AcceptThe Rise of Chaos

If you replace a broom handle, then the bristles, do you have the same broom? Or is it a different broom? (West) German power metal foundry Accept feature two founding members in 2017. Does that mean it’s Accept? Or a new band? On new and fifteenth (!!!) record The Rise of Chaos, Accept is not a new band. Not by a long shot.

The old saying “every power metal band wants to be Helloween” rings truer than ever on The Rise of Chaos, even though Accept pre-dates the Unsmashed Pumpkins by about a decade or so. Speed metal freewheeler Die By The Sword is guarded by genre; gutsy riffs, gang choruses, and over-extended solos dominate. While most metallers excised their blues in the late 80s, Accept’s riffs are dyed ultramarine, as heard in roller-chugger Koolaid.

 “My cellphone’s smarter than me,” Tornillo shrieks as the band purloins Acca Dacca around him. We get it, this is metal for rusted-on rockers who still believe Judas Priest’s Painkiller was way too heavy.

Analog Man is the heavy metal equivalent of shouting “get off my lawn!” with a cane withering in the air. “My cellphone’s smarter than me,” Tornillo shrieks as the band purloins Acca Dacca around him. We get it, this is metal for rusted-on rockers who still believe Judas Priest’s Painkiller was way too heavy.

It’s not all hell, though. Accept win the game when they play against type. No Regrets trad-metal gallop is a highlight, as is Carry the Weight and its total-dramatic chorus, beefed-up by chainsawing guitars. A slithering Hole In The Head and its ominous tone sprinkles a taste of chaos for four minutes straight. Even so, vain lead guitar and solo bombast can only carry your (weight) so far.

STANDOUT TRACKS: No Regrets, Carry The Weight, Hole in the Head
STICK THIS NEXT TO: Helloween, Running Wild, Anything Jørn Lande does

Read our interview with Accept’s Wolf Hoffmann here!