs.
Straight bangers
That's a damn good album. Makes me think I need to get into a bar fight. Angus and Brian do so much heavy lifting on this album. The rhythm section is pretty uninspiring. But the guitar and that voice (and delivery) raise everything else.
such a classic. very nostalgic for me!
duro
Cazzo di bomba il dad rock
Great album. Every song is incredible.
Classic
My favorite hard rock album. There's hardly a miss on here.
What a beaeast, start to end.
Repetitive riffs and drum beats? Yup. Sophomoric oversexualized lyrics? Again, yup. Badass and need to be blasted at full volume, absolutely!
Lots of recognisable and classic rock songs on this. I was thinking of giving it a 4 but I'll bump it up to 5. This is due to the fact there are so many boring albums on this list that this deserves an extra 1 point. 5
nostalgia 100. love me some acka dacka. how did the man get away with doing the same drum beat for every single song
Quintessential dad rock. Awesome from start to finish and filled with classics. Back In Black was my fav song of the album. You Shook Me All Night Long and Hells Bells were my other highlights. Let Me Put My Love Into You was my fav first listen of the album
One of the best rock albums of all time. No skips, every song is a banger. There is no argument here really. Some of the songs may be a little overplayed, but that is no reason to rate it any less. Massive production that has stood the test of time. They never bettered this album, but a remarkable band with a pretty consistent discography by sticking to what they do best. Has to be a 5.
Old time fav.! Adoro todo de este disco, no puedo ser objetiva :3
Crazy good production - Let me put my love into you babe is still one of my favourits.
A great classic album that reminds me of my dad as AC/DC is one of his favourite artists and I’ve listened to it a lot
Gitara gra 😋
Classic with endlessly played bangers.
There just isn't a bad song on this album.
Banging
A simple method of addictive riffs and simple repetitive lyrics. Very effective.
Yes
One of the best albums ever.
What is rock and roll? This is rock and roll. Pure cut, straight from the tap, rock and roll. 🤘🏼
Classic. Every tune is a great one. Carried the torch from Zeppelin 1. I think this was my first cassette….
Tremendo descubrimiento
genuinely the best rock album ever ive listened to in my life. theres nothing to comment about this: it's AC/DC ! what did you expect? majorly every single track is in my playlist. so worthy for a rockin wednesday. a classic. big props to the goats 🫡🫡
Few albums are as straight up fun as Back in Black is. Hells Bells, Shoot to Thrill, Givin the Dog a Bone, Back in Black, and You Shook Me All Night Long are all just insane classics. Is there a deep meaning? A message? A moral? Not really. Is it just absurdly fun in every way? Hell yeah.
This is AC/DC at their height. A solid album with a lot of amazing songs. 100% deserves to be on this list.
The World: Man, sucks that your lead singer died. I guess that means you guys are done making music, right? AC/DC: Hold my Foster's.
./,,/ Awesome
Yes
Hearing this album in full brings back childhood memories
One of the most iconic rock albums of all time and for good reason. Many songs from this album have become iconic on their own and you can easily hear why. This is the blueprint for a killer rock album without too much bullshit on it. 5/5
Love this one
This was just a great album
nothing below five
Un clásico en mi biblioteca
Just puts you in a energized mood.
Arguably the greatest rock album ever. For them to come back with this after Bon passing is not short of miraculous.
Five. Five all day.
Probably the greatest comeback album of all time considering the circumstances. What other band hav a key member die and then replaced them only to release what is probably considered their defining album? A classic from start to finish.
Mind blowing!!! Obviously one of if not the greatest rock album (or any genre for that matter) ever written in creation!! No band has ever staged a comeback like this one after the death of charismatic lead singer Bon Scott! The singer song writer brother due of the Youngs is the greatest in music history!! 46 years later and still selling strong. The Band in recent times, outselling Taylor Swift in number of tickets for a tour on Rock or Bust, tour and selling out Stadiums around the world today featuring many songs from this album. Sadly the world will never see genius like this again!!!!!!
Yes
had this way too loud when i pressed play. did NOT turn it down BELLS cringer was right i like guitar. Epic
loaf 🍞
Music that feels outside of any time or place save maybe a roller rink or hockey arena (not Football stadiums - both kinds). AC/DC makes music that sounds like exactly one band - AC/DC. How many bands can lose a lead singer and not only not miss a beat but increase their popularity ten fold. Back and Black is a natural evolution from there previous albums but just a more refined version. It's akin to Born in the USA, Joshua Tree, Purple Rain - whether or not it's their best album it debatable - but it certainly becomes the platonic ideal of the band/artist. This is as good as they can do what they do. The singles are bigger and badder. The album tracks are solid enough artists that came in their wake would be ultimately aping those double entendre adventures (that being said - Slip my Love in to You is not making it onto a mixtape anytime soon) The riffs are iconic - prehistoric yet fresh - even now. They achieve and surpass their intention. What more can you ask from an artist?
Amazing, as always
Great band. Great album. First album I ever purchased. Already favorited in my library.
