Back in Black [180 Gram Vinyl] AC/DC Artist

The first sound on {|Back in Black|} is the deep, ominous drone of church bells -- or {|Hell's Bells,|} as it were, opening the album and {|AC/DC|}'s next era with a fanfare while ringing a fond farewell to {|Bon Scott|}, their late lead singer who p... Read more

The first sound on {|Back in Black|} is the deep, ominous drone of church bells -- or {|Hell's Bells,|} as it were, opening the album and {|AC/DC|}'s next era with a fanfare while ringing a fond farewell to {|Bon Scott|}, their late lead singer who partied himself straight to hell. But this implies that {|Back in Black|} is some kind of tribute to {|Scott|}, which may be true on a superficial level -- black is a funeral cover, hell's bells certainly signify death -- but this isn't filled with mournful songs about the departed. It's a more fitting tribute, actually, since {|AC/DC|} not only carried on without him, but they delivered a record that to the casual ear sounds like the seamless successor to {|Highway to Hell|}, right down to how {|Brian Johnson|}'s screech is a dead ringer for {|Scott|}'s growl. Most listeners could be forgiven for thinking that {|Johnson|} was {|Scott|}, but {|Johnson|} is different than {|Bon|}. He's driven by the same obsessions -- sex and drink and {|rock & roll|}, basically -- but there isn't nearly as much malevolence in his words or attitude as there was with {|Scott|}. {|Bon|} sounded like a criminal, {|Brian|} sounds like a rowdy scamp throughout {|Back in Black|}, which helps give it a real party atmosphere. Of course, {|Johnson|} shouldn't be given all the credit for {|Back in Black|}, since {|Angus|} and {|Malcolm|} carry on with the song-oriented riffing that made {|Highway to Hell|} close to divine. Song for song, they deliver not just mammoth riffs but songs that are anthems, from the greasy {|Shoot to Thrill|} to the pummeling {|Back in Black,|} which pales only next to {|You Shook Me All Night Long,|} the greatest one-night-stand anthem in {|rock|} history. That tawdry celebration of sex is what made {|AC/DC|} different from all other {|metal|} bands -- there was no sword & sorcery, no darkness, just a rowdy party, and they never held a bigger, better party than they did on {|Back in Black|}. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine Less