Thunderstruck cover

Thunderstruck

AC/DC · 1990

7 min · 2 tracks · hard rock

An electrifying blend of hard rock riffs and anthemic choruses, encapsulating AC/DC's signature sound.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Thunderstruck — This title track is a quintessential anthem that showcases AC/DC's electrifying guitar work and powerful vocals, setting the tone for the entire album.
  • →
    Fire Your Guns — With its driving rhythm and gritty lyrics, this track complements the album's energy while demonstrating the band's ability to craft engaging narratives within their music.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

66 /100
Alpine
Higher than 89% of albums we've rated

The single showcases strong riffs and anthemic choruses, solidifying AC/DC's hard rock identity.

What we noticed

  • The title track opens with a distinctive guitar riff that is immediately recognizable and sets the energetic tone for the single.
  • The song features a call-and-response structure in the chorus, inviting listener participation.
  • The second track, 'Fire Your Guns', maintains a similar tempo and energy level, reinforcing the hard rock sound established by the first track.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
7/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Breakthrough — Re-established AC/DC's reputation post-Bon Scott, becoming a defining anthem for the band.
Themes
post-Bon Scott resurgence· electric live energy
Career context
Released on September 10, 1990, 'Thunderstruck' marked AC/DC's return with a new lineup after the death of former lead singer Bon Scott in 1980. This album came during a period of resurgence for the band, following their hugely successful 'Back in Black', solidifying their status in rock music.
Stylistic neighbors
Led Zeppelin· Guns N' Roses· Aerosmith
New to AC/DC? Find your way in →

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Thunderstruck 4:53
  • 2 Fire Your Guns 2:55

What to play next

The Razors Edge
Listen next

The Razors Edge

1990

Continues the electrifying hard rock energy and anthemic style of Thunderstruck.
Blow Up Your Video
Go back to

Blow Up Your Video

1988

Precedes The Razors Edge with a similar hard rock vibe, setting the stage.
Full AC/DC discography Where to start with AC/DC Artists like AC/DC
blues rock hard rock

If this landed

Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.

Appetite for Destruction

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Guns N' Roses

Shares high-energy riffs and powerful vocals, capturing a raw rock spirit that electrifies live performances.

5150

5150

Van Halen

Features anthemic choruses and guitar-driven sound, embodying the same electrifying live energy and vocal power.

Hysteria

Hysteria

Def Leppard

Combines soaring melodies and hard-hitting production, creating an arena-ready sound akin to AC/DC's live anthems.

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata