Back in Black was one of the first great albums of the 1980’s being released in late July in 1980. It’s easily AC/DC’s best selling album, entering the record books with an incredible 42 million sales worldwide. The second best selling album in history, (second only to Michael Jackson’s album Thriller which to this day has flattened all other competition with a massive estimate of 108 million copies sold worldwide,) Back in Black entered the U.K and Australian album charts at #1, reaching only #4 in the U.S charts, despite becoming the fifth best selling album in U.S history.

The album cover isn’t what you’d call very lively or creative as you can see from above but, the idea of a black cover was said to be out of respect of the memory of Ronald “Bon” Scott due to his untimely death in his early thirties. The band actually considered disbanding after his death, lucky for them that they didn’t, seeing as they made about 100 million off it!! And I guess it’s for me too, otherwise I wouldn’t be bobbing my head to the song Back in Black as I’m typing this review. Despite the respect for Bon Scott in this album I don’t see any record of any songs in particular dedicated to him.

The tracks on the album dedicatedly stick to the rebellious kind of lyrics in the past six AC/DC albums. They also stick to their classic, signatory heavy Rock and Roll sound in albums like “Highway to Hell” for example. The song “Back in Black” itself is a brilliant little riff and one of the first I learned to play on guitar and still one of my favourites to this day. I would recommend listening to this song to just about anybody, I hardly know anyone who doesn’t love it.

The tracks themselves don’t really differ in any major way. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the album is boring or all that it’s the same kinda track ten times over, I’m just saying that all the tracks seem to stick to the same down-tuned sound. I would usually find this lack of range in album quite disappointing but  AC/DC somewhat redeemed themselves by using the opportunity to put in a lot of good guitar solos and some good riffs, the most notable of which is of course the track “Back in Black.”

The next best song on the album would, for me, have to be “Let Me Put My Love Into You” which I really enjoyed upon first hearing it. Although I must say I cringed a little when I first heard the title at the thought of a soppy AC/DC love song! But after I got over that thought I had a little chuckle at the tracks somewhat suggestive title. The track has a great riff to it and is similar to the cleverly titled and well written “Shoot to Thrill” (which I suppose if you have a dirty enough mind could be considered a suggestive title as well!) which as quite an addictive chorus even though the guitar-work could be improved a little at the start as it doesn’t really suit the good lyrics in the first verse. But AC/DC more than made up for this in the second part of “Shoot to Thrill” which is really quite an enjoyable listen.

As for “Hells Bells”, the albums opening track, it’s alright, the first part is quite strange but it does start lag in parts a little after that. “Shake a leg” is a much better , more AC/DCish song but isn’t quite as good “Back in Black”, “Let Me Put My Love Into You” or “Shoot to Thrill”.

All in all, if you enjoy heavy rock, then you will enjoy this album. As far as actually buying it goes, I would ask a few friends for a lend for it first. Well, with it being the second best selling album of all time you’re bound to now someone who has it! Overall though it’s a good enough album. The lack of variety is  disappointing but being made up for a little with some nice riffs. In my opinion the album is a bit overrated and probably gained so much popularity due to the death of Bon Scott, but is still worth a listen if you like classic rock or heavy rock in general.