With the release of "Highway To Hell" in 1979, a much wider audience felt the strong power of AC/DC, especially in mainstream America where this album of party anthems became the bands second biggest seller("Back In Black" being the first.) "Highway To Hell" would also be the final AC/DC record to feature the inimitable lead vocalist Bon Scott, who died tragically less than a year later.
High profile English rock producer, Eddie Kramer, was originally tapped to the project. But during the early stages, AC/DC and Kramer couldn't reach a meeting of minds about recording methods. So 70's "New Wave" novice producer, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, was soon recruited, and the ultimate success of "Highway To Hell" led to it being the first of three consecutive major AC/DC albums being produced by Lange.
AC/DC's attack, lift and locomotion still fueled "Highway To Hell", but Lange taught the boys to not rage so much at the end of their songs and gave the album a bit of spit polish, boosting the mid-range decibels a bit, which was evident in Phil Rudd's drumming. But Lange primary contribution was not on Angus and Malcolm's already powerful guitars, that needed no changing but Bon's lead vocals and the hearty gang choruses sung by Malcolm and Cliff.

1.An instant hard rock classic, the albums title track, "Highway To Hell" is the albums main piece of work. Branded as an ode to Satan by the unenlightened, it is actually a metaphor for the band's first ever tour in the United States. With the recognisable, heavy riff, and the gang choruses, "Highway To Hell" is one of AC/DC's best piece of work. It is shaped by the bluesy, yet high pitched scream of Bon's vocals, the savage and infectious guitar work by Angus and co. and Phil's perfected, tight drumming. But the solo is a bit short, not the best of what Angus can do. 9.75/10

2.Paced by the jaunty riff by Angus, "Girls Got Rhythm" is another AC/DC classic. Running at 3:23 the short but sweet song is perfected by Angus' weeping solo and Bon's leering, powerful vocals. And how could you forget the choruses, shouted by Malcolm and Cliff. 9/10

3.With its mad tempo shifts, "Walk All Over You" is a prime slice of underrated AC/DC, shaped by Angus and Malcolm's heavy swing of their incomparable guitar savagery. As the song is pushed past the red line, Angus' virtuoso runs smothers notes as Bon keeps pace with a melodic rant. 8.5/10

4."Touch Too Much" starts with a slow, jaunty riff and kicks into gear half way through the first verse when Bon's voice begins to pick up. This is an AC/DC jewel that builds to exclamatory closing choruses. 9/10

5."Beating Around The Bush" starts with a loosely grounded guitar riff and the drunk vocals of Bon. This is another chestnut that seduces the listener with Bon's lyrical pearls only to have you knocked away by the instrumental juggernaut that is AC/DC's stomp that happily kicks you into submission. 8/10

6.To this day, "Shot Down In Flames" is an overpowering concert rocker that captures the late frontman at his downright best. Bon lures the listener into the scorned advances of a bloke, ("Out on the town.Looking for a woman/Gonna give me good love") Angus crowns this quite amazing track with a fret cannoned solo, as well as he does on other AC/Dc jewels. 9.5/10

7.Running in at 2:34, "Get It Hot" is just another excuse to just dance and party. This song really shows the sound of Phil's powerful drums. And the riff is quite incredible and so is the short but sweet solo from Angus. 8.25/10

8.The frenetic and crazed rocker, "If You Want Blood(You Got It) is another riff fest by AC/DC. Perfected by the choruses and the solo by Angus, this song is another example of a song that builds to another anthemic closing chorus. When Bon sings, "If You want Blood" followed by the hearty, "You Got It" by Malcolm and Cliff chills run down your spine. 9/10

9.The weakest and softest song on the album, "Love Hungry Man" may be a filler but is a good enough song for this album. Every album has it's weak spot. It may start off slow and finish with some great choruses but yet this song could have been a bit
harder. 7.25/10

10.The dark imagery of, "Night Prowler" embodies slow-drag blues. It's heavy and oddly humorous. The foreboding vocals of Bon are perfectly complemented by Angus' menacing, emotive, weeping solos. Immediately after the song ends and the buzz of the guitars has faded, Bon breaks the savage meaning of the song with the out of character line, "Shazbot Nano-Nano" from Robin Williams' TV show, Mork And Mindy. 9.5/10

"Highway To Hell" is simply an album by rock musicians of the highest order. It is also one of the albums that many people discovered the hard rocking quintet with and have earned the respect and admiration of many generations and hopefully generations to come.

