We should be grateful to still have a band of Accept’s calibre around putting out classy, relevant Metal albums.
Three albums in to their 21st Century comeback and the Accept juggernaut is still steamrollering along. Wolf Hoffmann and Peter Baltes (as sole remaining original members) have steered this new, re-invigorated Accept to greater heights than first time around which in this fluid, ever-changing musical climate is something of a triumph.
‘Blind Rage’ carries on from where ‘Stalingrad’ left off in 2012 with American vocalist Mark Tornillo doing his usual top notch job of emulating the Germanic growl of original front-man Udo Dirkschneider. Hoffman is as musical as ever on guitar with his classical overtones embellishing the majority of the solos, particularly on ‘Bloodbath Mastermind’ which conjures up recollections of the astounding ‘Metal Heart’ era, and Baltes as reliable as ever with a solid bass line that resonates with powerful drummer Stefan Schwarzmann. Completing the line-up is the dependable Herman Frank who debuted on the defining classic ‘Balls To The Wall’ all those years ago after their breakthrough album ‘Restless And Wild’.
Not surprisingly Accept begin with a stomping Metal anthem in first single ‘Stampede’, which is a solid, riff filled, Teutonic overload of Metalized aggression with a superb Hoffmann trademark classically influenced solo thrown in. ‘Dying Breed’ and ‘Dark Side Of My Heart’ are both mid-tempo, typical Accept and whilst ‘...Breed’ has an incessant dominating riff ‘...Heart’ has a memorable melodic chorus that stays in your head.
There is a brooding, epic feel to ‘Fall Of The Empire’ with marching drums and choir-like backing vocals from the guys to accompany the melodic chorus and delving into Scorpions-esque territory on some of the riffs. This is as good a song you’ll hear from any Metal band this year as it gets better with each and every play. ‘Trail Of Tears’ and ‘Final Journey’ are typical fast-paced Accept Rockers with the latter featuring another excellent Hoffmann solo, whilst ‘Wanna Be Free’ and ‘From The Ashes We Rise’ are both anthemic Rockers; the former with an acoustic intro and lyrics pleading for a kind of utopia, the latter built upon an uplifting, hope-inspired lyrical theme, with big melodic choruses that pour from the speakers, demanding your attention.
‘200 Years’ is based on Wolf’s vision of what the Earth would look like two hundred years from now if man suddenly disappeared with a darker feel and darker lyrics, but one of his favourites ‘The Curse’ is a mellow reflective number with accentuated melodic guitars.
As one of the leading pioneers of German Heavy Metal in the late 1970s we should be grateful to still have a band of Accept’s calibre around putting out classy, relevant Metal albums to the faithful and new fans alike in the 21st Century.
Carl Buxton
Subscribe to this comment's feed
