Accept
Stalingrad
Review by Mike Korn
I am constantly amazed at the energy and fire of metal bands that have been around for 20, even 30 years. Sure, you get some sad sounding "reunions" now and then, but overall, older bands have really been putting out some of their best material in the 21st century. Overkill comes to mind. So does Exodus. But Germany's Accept may have just trumped them all.
The band made a great comeback a couple of years ago with Blood of the Nations. Many, including me, were skeptical that they could recapture the power and heaviness of their best years, especially without their iconic vocalist Udo Dirkschneider. Ex T.T. Quick man Mark Tornillo wound up being a fine replacement for Udo and Blood of the Nations was a surprise hit. Seems that was just a warning shot, because the follow-up Stalingrad is nothing less than a heavy metal classic.
Accept has had a very length career. There are only two of their other records I could mention in the same breath as Stalingrad...the classic Restless and Wild and the grossly underrated Objection Overruled. This new effort is so full of power and vigor, it sounds like the first album from a band of fresh-faced youngsters ready to take on the world. It's fast, it's mean, it's epic, it's melodic...it surpasses Blood of the Nations easily and also most of what Udo has done with his solo band. I really suggest you bundle up and take a trip to Stalingrad to learn how metal should be done!
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2012 Volume 3 at lulu.com/strangesound.
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