Praised by us AC/DC afficianados for it's song variety, artistic expression and sonic and metallic sound, "Powerage" is a fine piece of AC/DC savagery. As the savage guitars state this album follows on from what the previous album, "Let There Be Rock" stated, heavy guitars and great vocals and lyrics. This album also marked the debut for English bassist, Cliff Williams, first time at the bass throne whose powerful, bass playing brought AC/DC's attack to the top. As they had done so masterfully on the other albums "Powerage" touches up on what this band usually, I mean, always sing about, alcohol, violence, rock 'n roll and SEX!!! what else. Well here's the songs one by one as I like to review them,

1.The bands shaking groove is evident on, "Rock 'n Roll Damnation" were tasty hand claps and touches of maracas firmly state that the boys are in a strutting mood. 8/10

2.With a taut arrangement, the emotional "Down Payment Blues," is when Bon's imapssioned singing and draining lyrics set a much darker mood. Humorously darker mood. ("I got myself a Cadillac but I can't afford the gasoline") are the sentiments only a man that really never had much money would croak. Angus Young's beautiffully crafted solo brings "Down Payment Blues" to a complete halt. 7/10

3.The loss of love are what's on mind in, "Gimme A Bullet," a mid tempo, jaunty laced rocker with the astounding notes of Cliff's bass guitar. But the real touch of, "Gimme A Bullet" is Angus, Malcolm's and Bon's narrative approach to heartbreak, it is correct and is hardly found in song, ("Gimme a bullet to bite on/Something to chew/Gimme a bullet to bite on/And I'll make believe, I'll make believe it's you") 8/10

4.The stirring intro riff to, "Riff Raff" is incredible, Angus' stirring guitar rises with Cliff's spilling bass to meet with Malcolm's accelerated rhythm, which abruptly shift into some neatly created power chords alternating with the Young's brothers legendary, trademark riffing. The band lays back for Bon's verses, then slams into a powerful, higher gear fueled by Angus' rampaging three solos. The song is an encore worthy piece of toe tapping work that I believe is one of their best ever. 9/10

5.Paced by Phil's signature drumming and the rhythm sections groove, "Sin City" relates to a gamblers lust for, ("Lamborghinis, caviar, dry martinis, shangri-la") in a hopeless place where, "Ladders give, snakes take") This skillfully arranged slice of AC/DC is alive with there elements like Angus' fingerboard flashing guitar, Cliff's bloodpumping, bass lines and Phil's gut busting drum's, which have made this song one of AC/DC's live performances. 8/10

6."What's Next To The Moon" is a rough, stream of violent work quite unlike any other AC/DC song. Accompanied by a patterned guitar riff merged through Phil's drumming, Bon recites some vicious work, ("Heavenly body flying cross the sky/Superman was out of town/Come on honey better change your tune/Cause it's a long way down)" Another unusual touch to this song occurs in the last verse when Bon, Malcolm and Cliff come together to sing for the verse. 8/10

7."Gone Shootin'" is a relaxed, loose styled arrangment that lopes into R&B punctuated by Angus' downright, weeping solo. 8/10

8."Up To My Neck In You" shows AC/DC in a more characteristic pounding rocker. With an old Chuck Berry like riff. The title is a Bon Scott double entendre. 8/10

9.To close proceedings, "Powerage ends in an overpowering, strong fashion with the savage, "Kicked In The Teeth." 8/10

This is an album that set AC/DC apart from any other band in 1978 and for all the future years. And saw them embark on their first American tour. It's then that America realised that, s**t this band is f**king awesome. I agree!

It's scary how one album has an impact on you. It just hits you in between the eyes and makes you realise, s**t this band is freakin' awesome! Well "Let There Be Rock" had a huge impact on me. Though I had loved AC/DC for months and months this made me realise the Bon Scott era was better than the Brian Johnson era. When I started loving them they were way past my time. I was a 12 year old that hated the new music. It bored me to tears but AC/DC were new in my books, they were not like anything I had ever heard, it blew my f**king mind. Now I'm 13 and have got all there CD's and DVD's and idolise Angus Young and copy his every move with a guitar in my hands. But this album was louder and harder than the others. This had studio chatter before songs and testing chords and the others really didn't have that. And this had a biblical cover. And had a biblical song. Well rock n' roll biblical of course. But anyways here's the songs that blew my mind:

1.A very hard and bluesy approach to start the album, "Go Down" is a song describing his girl called, Ruby, (Ruby, Ruby, where you been so long/Done took to drinking whisky/Baby since you been gone/Ain't no one I know do it as good as you!") And then there's the shrill, spoken vocals after the solo, ("Oh baby, rub it on.") The solo shows why Angus is one of the most underrated guitarists ever. 8/10

