AB/CD ~ The Rock'N'Roll Devil (album review) ... AC/DC done dirt cheap!

Style: heavy metal, blues rock
Label: BMG
Year: 1992
Home: Sweden

Members: Mats "Braijan + McScot" Leven ~ lead vocals
Bengt "Bengus" Ljungberger ~ guitar/b. vocals
Nalle "Nalcolm" Pahlsson ~ guitar
Jim "Clim" Gustavsson ~ bass
Nicco "Fill Rules" Wallin ~ drums

Additional: Hakan "Saaate" Worminder, Leif "SU" Sundin, Mario Gustavsson, Micke Wiklund, Loa "Ostbage" Stromgren, "Owe "Male Whore" Jakobssen, Timo Vaisanen, the Cherie Boys ~ b. vocals
Micke Huganen ~ lead guitar 

AB/CD is an AC/DC cover band, founded in 1983, that has also done a few albums of their own original music. In terms of singers ... I'll bet folks money that they'll think this is AC/DC's Brian Johnson on first or second listen, or maybe even third listen. The hardcore fan may know the difference, but likely will still be impressed. Its one thing to sing with a gravel tenor, but its another to sound like Brian & have his phrasing. While AB/DC have the same big chorus vocals. As for the music. Maybe its due to the fact I'm not familiar with everything by AC/DC, but the guitar solos are not quite Angus Young, the blues not quite as thick as the rock, the riffs not quite as original & the music not quite as clean. There's not a lot of breathing room here for the music, & that's one thing AC/DC did incredibly well. If it wasn't for the voice, I wouldn't guess this was AC/DC & its the music that will likely make one realize its not Brian with AC/DC. This leads to the obvious question: are they trying to be AC/DC with their originals or a band that just happens to sound like AC/DC, i.e AC/DC doing songs you've never heard. I'm guessing its a bit of both, but more so trying to be AC/DC as their lyrics are very much int he AC/DC mold. While a couple songs have the singer attempting a Bon Scott voice, which he doesn't really pull off so well. That fact makes me think they are trying to be AC/DC, particularly given these Bon songs are thick blues like he was known for. The essence of AC/DC is in their huge blues soaked riffs & productions values where everything has its space. Neither of these things are found here. But, AB/CD is still worth a listen for their frontman's uncanny imitation. Not to be confused with bands of the same name from Germany & Italy.