AC/DC: Highway to Hell Album Review
AC/DC's Highway to Hell, released in 1979, is a seminal rock album that marked the band's breakthrough into global stardom. Musically, it embodies the band's raw, high-energy sound with powerful guitar riffs, driving rhythms, and Bon Scott's unmistakable raspy vocals. The album is straightforward rock ‘n’ roll, filled with bluesy grooves, power chords, and anthemic choruses that showcase the unique chemistry between the Young brothers (Angus and Malcolm) on guitar, and the solid rhythm section of Phil Rudd and Cliff Williams.
The album’s standout feature is its simplicity and unrelenting intensity. Songs like the title track, "Highway to Hell," are built around infectious guitar riffs and raw, no-frills production, courtesy of producer Mutt Lange. His contribution to the record cannot be understated, as his polish and attention to detail gave the band a more refined but still electrifying sound. Tracks like "Girls Got Rhythm" and "Touch Too Much" follow a similar pattern, blending Scott’s rebellious swagger with tightly constructed musical arrangements.
Despite the album’s energy and aggression, recording Highway to Hell wasn’t without struggles. The band had to balance the desire to maintain their raw, barroom brawler sound with Lange’s vision of making the songs more radio-friendly. It was also their last album with Bon Scott, who tragically died in February 1980. His distinctive voice and charisma, though fully realized on this record, would be lost just as the band was on the verge of major international success.
Highway to Hell became AC/DC’s first album to break into the U.S. Top 100, reaching No. 17 on the Billboard charts, a huge leap forward from their earlier work. Since its release, the album has sold over 9 million copies in the U.S. alone and more than 20 million worldwide. Its legacy as a hard rock masterpiece, full of gritty, rebellious spirit, is firmly cemented in rock history. Highway to Hell remains a staple in AC/DC’s catalog and a defining record of 70s rock music.
Click Here to buy an original copy of AC/DC Highway to Hell on Vinyl, Cassette or CD
