Power Up | metalsouth

Thundermother and AC/DC are frequently mentioned in the same sentence, not only by us, but also in various music media. Thundermother seems to be happy with the comparison to AC/DC, but has managed to use the inspiration to create their own sound. Thundermother’s release Heat Wave (AFM Records) on 31 July 2020 came storming in, was welcomed with great reviews and made us old AC/DC fans happy, i.e. someone takes pride in carrying the tradition into the future. Only a few months later rumors about a new AC/DC album started to get around. Then marketing signs stating ‘PWR UP’ started to show up all over the Globe. 13 Nov. 2020 AC/DC released its 17th studio album the phenomenal Power Up (Columbia, Sony Music). In a year of global hardship, we salute these two bands, which spread excellent hard rock, happiness and health.

To note is that Thundermother performs live tonight (Thursday, 18 Dec. 2020) in Swedish TV show, Musikhjälpen (Music Aid) to help collect money in the name of ‘no-one shall be left without health care, your music saves lives’. Take the opportunity to contribute, wish music or participate in Thundermother’s own collection and competition.

Speaking of competition, the metalsouth ‘A C D C P W R U P’ still life picture, recently posted, was one of three AC/DC fan actions nationally (via Facebook) awarded by Sony Music Sweden. Happily received the prize was the Power Up album (red vinyl) and a really cool AC/DC PWR UP hat. Thanks to Sony Music Sweden for the prize, which is heavily appreciated.

Please, note that after our latest post on the Power Up Album it has received excellent and more correct reviews like in Rock’n’Roll Magazine, Issue #1/2021, page 41, 4 of 5 and Sweden Rock Magazine, issue #11/2020, page 78, 8 of 10.

Finally, let us wish Thundermother good luck tonight and forward hopes of more future releases from two happiness spreading bands.

**Thundermother,** **KB, Malmö, 17 March, 2018**.

**AC/DC,** Friends Arena, Solna, 19 July, 2015.

In hard times the search for the positive is important. All of a sudden something happens that helps you to scatter heavy thoughts and reminds you to smile and laugh again. It was not really expected for an old AC/DC fan like myself…been there since the start in 1973…that a new album would be released. Brian Johnson, Phil Rudd, Cliff Williams are all unexpectedly back and Stevie Young is there again taking the place of the deeply missed Malcolm Young, who passed away in 2017. Angus Young gives the impression to never retire and will surely produce AC/DC riffs in one form or the other.

In connection to the recent release, I read some reviews in Swedish media with only a few really good beats of ‘Shot In The Dark’ from the Power Up album (Columbia, Nov. 13, 2020) in mind. The grading of 1-5, normally, or 1-10, messes up my expectations of the album and the ones I read gave only 3 of 5 with rather uninspired comments. These reviews give a feeling that the album has not been listened through enough times to form the base of a fair review. It has also been interesting to follow the marketing campaign of the album on social media and Brian Johnson in one clip explains that the main reason of the album is ‘to create some happiness, laughs and pay tribute to Malcolm’.

In that sense, this is a top album with a top-top score from metalsouth. It creates happiness, gives a lot of laughs and brings forward the positivism now heavily needed. The sound is technically perfect and the songs are without order all worth to listen through…at high volume. Thanks to the AC/DC boys for the hard work, which now creates hope for better times. Mission accomplished!

metalsouth

Metalsouth in Helsingborg, Sweden.

Tag Archives: Power Up

Hard rock, happiness and health!

A C D C P W R U P