Really enjoyable, a bit repetitively drawn out songs but extremely good vibes and energy
Now we're talking. Way back in the dark pre-internet days of 1980 one of the only ways to hear new rock music was via Tommy Vance's Friday Rock Show on BBC Radio One, TV on the Radio. The gang I ran with were huge AC/DC fans, me not so much (that came later). Dirty Deeds, Powerage, Highway to Hell, If You Want Blood were all on rotation on the ghettoblaster, and we were all shocked by Bon Scott's death. So, we gathered around the speakers, 10 PM after youth club, with a bottle of cider, and listened as Tommy played a new song by AC/DC. The slow bell tolled, the mournful riff built and, after a minute and a half, we heard Brian Johnson for the first time. "Oh my god, It's Donald Duck," I said, which brought me a mild kicking... I did get used to, even love, Johnson's shrill voice and, although for me Back In Black will always be slightly below Highway to Hell and Powerage, it is an astounding album. Mutt Lange, as he had done on HTH, makes AC/DC sound huge. The guitars are separate and distinct; you can hear just how much of the band's power is Malcolm Young; open chords never sounded so good. This is probably AC/DC's best sounding record. There isn't a bad song. "Hells Bells", "You Shook Me All Night Long", the title track, and "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" are classics; the rest are not far behind, full of Carry-On style sexual innuendo, drinking and partying; all deceptively simple and meticulously crafted. I will always miss Bon Scott's slyer, seedier persona, and I do question the speed at which the Young Brothers completed and released this record following his passing. But Back In Black is one of the great rock albums of all time and broke AC/DC in the USA, even if they never reached the same heights again.
5/5
An undeniably great album. Got a couple misses, but the hits are legendary. The louder played the better.
Uffff que gran disco, uno de los mejores del Rock N Roll indiscutiblemente! Grandes joyas de canciones que permanecen en la historia de la música.
Erg leuk album. Ollie vindt het ook wel leuk. Klassieker.
Dont need to add any notes, sonic bliss.. Both kinds of music... Rock AND Roll!
Full throttle, brash, in your face, unapologetic rock n roll. Wall to wall bangers, so much so I can't decide my favourite song and it changes with each listen. An absolute classic.
It's a classic and for good reason. Crazy that this is Johnson's first album with the group, his vocals are iconic and can't imagine another version. Not a complex album but they are doing everything right and its great to listen to front to back. Worthy of all the love and probably some of the hate too.
GREAT Friday record! Classic comfort rock! Unquestionably one of the all time best rock albums. Pretty much perfect. Every song is great. And three of the greatest rock hits ever. The young brothers are the masters of the rock riff. RIP Malcolm. 5
5 stars, no question. Love the energy and will remember to put this one on next time I'm feeling sluggish
I really do not need to say anything about this pure masterpiece!
Love this record. Love ac/dc. They were my favorite for a long time before I found Iron Maiden. Anyway this record is great. Hitmaker mutt Lange was the producer which almost feels like a cheat code. The amazing thing here is that it is so legendary and it is the fist record with a new vocalist. Same thing happened with maiden - new singer and amazing record. Anyway I’d hesitate to give it a 5 but I’m doing it. Shoot to thrill might be my favorite here.
Realmente sentia que estaba siendo tacaño con las puntuaciones pero este disco me demostro que no, la puntacion que tenia reservada era para este tipo de albumes, todas las canciones suenan increibles y te da como una energia escucharlo que es tremenda, y demuestra como no es necesario estar todo el tiempo gritando ni saturar de sonidos para hacer rock y que suene genial. Ademas tiene muchas canciones que son himnos mundiales y que reconoces al instante. Un MERECIDISIMO 10/10
This is the definition of fun rock! The lyrics are juvenile and that's ok. It's amazing how many great riffs Malcolm and Angus Young have created! Their musicianship is underrated and their sound is well produced. It was great to hear this again.
True Classic!
I listened to this album while getting ready for therapy this morning, and finished it when I got back home. I enjoyed the album from start to finish. It made me wish I was smoking a cigarette with somebody's toothless uncle at a cookout with this album playing in the background.
Epic
Monster hits.
Beyond comprehension that this album was/is so cover-to-cover perfect considering it was done against a background of scepticism re: "introducing unknown legendary front man V2.0". Solid 5 every day of the week.
Standouts Hells Bells Shoot to Thrill What Do You Do For Money Honey Givin the Dog a Bone Let Me Put My Love Into You Back in Black You Shook Me All Night Long Have a Drink on Me Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution
I may be biased because this is my dad’s favourite band and because of that I’ve heard this album dozens of times before. Still, this is awesome stuff, a lot of memorable songs here, a great energy and I love the whole energy coming off of this thing.
Classic rock n roll. Insanely good instrumentals.
best running album
black in black is my favourite album
simplemente increíble
i always want to go back to high school years when i listen it
AGUANTE AC DC HIJOS DE PUTA
What do you want me to say? This fucking rocks, front to back.
“Back in Black” is undoubtedly AC/DC’s most iconic album, a breathtaking masterpiece and still the second-best-selling album of all time. Unlike the number-one album on this list (“Thriller”—which I reviewed earlier this week), this is less due to the production (though that’s good too) and more to the incisive songwriting, the pure rock ’n’ roll power, and a unique virtuosity. I mean, technically speaking, any halfway-decent guitarist could have written the riffs for “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Shoot to Thrill,” “Hell’s Bells,” or “Back in Black”—but it was the Young brothers who did. On top of that, this band plays as precisely as humanly possible—and that’s why anyone with even a passing interest in music recognizes the riffs immediately. Some say that AC/DC’s albums are merely a pale imitation of their concerts. However, it was only with this album that they began touring for years on end—so perhaps this reputation also stems from the fact that “Back in Black” is simply larger than life and continues to define the AC/DC sound to this day.
