HeavyJamming Reviews (2025)

20/02/2023

17/02/2023

Only whole albums I own.
AC DC (w/ Brian Johnson) - Back In Black

Before the age-old question “What came first, the chicken or the egg?” appeared (at least in my little early teenage years) we spent hours pondering who was the better AC DC frontman, Bon Scott or Brian Johnson. If you are not in the Bon Scott camp you probably know an overwhelming number of fans who are. These fans would also rather die than budge an inch toward Brian Johnson.

However, for the vast majority of my generation, the punch in the face that would juggernaut us into AC DC fandom came with Back In Black. The force behind that punch might have been Angus Young but the fist was all Brian Johnson and his high-pitched gravely howl.

When we finally had a chance to shout our reverence back at Angus and Co in various concert halls around this planet it was Brian Johnson at the helm. Brian’s tip-toe dance bending forward while sliding his newsboy cap into place, along with that big ol’ grimacing grin on his face screaming hurricane-force winds into his microphone, will always remain iconic images of an AC DC show.

While Malcolm and the boys kept that steady beat and rhythm blasting like a well-oiled machine, the interplay between Angus and Brian gave us the show of our lives. As the eye of Angus’ storm, Brian kept those whirling winds centered and always gave Angus a pole to return to. Angus was the star, but Brian proved himself his worthy MC. Like a fine-tuned team they created a perfect equilibrium, order balancing chaos. Brian’s Yang to Angus’ Yin with fluid boundaries.

Back In Black catapulted AC DC to superstardom and remains to this date the second best-selling album of all time, surpassed only by Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Achieving that with limited radio airplay is no easy feat. However, the album stands the test of time with not a single bad note played. Back In Black shines as one of the greatest band efforts ever recorded.

Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams, and Phil Rudd driving that rhythm, Angus tearing it up with his
guitar onslaught, and the iconic voice of Brian Johnson piercing your mind. He’s gonna get ya!