vinylfanatics.com

**AC/DC - Flick Of The Switch: Lightning Strikes Twice, But Dimmer**

In the grand pantheon of AC/DC's thunderous catalog, "Flick of the Switch" stands as a curious beast – a stripped-down, back-to-basics affair that arrived at perhaps the most pivotal moment in the band's history. Released in August 1983, this ninth studio album found the Australian hard rock titans attempting to recapture their raw essence while simultaneously proving they could survive without the larger-than-life presence that had defined their previous era.

The backstory reads like rock and roll mythology. Following the tragic death of Bon Scott in 1980, AC/DC had remarkably bounced back with "Back in Black," featuring new vocalist Brian Johnson. That album became a commercial juggernaut, eventually selling over 50 million copies worldwide and cementing AC/DC's status as arena rock royalty. Its follow-up, "For Those About to Rock We Salute You" (1981), maintained the momentum with its cannon-blasting anthems and stadium-sized hooks. But by 1983, the band felt the weight of expectation and the creeping influence of '80s production trends threatening to dilute their primal power.

Enter "Flick of the Switch," an album that sounds like it was recorded in a garage compared to its polished predecessors. The Young brothers – Angus on lead guitar and Malcolm on rhythm – made a conscious decision to strip away the layers of studio wizardry that had characterized their recent output. Gone were the backing vocals, the orchestral flourishes, and the pristine production sheen. In their place emerged a leaner, meaner AC/DC that harked back to their pub rock origins while showcasing Brian Johnson's increasingly confident vocal delivery.

Musically, the album represents AC/DC at their most elemental. The guitar work is characteristically razor-sharp, with Angus delivering his trademark solos with surgical precision while Malcolm provides the rhythmic backbone that could level buildings. Phil Rudd's drumming is economical yet devastating, each hit landing with the force of a sledgehammer. Johnson's vocals, meanwhile, have evolved from the slightly uncertain newcomer of "Back in Black" to a fully integrated member of the AC/DC machine, his raspy delivery perfectly complementing the band's no-nonsense approach.

The album's standout tracks showcase different facets of the band's streamlined approach. "Nervous Shakedown" opens proceedings with a menacing groove that builds tension like a coiled spring before exploding into one of their most underrated choruses. The title track, "Flick of the Switch," demonstrates AC/DC's ability to make simplicity sound effortless, its main riff a masterclass in economy and power. "Landslide" rumbles with geological force, while "Guns for Hire" delivers the kind of working-class anthem that made the band heroes to blue-collar audiences worldwide. Perhaps most impressive is "Deep in the Hole," which finds the band exploring slightly darker territory without sacrificing their essential DNA.

However, the album's greatest strength – its stripped-down approach – also proves to be its weakness. While the raw production serves the songs well, it sometimes feels almost too sparse, lacking the dynamic range that made classics like "Highway to Hell" and "Back in Black" so compelling. Some tracks blur together in a haze of similar tempos and structures, suggesting that perhaps a bit more variety wouldn't have gone amiss.

In the context of AC/DC's career, "Flick of the Switch" occupies a unique position. It lacks the raw charisma and tragic romance of "Highway to Hell," Bon Scott's final statement and arguably the band's creative peak. It also falls short of matching "Back in Black's" perfect storm of accessibility and aggression, an album that somehow managed to be both a tribute to their fallen frontman and a declaration of survival. Where those albums feel essential, "Flick of the Switch" feels more like a statement of intent – admirable, but not quite transcendent.

Today, "Flick of the Switch" endures as a fascinating footnote in AC/DC's story, a reminder that even legends sometimes need to step back and remember what made them special in the first place. While it may not have achieved the commercial heights of its predecessors, selling a relatively modest 4 million copies, it represents AC/DC at their most honest and uncompromising. For fans seeking the band's purest distillation of power and attitude, "Flick of the Switch