Muy buena, rockera, para arriba. Todos mis respetos a ACDC
Klassisk rock, bra av dc men blir trött mot slutet
Awesome rock musicianship, great balance of solos vs song, perfect length, and full of hits! Easy 5/5
I mean yeah, it's one of the greatest straight forward rock albums ever made. Guitar tone on this is so good.
Classic iconic album!
i fcking love it!!
Well, this certainly rocks. Definitely a banger of an album, punchy, catchy and full of energy and unapologetically unsophisticated.
Hells Bells - 4/5 Shoot to Thrill - 4/5 What Do You Do for Money Honey - 5/5 Givin the Dog a Bone - 4/5 Let Me Put My love Into You - 4.5/5 Back In Black - 4.5/5 You Shook Me All Night Long - 5/5 Have a Drink on Me - 4/5 Shake a Leg - 4/5 Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution - 3.5/5
Es un álbum muy energético. Claro que ya había escuchado algunas canciones anteriormente, pero escucharlo completo en orden ha sido una joya sonora.
9.5/10 (round up to 10) (Fave) Hells Bells- 10/10 (2nd) Sh**t to Thrill- 10/10 (generational song. Peak summer rock First ac/dc song i ever heard too!) (3rd) What Do You Do for Money Honey- 10/10 (how have i never heard this song before?? Its so good!! Peak summer rock again!!) Givin the Dog a Bone- 8/10 Let Me Put My Love Into You- 7.5/10 (“dont you struggle dont you fight Let me put my love into you” is a Bit concerning no? Would have been 10/10 had not for this lyric. Too r*pey) (1st) Back in Black- 10/10 (duh) (Fave) You Shook Me All Night Long- 10/10 (the fact that this came out in 1980 is crazy) (Fave) Have a Drink on Me- 10/10 (Fave) Shake a Leg- 9.5/10 (Fave) Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution- 10/10
All bangers all the time
By the end of side one you realize you've purchased the greatest rock amd roll album of all time. And to be clear, I actually dislike AC/DC quite a bit. But the proof is in the pudding
The apogee of rock and roll. Pulling this out of the bag after Bon Scott died was a real achievement.
4.8 Well another one for the 5-star / teenage boy - poster wall. As classic a rock album as it gets,
Ich mag die Stimme von Bon Scott lieber. Jedoch gehört dieses Album zum Besten, was AC/DC jemals aufgenommen haben. So gut waren sie nie wieder. 5 von 5 Punkten.
🤘🏻
Classic!
10/10
How on earth am I supposed to listen to this album while sat at my desk working? I want to constantly do that Angus Young guitar jig up and down my office. Maybe chuck in a rock twirl or two, some overt air guitar improvs, and have a kind of gnarly, guitar playing gurn-look on my face. Let's chuck some horns up to this one \m/ \m/ The whole thing rocks like a motherbitch from start to finish \m/ \m/ I don't think I'd ever heard this whole thing before, but I really love the energy on this album \m/ \m/ Lots of 'oh my god' moments, as they (for instance) casually move from Back In Black into You Shook Me All Night Long. There's just so much consistency here, and so many absolute bangers sprinkled in. They've got the formula, man! \m/ \m/
2026.04.01.
First album in a while that I wanted it to keep going. Four on the floor beats, simple epic lyrics. So good
Yeah yeah yeah
Oh yes. One of my favourite albums. Not their best one but it's soo good. Every song is worth a listen here.
The simplicity of the formula belies its greatness. Straight up chest thumping, head banging rock n' roll at its best.
Not the best lyrics, not the most difficult guitar playing, not the most complicated compositions. But it's damn good rock n'roll!
Me encanta, canciones muy iconicas, todas contienen un sonido muy similar el característico de acdc
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This, the first offering with Brian on vocals, when paired on tape with Highway To Hell, the last with Bon Scott, is the epitome of early eighties heavy rock. I find it very hard to mention them separately. They defined a cataclysmic change in the band that somehow managed to retain its essential essence. I don't know of any other band that has produced back to back albums under such circumstances that has completely and utterly defined everything that band stands for. You know there is only one score I can give this.
Top tier stuff. No fillers, just full on energy from the start.
El mejor disco del mundo.
A bit repetitive but a such a fun listen.
I mean what can you even say? This sets the bar for heavy metal
classic
just a classic rock album
Legendary
Another 5.
Despite never actively choosing to listen to AC/DC, I knew the words to 80% of these songs.
Who doesn't love this record? It sold over 30 million copies for a reson. It's iconic in every way. Great riffs, great vocals, perfect production. There are some filler songs that I could mark down if I was being more critical and less fan-boi, but this is an "all killer, no filler" type of record that is just fun to listen to. Bangers from front-to-back.
This album is one of the best-selling records of all time. It continues to be relevant in the cultural firmament long after its release. So it's kind of already a masterpiece, even before you get to the actual album(which you've likely heard at least half of on rock radio even before this listen). Willfully crude and simplistic, this album is probably one of the least pretentious records in the rock canon. It's popular because you don't need to "get it" to appreciate its hooky songwriting, loud riffs, and simple, rebellious lyrics. Its accessibility and simplicity, which many call a weakness, actually proves to be its greatest strength. It all sounds the same, but that doesn't matter as much when the underlying sound is something you like. It knows what it is, and wears its colors with pride. Not every album needs to be buried under complex time signatures and layers of lyrical metaphors; sometimes, our lizard brains just want easy-to-digest music that makes us feel cool, and that's what this is. It's a refresher from the shitty synthpop and landfill indie this site has been spitting out recently for me. A riff-heavy refresher that wants to rock and roll in that oh-so-70s tradition of "Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll" and make the masses feel cool.
