AC/DC released Power Up on November 13, 2020, through Columbia Records. Their 17th studio album reunited singer Brian Johnson, bassist Cliff Williams and drummer Phil Rudd with guitarists Angus Young and Stevie Young. The lead single, “Shot In The Dark,” put that five-piece lineup back in front of fans ahead of the album.
By the end of the Rock or Bust tour in 2016, that reunion was far from assured. Johnson had left the road because of hearing loss, Williams had announced his retirement, and Rudd had missed the tour. Johnson told Rolling Stone that a hearing specialist had visited him repeatedly over several years to develop a device he could use. Once Johnson and Rudd were involved again, Williams wanted back in. “I didn’t want to miss that,” the bassist said.
Malcolm Young, who died in 2017, remained central to the music. Every song carried an Angus and Malcolm Young writing credit. Angus told Apple Music that the material reached back to writing sessions in 2007 and 2008, before Black Ice, when the brothers had accumulated more ideas than they could use on one record. Malcolm’s riffs, titles and lyric ideas helped shape the songs that the reunited band recorded. The opening track, “Realize,” offered a particularly clear example. Angus recalled in Classic Rock that Malcolm had played him the idea and sung the lyrics he had. Angus wished he’d recorded that moment, but the hook stayed with him well enough to develop the song later. Some material was nearly complete; other pieces still needed work. Angus also confirmed that no recordings of Malcolm’s actual playing were used.
The band began recording in Vancouver in August 2018 with Brendan O’Brien, who had produced Black Ice and Rock or Bust. Most of the work happened over six weeks, with further adjustments continuing into 2019. Angus explained that the backing tracks were recorded with the full band playing together. Johnson then worked closely with O’Brien on his vocals, trying additional takes when he felt a line could better match what its writer intended. Angus valued the producer’s own musical abilities, which helped him work through ideas with the band.
“Through The Mists Of Time” gave the tribute a more reflective setting. Angus described its imagery in terms of paintings, museums and the years the band had spent playing together. For Johnson, the association was more immediate. Discussing Malcolm with NPR in November 2020, he singled out the song and said, “I just see him.”
The album was largely finished before the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted its release plans. AC/DC eventually issued the 12-song record while live music remained heavily restricted, allowing the songs to reach listeners without waiting for a tour.
Power Up debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 117,000 equivalent album units in its opening U.S. week, including 111,000 album sales. It became AC/DC’s third album to top that chart.
