Accept “Humanoid”
Wolf Hoffmann soldiers on with Accept. This is classic heavy metal done properly.
I love Accept. I always have and always will. I love all eras of the band. The new album “Humanoid” is as good as I had hoped. I spoke on the phone with original Anthrax vocalist Neil Turbin in Los Angeles this morning. During our conversation, he mentioned Accept guitarist Wolf Hoffmann as one of his inspirations. I agree that Wolf is special. He is a terrific musician, songwriter and survivor. Wolf is the sole constant member of Accept. Somehow he manages to carry on with the Accept flag held high, no matter who else is, or isn’t, in the band. The band was founded in 1976 and “Humanoid” is its 17th studio album. The basic Accept formula of German heavy metal is still there. It never really changed. There are nuances here and there (such as the Middle Eastern touches on the opening track “Diving into Sin”), and some twists and turns. But at the heart of it, this is terrific heavy metal. It is a guitar-driven metal with great melodies. American vocalist Mark Tornillo has grown into his role as the band’s frontman. After 14 years and six albums, Mark’s Accept track record is solid.
The production is spot on and has once again been handled by Judas Priest’s Andy Sneap. “The Reckoning”, “Mind Games”. “Straight Up Jack”, “Frankenstein” and “Southside of Hell” are among the tracks that stand out for me. I like my music hard and heavy. Thus, the power ballad “Ravages of Time” is my least favourite track on this new album. It’s a good song, but I prefer my Accept hitting me in the face like a runaway freight train. But this is an album without fillers. It is an even album of proper heavy metal the way I like it. In the current line-up of Accept, Wolf and Mark are joined by drummer Christopher Williams, bassist Martin Motnik and guitarist Uwe Lulis. It is a solid line-up that delivers. As I wrote when the band last toured Japan in 2017: Accept – thank you for the heavy metal lesson. This is how it’s done, kids.
Accept’s new album “Humanoid” will be released on 26th April via Napalm Records.