As with Van Halen, AC/DC is a band I mostly disliked back in high school, whose brand of dumb fun I've come to appreciate over the years. Shoot to Thrill is my favorite song of theirs.
I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would!
AC/DC – Back in Black (1980) On Day 85, I went from questioning if this would be a 1 or a 2 to realizing it’s a definitive 5/5. This is easily one of the best hard rock experiences I’ve had. "You Shook Me All Night Long" might be the best hard rock song ever, and "Back in Black" is an iconic anthem that lives up to all the hype. From the cinematic opening of "Hells Bells" to the masterpiece that is "Shoot to Thrill," the iron is hot throughout the entire body of work. Even underrated tracks like "Shake a Leg" are high-level. The vocals are a unique trademark, and the overall production is so catchy and "triumphant" that it avoids every pitfall I usually find in this genre. A masterpiece. 5/5.
Fuckin 10/10. Banger after banger. Just straight rock n roll
C'mon it's back in black, I spammed this album growing up.
Easy 5 stars for me. One of the great hard rock records of all time. Yes, the themes may not have aged that well over >40 years, but who has? Iconic riffs, Brian Johnson could actually still sing, probably the greatest rhythm/lead combo ever, there is a lot here to like and only some revisionist history can get in the way. As Brian says ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll ain’t no riddle, man……. To me it makes good good sense!!!’
Album 1079 of 1089 Back In Black - AC/DC (1980) Rating : 5 / 5 Every now and then during this 1001 Albums journey, an album comes up where you already know the score before you even press play. This was one of those. Sometimes you go into an album wondering what you’re about to hear… and sometimes you know you’re about to spend some time with a classic. This one was everywhere back in the day. It’s one of those albums that seemed to live on the radio, in cars, at parties, and pretty much anywhere rock music was being played. And after hearing it again today, it’s easy to understand why it became one of the top-selling albums of all time. Everything just comes together on this record. The writing is tight and direct, the guitars are huge, the drums drive everything forward, and the vocals carry that unmistakable attitude that AC/DC built their reputation on. There’s no unnecessary fluff here - just straight-ahead rock that hits hard and keeps moving. What really stands out is how well the whole band locks in together. It’s simple rock and roll on the surface, but it’s done with such confidence and precision that it never feels basic. It just works. And for me personally, there are also a lot of memories wrapped up in this one. Albums like this tend to carry a little extra weight because they were part of the soundtrack of the time. Hearing it again brings some of that right back. Some albums are interesting. Some are influential. And some are just flat-out great rock records. This one manages to be all three.
An original classic!!!
Allow me to quote the album that comes after this. For Those About To Rock, We Salute You!
4.75 - Look, I don't consider myself an AC/DC fan and I've never listened to them on purpose before today. These songs are just too iconic, influencial, omnipresent, and (in some cases) good not to rate the album at 5 stars.
Legendstatus.
Listen, this is immortally fun, slaps so hard, the riffs are absolutely unreal. IT IS SO FUN. The vocals are wild, the grooves are stronggg, the whole thing is campy in exactly the right way. Does it have subtlety? Not really, but if your basic formula is this fucking good don;t mess with it further.
Dieses Album ist so allgegenwärtig, dass eine Welt schwer vorstellbar ist, in der man nicht jedes dieser Riffs kennt. Wie krass das gewesen sein muss, "Back in Black" zum ersten mal zu hören. Insgesamt etwas front-heavy, zu Beginn der A- und B-Seite jeweils die stärksten Songs. "Giving the dog a bone" ist mehr dazu da, dem Publikum die Chance zu geben, sich ein zehntes Bier zu holen. Inhaltlich behandelt das Album die relevanten philosophischen Themen der Epoche: Ficken, Saufen, Ruhestörung. Hat die Marke Schaden genommen, weil AC/DC seine Musik an jedes Wok-WM-Event verscherbelt hat? Weil jeder zweite Bierbauch auf dem Volksfest von einem AC/DC-Shirt verschönert wird? Weil es unmöglich ist, auch nur eine Stunde einen beliebigen Rock-Radiosender zu hören, ohne dass "Hells Bells" ertönt? Auf jeden Fall! Aber wenn man dieses Album auflegt und aufdreht ist das trotzdem extrem gut.
Rischdsch Geil! Musste auf voller Lautstärke über Kopfhörer angemacht werden. Habe deshalb Ermahnungen bekommen, weil ich meinen Kater neben mir nicht mehr schreien gehört habe
One of the truly great album intros with Hells Bells. Top to bottom this has few weak spots. I can’t imagine being 14-18 years old in 1980 and hearing this on release day. Phenomenal stuff.
