Post by Erik Rupp on Aug 8, 2011 20:24:23 GMT -5
Sometimes a reunion and a comeback exceeds expectations.
Accept's Blood of the Nations is one such case.
While this isn't a full reunion (original lead vocalist, and Accept icon Udo Dirkschneider declined to rejoin, and original drummer Stefan Kaufmann is not involved, either), the core of the band is in place. Wolf Hoffman and Herman Frank on guitars, and Peter Baltes on bass. Stefan Schwarzmann is on drums, and he's played for Accept previously, so he's not exactly a new guy to the band (hell, he even played for Udo Dirkschneider on several of his solo albums while Accept was inactive back in the early 1990's).
But there is a new guy. And that would be new lead vocalist Mark Tornillo, formerly of TT Quick. While TT Quick didn't exactly set the world on fire they did receive some positive reviews back in the 80's for their brand of straightforward Heavy Metal. More importantly, Tornillo fits Accept like a glove. He's got a growl not unlike Udo at times, but at others he can actually sing to a degree - something Udo couldn't do. Tornillo ends up being an inspired replacement for the legendary Teutonic Terror, and the band doesn't miss a beat.
Musically, Blood of the Nations picks up where Accept left off - both times. It takes the Restless and Wild/Balls to the Wall/Russian Roulette sound and blends it with their 80's Objection Overruled/Predator/Death Row styles. It's straightforward Heavy Metal with strong, strong riffs and dark lyrical themes.
There isn't really much of a need to go song by song on this one, as there isn't anything here that's any less than very good, and it's all right in the comfort zone for the band and their fans. Blood of the Nations is a top notch Accept album. Blending their Judas Priest, Metallica, and Black Sabbath influences (among others), Accept has put out an album that is classically ACCEPT. Have no illusions, make no mistakes - this is the real deal. Accept wrote and performed an album that holds up well against anything in their catatlog, and this may even be (a strong argument could be made) their very best album.
The band sounds, well, not young, but youthful and energetic. They sound like what an experienced heavyweight fighter looks like in the ring. Confident, powerful, and effective. This is the best that Accept fans could have hoped for, because it truly is as good as anything that the band has ever recorded.
The production of the album may also be their very best to date, too. Current Metal master producer Andy Sneap lends his magic to the proceedings and the album simply sounds amazing. Crisp, crunchy, full, powerful - it is exactly what a new Accept album should sound like.
Bottom Line? If you've ever liked Accept then you'll definitely like Blood of the Nations.
4.5/5