Accept - Blind Rage

(CD Album Review)

****
The next chapter for Accept goes on!

Lets face it if Udo Dirkschneider rejoined Accept for an album in 2010 it would have turned out as good as 'Blood of the Nations' did and it certainly would not have led to another two albums over a five year period. Udo I think knew this and he quite rightly pointed out he had been down the reunion road before and he was making good enough music with U.D.O and neither he or the band could have predicted the success of 'Blood of the Nations'. The album had an energy that could only have been brought on with the fresh perspective of a new member.

Now five years later the new line up is still on fire with it's third album Blind Rage. Blind Rage simply put is another slab of no nonsense classic Heavy Metal. 'Stampede' is a storming up tempo opener it has everything you want from a Heavy Metal song. The riffs, the melodies and the blistering solo's. 'Dying Breed' is a reminder to all metal fans that whichever form is your preference nowadays it all started with Black Sabbath,Judas Priest, Saxon, Iron Maiden and the like. I love the beautiful melodic chorus of 'Dark side of my Heart' it just injects a bit of melody into the album without loosing it's pace. 'Fall of the Empire' takes things down a notch with it's slow, dark verse and brings things up for the 'Chanted Chorus'. The band know how to pen an anthem with a crowd sung chorus and there are plenty here. The production is another faultless effort from Andy Sneap. It's sheer class from wall to wall.

The only part that made me squirm at all is the slightly cheesy ending to the closing track 'Final Journey' when you hear it you'll know!. All in all it's a bit more varied this time around which shows the band are more comfortable in their new skin. Blind Rage now makes a trilogy of great albums from this new incarnation of a classic band. I always thought Accept sounded like the result of a drunken one night stand between Judas Priest and AC/DC and they still do! Their doing what they are good at and what people love them for. It's a great addition to an awesome collection. In terms of classic Heavy Metal this and Judas Priest's 'Redeemer of Soul's'are neck and neck for album of the year!.