There are some albums where about 3-4 tracks in I start thinking if it keeps this up we have a 5/5 on our hands. With this album I was thinking that after the first minute. It's absolutely remarkable that the band was not only able to continue after the death of Bon Scott, but produce an album that's so good and so uplifting. Music wins!
fav track - have a drink on me 100/100
Absolute Cinema. A classic
5/5 GET IN THE PLAYLIST, GO GO GO GO GO EVERYONE IN NOW!!!! Easiest 5/5 of my life. I love AC/DC, grew up listening to them. I can't get enough!!! Such a quintessential rock album.
Classic Aussie Rock
This is THE hard rock album. Sure, AC/DC are a one trick pony, but its a hell of a trick and this album was them at the height of their powers with Mutt Lange handling production and making one of the best sounding and heaviest hitting rock albums of all time.
Excellent
I f love it
I love this album so much that it feels like its part of me but maybe that's because AC/DC are peak nostalgia and the background music to childhood car drives with my dad. If only I could listen to this for the first time again but also hearing these songs now is exciting in itself. Sure, Brians voice isn't quite Bon Scotts but these songs truly are just bangers through and through - catchy lyrics, heavy bass and energising. To me this a masterpiece of an album but I can understand why one may not enjoy this slightly unnuanced shouting.
I actually enjoyed my time with it, even though I've never reached for AC/DC on my own time. It was great to hear Back in Black again after occasionally hearing it in movies
This is a classic. Would have been interesting to see how Bon Scott had sung some of these.
YESSSSIRRRR 10/5 thank you been waiting on this one favorite song: shoot to thrill
Klassikko levy! Ei yhtään huonoa biisiä, vaan täyttä tykitystä alusta loppuun. Tätä on tullut kuunneltua jo teinistä saakka ja löytyy useina eri versioina omasta hyllystä. 6/5.
A rocking classic "what's wrong with being sexy?"
one of the GOAT rock albums. money beat, 4 chord choruses, great lyrics and solos. can't beat it
Great album. Arena rock at its best.
classical
Amazing
Every time I skip a day on this list, it's some absolutely insane, legendary album. Back in Black, AC/DC's first album since their original lead singer died, and I'm not sure if it's tragic or fate that the album exploded to the point that it did. Tragic that Bon Scott wasn't the singer, but would it have been this good if he was? We'll never know, but it sucks that he wasn't part of it....of course great for Brian Johnson. Hells Bells, Shoot to Thrill, Back in Black, You Shook Me All Night Long......I mean, legendary songs. It's no wonder this is the 2nd best selling album of all time (2nd only to Thriller, which I already claimed to be the absolute GOAT album). I didn't realize that the album was THIS big, but I'm still 2 albums behind and i've listened to this one all day.
I've never listened to this album in full and yet I recognize most of these songs. That tells you a lot. This album is great. Every song is a banger.
cool Ig overplayed but still good
I'm a Bon Scottt guy, but this album is undeniable. Shoot to Thrill is the best song, I don't care what your Mom says.
Landmark album for me! One of my first album purchases! Not a bad song on this album… a classic!
In retrospect it’s kind of crazy to think that AC/DC almost disbanded instead of releasing this record, which is arguably their best. Pretty much bangers top to bottom, and they’re all still great songs even though they’re completely overplayed on radio and overused in media. Definitely one of the best hard rock albums ever released and on this list for a reason.
Well this was a fun listen, I knew most of these of course but a few were new and I've been warming up to AC/DC over the years. I think I'll come back to this which means it's 5 stars for me.
This is an album that just begs to be listened to loudly. I don't think there are any bad songs on this album. They're not all classics (for good reason) bit they're all a solid experience. It's not deep but it's just dumb fun.
If aliens came to Earth and asked, "What is this 'rock-and-roll' that we have heard of?" First I would show them Chuck Berry Then I would show them 'Back in Black'
It's hard to not rate highly an album with 4 absolute bangers. Hells Bells, Shoot to Thrill, Back In Black, You Shook Me All Night Long? All certified classic bangers. Truly a great album of classic rock.
This, and Genesis' Trick of the Tail, show that sometimes you can go on without your original lead singer quite successfully!
Classic, great Album
Perfect album,great music. Givin the dog a bone favorite.
Absolutely incredible album from beginning to end. AC/DC isn't even really music I listen to much, but this is the perfect example of something that should be on a list like this.
Hell yeah brother
This is a part of a very specific genre of music I call "Guys will look at this and say 'hell yeah.'" It's mostly a subset of 70s/80s Metal and Hard Rock, but really all that's needed to make it a part of this subgenre is the ability to make your average guy say "hell yeah." Stuff like Rising by Rainbow or Paranoid by Black Sabbath. My favorite part of this album is that the band changed singers after the death of their original one and still made the exact same album as they did the past six times. I have to respect it, this one even has their biggest songs on it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
I will give this 5 stars without listening. I know it well enough. I’m not sure its my favorite AC/DC album, but its in a tight race with Let There Be Rock. Apart from enjoying the craft they have on here as a band it is a remarkable album where you have a band at its peak (at that stage at least) and the charismatic driving force singer dies and the next album just picks up where they left off, bang, bigger album! A beautiful way to honour Bon Scott and to say hey we are a sum of our parts and the remaining parts are a force.
Tout cet album fonctionne, les chansons s’enchaînent bien et vont ensemble Album culte et pas méconnu pour moi J’ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à l’écouter même si je connaissais la plus part des chansons (j’avais peut-être pas écouter dans cet ordre via cet album). J’adore +++ « you shook me all night long » que j’avais oublié !
Classic album and arguably their best.