2.With a lyrical approach that just shows how well Angus, Malcolm and Bon can write, "Dog Eat Dog" is a song that George Thorogood would envy. ("Well it's a Dog eat dog/Eat cat too/It's a french it frog/Or I eat you") as I said it really has some great lyrics. And some great guitar work by Angus and Malcolm. 8/10

3.The rock 'n roll bible is fortold in the next song, "Let There Be Rock" is once again a heavy song and the centrepiece for the album. Though they rage a bit at the ned of the song the lyrical matter is and vocal is perfectly told in this song. I mean sung. And then there's the scream, ("Let There Be Roooooccccckkkkkk!) 8/10

4.The blues bravado and bad boy romp of, "Bad Boy Boogie" is a great way to follow up on the biblical matter of, "Let There Be Rock." It is the earliest song for Angus to strip halfway through and is perfect for singing along to. ("It was the seventh day iwas the seventh son/And it scared the hell out of everyone") he then tells how he was always doing the opposite, ("They said stop and I said go/They said fast and I said slow/They said last and I said no!") then comes the scream, ("I do the bad boy boogie!") And of course there's the guitar savagery of Angus and co. 9/10

5."Problem Child" starts rockin' right from the word go and the lyrics and the vocal performance have made this song one of the best on the album. ("I am hot and when I'm not I'm cold as ice/Get outta my way, Just step aside or pay the price") It's a violent 5:24 minute trip and the solo takes the song to the top, it is a strutter and slips perfectly into this song. 9/10

6.With a few testing chords to start proceedings and then the godly guitars kick. But even the testing chords will blow your mind, they're just so metallic and hard. "Overdose" is a powerful song that lasts the journey of 6:09 mins and just builds into the most powerful song on the album. ("I overdosed on you!") Bon screams at the full power of his incredible voice. 9/10

7.With a simple Chuck Berry riff and once again a great lyrical grit, "Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be" may sound like a hell ode but really is a song about a woman that's hell but is a great thing to love. ("She needs love/Love from a man/She's gotta see/She pours my beer/Licks my ear/Brings out the devil in me!") then comes the sentiment, ("Hell Ain't a Bad Place To Be!") 9/10

8.Then comes the closer, another Chuck Berry riff and the best lyrics on the album. Based on Bon's infamous sexual conquest with a big woman called, you guessed it, "Rosie", "Whole Lotta Rosie" was a song that was huge in England. Not a hit but was good enough to make AC/DC very popular. "Gonna tell you a story/'Bout a woman I know/Ah, It comes to lovin'/She steals the show/She ain't exactly pretty/Ain't exactly small/42-49-56/You could say she got it all!") as I said the lyrics are precise, sexually precise of course and it touches up on what they sing about the best. SEX! 9/10

As you can see the albumreally doesn't have a dead song. It's just pretty much a straight-forward hard rock album with a metallic sheen added to it. Yeah, you can waste your time on the angry emo and s**t like that or spend your time listening to the greatest hard rock band.

In an era when it's hard to see(or hear) an exciting, fun, idiotic rock band The Darkness have done extremely well. They play simple, addictive 70's rock with some early 80's metal. They've got AC/DC and Thin Lizzy inspired riffs, their album's back and front cover are hilariously misogynist much like Whitesnake's Lovehunter, and they've got a singer that struts around on stage with a white Les Paul, wears flamboyant, chest bearing, Freddie Mercury like catsuits. Oh and there's that voice of his. An ear splitting falsetto that sets them apart from every other band of this day and age. Though some people think they are just a joke, taking the p*ss like Spinal Tap and Zodiac Mindwarp did all those years ago, but when you hear their ferocious riffs, their attitude, how hard their lead singer, Justin Hawkins, trys to impress you, you are then hit very hard between your eyes with the realisation that these guys mean business. And they'll have a lot of fun along the way.
They're just like the rock n' roll dog. You can kick it around, call it a mongrel, tease it, but when it bites back it bites harder than anything you've ever felt before and makes you sting like hell. But enough about them, what about the album. Freakin' awesome. Well here we go, this is my review on their album, song by song.

