Review Summary: A rock classic re-imagined, and I’m not even mad: this is awesome.
I’m pretty sure all of us know AC/DC’s iconic seventh album,
Back In Black. It was the band’s first album featuring Brian Johnson as their new singer, and it was one of the biggest rock releases in the ‘80s. Approaching such a famous album with the intention of squeezing something “new” out from it might seem as a risky venture, but ten bands were brave enough and managed to put together an exceptionally fun and entertaining album.
Magnetic Eye Records is a label dedicated to bring doom, psychedelia and stoner rock to all ears, and they coordinate this series through inviting several different bands all around the globe to translate some classic releases for the music enthusiasts in the new millennia. This time,
Back in Black (Redux) was on the menu, and went through a some sort of “modernization” as it became a stoner / doom release. The redux starts with probably the darkest song from the entire tracklist, as Red Fang turned “Hells Bells” into metal, by introducing menacing guitar tones combined with Bryan Giles’ raspy vocals. Some other bands didn’t change the given songs this drastically (like The Supersuckers, Smoking Lighting), but it is unquestionable fact the album took a far heavier turn. After Red Fang’s performance, the redux’s other stars were arguably Philadelphia's Heavy Temple and Besvärjelsen from Sweden, perfectly placed in the middle of the album. Heavy Temple marvelously turned “Let Me Put My Love Into You” into an gorgeous heavy metal ballad (the vocal duet is especially exciting!). Right after that came Besvärjelsen’s performance with the most drastic and at the same time the most exciting moment during the redux. They re-imagined the title track into a cathartic doom piece, flowing slowly but delivering some punch (those riffs sound really thick), accompanied by Lea Amling Alazam’s bit soul-ish and sexy vocals. In the remaining parts also held some surprise, when Pittsburgh’s Jakethehawks dropped a really Alice In Chain-alike cover of “You Shook Me All Night Long'', or when Whores. turned down the tempo and performed their fuzz-soaked version of “Have a Drink on Me”. The remaining two bands finished the album in a really bluesy way, which was really pleasant way.
Even if you never wondered how would
Back In Black sounded more metal, this redux is definitely a noteworthy effort to reinterpret the rock classic. It is highly recommended for not just the die-hard AC/DC fans, but for anyone who just wants to relax with an entertaining album. Let there be rock!