Despite this being the biggest hard rock album of all time (by a fair amount) I'm not sure I've ever heard the whole album front to back before. Which makes sense because more than half the songs have been playing consistently on classic rock radio since it came out. And the remaining ones are a bit, shall we say, stupid. And yet the riffage is still sublime even on those too. But the hits are massive hits for good reason.
Let me cut your cake with my knife
Good old fashioned kick ass rock n roll! Love it!
Hell yeah!! Front to back a great record!
I already knew it. I like it.
A great album, with iconic songs such as "You Shook Me All Night Long", "Hells Bells", and "Back in Black". My favorite is "Rock an Roll Ain't Noise Pollution".
Just a great album to turn up loud, it can be formulaic, but it's a formula I like.
Best Rock Album of all time. Massive Guitar and drums Sound
This is one of those albums that just optimizes exactly what it is the band does best. It also offers three songs that basically define Classic Rock in Hells Bells, You Shook Me All Night Long, and the title track. These are also three of the best songs to play in a football stadium.
Fun album. Benchmark for rock
Classic.
There are moments when a record doesn’t just meet expectations. I came in expecting a handful of untouchable classics (Back in Black, Hells Bells) the kind of songs so embedded in cultural memory that they almost feel inevitable. What I didn’t expect was to be taken by every single track, nor to be reminded why rock and roll, at its best, is such a brutally effective art form. Everything here is stripped down to rock’s most primal elements: unforgettable guitar licks, thunderous rhythm, and a commanding vocal performance. What makes this album endure is its discipline. Rock music so often collapses under its own excess but these songs are badass without posturing, simple without being simplistic, tight without feeling constrained. The power lies in how elemental it all feels. This is rock and roll in its purest form. It doesn’t beg for attention with gimmicks or grand statements; it just works. Song after song, the album maintains a relentless focus, delivering exactly what it promises and nothing it doesn’t need. This album was a reminder that when rock is done right, it doesn’t need to evolve or inflate itself. It just needs to hit hard, stay honest, and leave a mark.
This album kicks ass. For those about to rock!!!
Que des bangers !
About as sophisticated like a bat with nails on it and hits as hard as one.
Hell yeah.
En mi adolescencia le cogí manía al heavy metal y al hard rock (curiosamente me fascinaba el rock progresivo), lo cual hizo que muchas bandas míticas quedasen relegadas a ser escuchadas ya en mi vida (muy) adulta. A poco que me esforzara ya se hacía patente que AC/DC era una súper banda de rock que además ofrecían en cada disco lo que prometían: rock. No es un grupo que haya intentado en su historia cambios y experimentos para ir con los tiempos. Si hay un estándar de rock, les podemos dar ese título. Aquí tenemos dos hitazos y un fondo de armario digno de estar en la cumbre. Long live AC/DC.
"I saw the letters on the back of me sister's sewing machine."
Slightly serious sentiment warning…Figuring out how to (somewhat accurately) play the opening to “Hells Bells” by accident was a defining moment in my interest in playing guitar, so I’d love this album even if it wasn’t one the biggest rock albums ever.
When I was in middle school my mom's boyfriend asked me to download this for him on Kazaa but I don't remember ever doing it. 100s of tiny sins such as these litter my life, although that guy was evil.
This. Is. Stadium. Rock. The riffs and solos slap. The vocals are strong. It was so loud live. It just feels BIG! I love it. Every song here is great! Liked Songs: The whole album
This one's made me play the guitar
Memorable riffs, a driving rhythm, bangers up and down the tracklist…it’s one of the all-time great rock albums.
This album fuckin' cooks! 'Back in Black' one of the very best crunchy guitar riffs in Rock 'n Roll history. A real solid listen front to back. And considering this was recorded in 1980 it all sounds so timeless. A no-brainer this is included on the list.
I am a fan of AC/DC, both Bon Scott and Brian Johnson versions. While I prefer Bon AC/DC, this is truly an incredible album and probably AC/DC's best overall album. There are so many amazing songs here it is practically a greatest hits album in itself. The fact they put all of this together after Bon Scott's death is incredible. This is also the first album I ever owned and I practically wore the grooves out on that vinyl. This is a slam dunk 5 for me.
Perfect Friday energy. 🤘🏼👊🏼🖤
Classic. Used in the Gap Jean Ads with Audrey Hepburn
AC/DC only have one trick, but they are the absolute best at that trick.
Difficult to rate. On the other hand it's incredibly played. The rhythm section is otherworldly in their groove and elevates every song. But the album also lacked that one song that takes you by surprise. It is rock solid rock and roll from start to finish and I might be weird holding that against it. This leaves me right between a 4 and a 5. Struggling. What pushes me to round it up, is the production. I never realized before that THIS is the sound of rock and roll for me. Massive guitars, natural and roomy drums, bass holding the low end down. It just works and has not aged a day. Might just be that I'm on a good mood today, but this will the first 5 I'll give out. Well deserved.
The most classic of classic rock
classic, i grew up on ACDC
You Shook Me All Night Long is one of my all time favorite rock songs. Just for that I might give it a 5 but honestly it's a really good album and there's no denying its ifluence.
One of the most iconic hard rock records ever. From the opening toll of “Hells Bells” to the swagger of “Shoot to Thrill” and the immortal title track, this is pure riff-driven power. Angus Young’s guitar work is razor-sharp, the grooves are relentless, and Johnson’s vocals sound like gravel soaked in whiskey—perfect for the band’s raw energy. It’s lean, loud, and unapologetically heavy. An absolute monster that defined an era and still shakes walls today.