1."Black Shuck" opens the album in a hard rock style with a hard AC/DC riff married with some infectiously, bombastic lyrics, inspired by Ronnie James from Dio and Iron Maiden, as Justin sings about a hell hound from their hometown of Lowestoft("That don't give a f**k!") It may sound as laughable as Spinal Tap's "Stonehenge", but when you here Hawkins growl, "A nimbus of blue light surrounds a crimson paw/As he takes another fatal swipe/At the Blytheburgh Church door!" it's hard to resist. And when he punctuates the song with a silly "Woof!" at the end, well, I guess it's worth a laugh. A rock n' roll laugh. 9/10

2.The first 15 seconds of "Get Ypur Hands Off My Woman" shows all the fake rockers how to do it right, drummer Ed Graham and bassist Frankie Poullain begin with an intro that like an engine idling, then comes a two second rock 'n roll scream and then Dan's, Frankie's and Ed's explosion kicks into full gear, just a full throttle blast of unadulterated, fun rock, riff ramalama, sounds like it's just come straight out of 1980. His lyrics are hilarious, making him sound like a metalhead that's just stood up to the plate to defend his woman. He sings, "I've got no right to lay claim to her frame/She's not my possession" then adding, "You c**t" but in a sprawl of sweat and falsetto indulgence, he decides to screw the sentiment and screams, "Get Your Hands Off My Woman motherfuuuckkkkkkerrr!" Habits like that die very quickly. But he then tops this already great song he screams at the end, "Get Your Hands off my woman motherfuuuuuuuuuuuuccckkkkeeeerrrr!" and holds the motherf**ker for a three second piece of a funfilled riff fest. 10/10

3.A very upbeat song that grooves and struts it's way through 3:31 of rock that Van Halen would really wish they could pull off again. With some witty lines like, "I Wanna Banish You From whence you came!" this song was gonna be a hit judging from it's grooving riffing and singing. 8/10

4."I Believe In A Thing Called Love" is an AC/DC riff fused with Queen and a really hopping solo from Dan. It once again is a very upbeat song with some struttingly, high falsetto from Justin. 10/10

5.Get your high lighters it's ballad time, and geez The Darkness know how to pull a solo off. With some Zeppelinesque acoustic coda and the backing vocals that stay on the fun side of cheesy, "Love Is Only A Feeling" may have a negative title but is the perfect ballad fro an album. And of course there's the sentiment, ("I have seen, I have touched, I have tasted and I've truly believed/THat the light of my life would tear a hole right through each cloud that scudded by/Just to beam on you and I") 9/10

6.A very jaunty and hopping piece of rock/pop, the heroin song, "Givin' Up" is another great edition to this album. Though it loses a bit of steam at the end, it makes up for it with the anthemic chorus. 8/10

7.This is a great bluesy hell of a song. "Stuck In A Rut" is one of the best on the alum. With some simple yet effective riffing, some great solos and devilish singing and laughter, this blues feast is another great song for this already great album. 9/10

8.Justin and the gang prove on "Friday Night" that rockstars were once geeks to on this Cure meets Peter Frampton like half rocker, half ballad as he sings, ("We induldged in all the extra curricular activities/We weren't particularly cool") then he reveals what them activities are, (Monday cycling/Tuesday gymnastics/Dancing on a Friday night/I got bridge club on Wednesday/Archery on Thursday/Dancing on A Friday night!") Then Justin delivers the payoff line of the album, ("Oh the way she moves me/To right bad poetry!") a line that no one has dared to put on a song. 9/10

9.The hardest on the album and the song that really shows the 80's metal, "Love On The Rocks With No Ice" is a f**king hard ballad that has the greatest love shout ever, ("Lllllaaaahhhuuuuuvvvv on the rock/You do anything for a quiet life/Llllaaaaahhhhuuuuuvvvvv on the rocks/Love on the rocks with no ice!") And of course there's the solos. Three. One after the first chorus, one after the second and one at the end. 9/10

10.Then there's the closer. Another ballad that mines the best work from Boston, Peter Frampton and The Scorpions is about having alone time. With some great guitar work, this is a song that rarely gets played on stage. It's an underrated piece of work. 8/10
As you can tell, there's not a dud on the album. Maybe it's because I'm a huge fan. Or maybe it's because they're reliving the rock that was lost when a disturbed, angry grunge rocker by the name of Kurt Cobain and his band of, er, merry man? changed the face of music and Gen X took over the musical world. People that wanna go crazy to hard rock and have a good time will love this album. Unless you can't stand his voice,(Bulls**t.) But then if you like to be angry and wanna have a good time on complaint music, go ahead, waste your time, when you can listen to rock that will put a smile to you face, make you wanna get up and strap on an air guitar and put on your falsetto voice. Your choice. I made my decision!