3 stars for the album, 2 additional stars awarded for being Australian.
The best.
What can even be added
some of the most rockin solos and guitar riffs ever
No notes, perfect
No lo terminé de escuchar y ya sé que van las 5 estrellas. Álbum del remil carajo. Rocanrol total. 9/10
This is my favorite AC/DC album, so how you thinking I might rate this beast?!?!
I was a good album. I liked it more than I thought I would. Kings of simple drum beat, cool guitar part. Had some classics in there
A classic.
Flawless
There is no such thing as an objective review.
YES. All killer, no filler.
Imagine being on your death bed surrounded by friends and family. You have made peace with the reality of your eminent death. You had a full life. A good life. You are comforting all the sad faces around you with a smile it's a special smile the kind that appears on your face when you have resigned yourself to the inevitable when all of a sudden you hear a car parking in front of your home another visitor you think as you hear the opening riffs of Back In Black... You get a second wind and ask your sad faced nephew what was that glorious sound that was coming from his car just now and demand that he plays it right now, so of course he does and as AC DC's magnum opus is blasting you wonder how it's possible that you never heard this glorious noise until now at the very end of your life and you hang on as no way you are dying without hearing the entire album. Some 42 minutes later as Rock and Roll Aint Noise Pollution nears its end you feel great relief that you got to hear such sonic perfection before you died and feel a tinge of sadness as you know that you won't be hearing it again at least not on this planet, you tell your nephew AGAIN! PLAY IT AGAIN... and he does and you smile the kind of smile that a man only gets to wear a few times in life as you take your last gasp.
Hells Bells!! Back In Black!! You Shook Me All Night Looooooong!! Love this album
So many classic hard rock songs on one album. Two of my core music memories involve ACDC and I think it, regardless if the messaging is overwhelmingly misogynistic, I will always have a soft spot for this band. Core memory one - 1991 at the bus stop, Cory Young has a walkman and a cassette of The Razors Edge. When I asked what is that you are listening to? He removed his headphones and played me Thunderstruck. That was my introduction to hard rock and ACDC. That same Christmas Eve. Playing pool with my cousin in your grandparents basement. Big Balls came on. She turned up the radio and I got introduced to pre- Brian Johnson ACDC.
3/5
When 9 out of 10 songs on the album are fantastic, it makes it a perfect album.
Decisamente ad oggi uno degli album piu ascoltati dai patiti del Rock, con canzoni che hanno lanciato il gruppo verso il successo come appunto Back in Black o Hells Bells, sempre potente, sempre deciso e mai lento o eccessivo, il rock nella sua pura semplicità
I know not all of these are popular, but this has always been one of my favorites! Fun and silly, I love it!
I mean Back In Black is classic AC/DC. I prefer the Bon Scott albums but this is definitely Brian Johnson at his best. I think there is a lot of Bon Scott influence on this album being that he was working on it before his death. It's just good hard rock at a point that AC/DC was at their best. They had a good run up into the 90's but Back In Black and Highway To Hell were probably their peak. I don't know why but I find Brian Johnson a bit cheesier than Bon Scott, maybe it was because Scott had a bit more humor in his songs. Great album either way.
So good
This review I’ve really been stewing on for several days. Here’s the simplified pros and cons. Pro: one of the greatest rock albums of all time easily, this is easily their biggest album of their career with the most hits and being the most culturally relevant album of theirs, and it’s even a no skip album. The con: and this is a big one but it has the second best AC/DC lead singer and that’s what hurts this album the most. I’m not pretending like I don’t love brian Johnson, I do love him he is the shit. But it’s just so hard to give this album a perfect 5 when it’s missing their best singer and it’s the FIRST album after replacing Bob Scott. So it’s genuinely hard to decide on which way this should go. It’s definitely a 4 or 5 but it’s hard to say which. I guess just because this is probably AC/DC’s most well rounded and most broadly appealing album of theirs it deserves the 5. But I will say my favorite songs of theirs are definitely the Bon Scott ones.
The definition of hard rock.
Great album, lots of energy!
A classic, what else can be said? Truly an album to listen to before you die :-)
I've heard this album a million times. But not for years and not with a critical ear. As always, there's interesting history behind this record. First one after the death of Bon Scott, the first with new singer Brian Johnson. It had to do something big. It was make or break time. They fucking delivered. Angus and Malcolm are certified riff kings. But I didn't realize they were such hook writers. Were they always this way with Bon Scott? Yes? Sort of? I don't know. It's just that everything not only kicks ass, but it's fucking CATCHY too! There are so many song hooks! There's so much energy! I always thought it was just a kickass AC/DC album. Now I consider it a rock masterpiece.
They only do that one thing, but damn, they do it right.
Die einzige Band wo‘s cool ist dass alle Songs gleich klingen :D die unbekannten sind fast geiler als die bekannten
6/5. Metal!
not a rock guy but this was peak
\m/
Even better than I remembered. Everything after this is downhill, but Back in Black really is a near flawless classic rock album and only slightly less great than Highway. The only time Brian’s voice doesn’t annoy me.
Just for the fact it is not Kid Rock.
Cream of the crop!
Ive always liked this album, some great bangers in there. Glad it got recommend to listen to.
Rock excellence.
A sledgehammer great riffs power packed and well muscled
The essence of rock
The only negative is that I won't be discovering any new music today.
Probably the best ac/dc album
Brilliant, old school rock at it's very best.
Every song is good
No band has ever committed harder to the simple ethos of sex, booze and rock and roll. Partying. An easy breezy low-stakes album stuffed with bangers, this one. It reminds me of eating cereal and reading comics for some reason.
So many big hits on one album
This record kicks so much ass.
Fun and rocky rawness
I was thinking this would be an easy 3.5/4 stars, but it’s so good that would be selling it short. I’m not necessarily a metal guy but this is one of those albums that I don’t think anyone can deny how good it is… 5 stars.
I mean, there's nothing on here that's going to detract from a 5 star review. It's classic AC/DC, sounds great and there's not a bad song on the album. My only issue is that I've heard "You Shook Me All Night Long" too many times. Its a me thing and not something I'll slag the band for. "What Do you Do for Money Honey" and "Have A Drink On Me" are the stand out non single album tracks here. Just a great group of songs, by a band at their peak.
I mean if there is one AC/DC to get a 5 star rating it is "Back in Black" and maybe "The Razors Edge"....
Rarely a miss on this album. Fun all round listen. Fave track: Shoot to Thrill
Duh. Five stars 💯
Amazing!!
This is the first time I've heard this album by myself and by choice. It rocks. I used to be team Iron Maiden, but I'm beyond that now. Another one to add to the vinyl collection.
Exceptional album by the legends and arguably their best, every song hits hard, energy is at full throughout the length of the album. Simply very good.
Most AC/DC albums have a handful of absolute bangers, and a handful of filler. On their first post-Bon Scott album, the band forgot to add any filler. Every songs on this one is a hard rock classic.
There is not much more I can say that hasn't already been said about this record. So classic!
Wait. All of these songs were on the SAME ALBUM?! Talk about in the pocket. 5 Stars ... essential. I can't believe it took me until now to hear the Creedence parallels.
Never been a rock person but I do believe this is a classic. Very fun listening
That's an easy five. Stellar debut for Brian Johnson. Hell's Bells, You Shook Me..., Rock and Roll... These three in particular are magnificent. The title track ain't half bad either. But there isn't a bad track on the album. Hats off to Johnson for following such a legend - and measuring up to him.
One of the greatest rock albums of all time
No notes for the record. I saw them once in a smallish venue in Iowa, with some of my closest friends. During a blizzard. Epic.
Este álbum tiene tantos hits que debo haber escuchado la mayoría sin darme cuenta. es un álbum icónico del hard rock lleno de energía y un estilo formulaico sin apologías. La batería sostiene un beat sencillo, acentuando algunos golpes necesarios con los platillos, mientras el bajo sostiene líneas sobre la división tocadas con púa, para que las guitarras toquen sus riffs y solos por encima y el cantante trace sus letras (en general bastante machistas y carentes de mucha profundidad). Pero la cuestión es que la fórmula funciona, a la perfección. El sonido y la calidad del groove son excelentes. Y el hecho de que hayan encontrado un vocalista que pueda cantar con el timbre y la agresividad adecuada, saliendo del luto de la muerte de su cantante anterior para producir uno de los álbumes más vendidos del mundo, le da mucha significancia histórica. Si uno quiere escuchar 40 minutos de puro hard rock del bueno este álbum no falla en ningún aspecto, es, para lo que promete ser, de lo mejor que hay.
Ok. Best in class, without a doubt. Losing Bon Scott would have stopped most bands, but not ACDC. This album is classic from track one to the end. Is it the impetus for Spinal Tap? Maybe. But who the fuck cares? When you want to crank it to 11. When you want misogynistic lyrics the girls at the party will sing along too, who are you plating on that turntable? Yes, I was a high school punk when it came out. And yes, it still spins at home at least once a week at Medicare age. And I'm not even a metalhead. Sometimes you just want power chords that shake your balls/ovaries. And the Young bro's deliver.
Meu primeiro album do acdc
This is in my top 10 albums of all time. I've listened to this more than almost any other album I have, other than some Beatles albums. I can play this entire album in my head.
Awesome album, brings back fond memories
Yes, the lyrics are a bit misogynistic but it’s over 40 years old and was never about the lyrics. Every song is a banger, has to be 5/5.
- Boven mijn relatief hoge verwachtingen - 2 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 0 nummer al toegevoegd aan MMMM
This album is fully coded into my genome so I may not be the most unbiased opinion when I say it's why electricity was invented.
When I think of what rock music should sound like, the guitar tones from this album are the first thing that come to mind.
This might be the greatest rock album of all time. At least, the most notorious / impactful. It sounds cheesy because they built the model and were endlessly copied. But noone gets the distinct mix of pop style writing and catchy music that is LOUD. It is still stunning to this day that this was the first album after the death of Bon Scott.
This is like a greatest hits album
was good
.....and in roars Brian Johnson......and also one of the bestselling metal albums of all time. Following the death of Bon Scott, it was hard to imagine the band capturing that lightning in a bottle twice. They certainly proved it to be possible with this one.
Rock n Roll at its finest
What's not to love?
An absolute classic that knocks your socks off today.
let me cut your cake with my knife
I mean, what can one say? Is this the greatest rock album ever made? Quite possibly.