ALBUM REVIEW:ACCEPT BLIND RAGE

Back with their 14th studio album, and their third with vocalist Mark Tornillo, Accept have always been masters of their craft.  Blind Rage is a ferocious reminder of that.  As openers go, they don't come much better than Stampede, it's five minutes of brain shaking anarchy with Tornillo warning "he'll pulverise your bones", and pulverise he does.  Dying Breed delivers like a ceremonial chant to the metal faithful, while Dark Side Of My Heart proves Accept aren't all about bone shattering metal, and have an ear for melody. 

After a pulsating opening, Fall Of The Empire takes the pace down a bit, but still maintains fist pumping verses and a rousing chorus.  Normal service is resumed on Trail Of Tears, with Stefan Schwarzmann drumming like a man possessed. Wanna Be Free, with it's social awareness content and infectious chorus, is sure to be become an Accept classic, and a live favourite. You can't help but get emotionally involved, and a tad angry, when listening to this, it's that powerful.  

Bloodbath Mastermind is classic Accept, no nonsense guitars from Wolf Hoffman and Herman Frank, and perfectly executed harmonised vocals. From The Ashes We Rise doesn't really live up to the rest of the album and has a bit of a filler feel about it.  The Curse is a statuesque, guitar driven gem, while closing track, Final Journey, finishes the album in a majestic and blistering fashion.

Accept have always lived in the shadow of fellow German rockers Scorpians, but when their in this form, they are more than a match for Klaus Meine and co. Once again with Andy Sneap in the cockpit, they have, without a shadow of a doubt, found a winning formula.  And Mark Tornillo, on his 3rd outing with the band, has cemented his place as the main man in Accept.  

Although not as good as 2010's  Blood Of The Nations, it leaves previous opus Stalingrad in the shade.  Blind Rage is a masterclass in every sense of the word, and proves that Accept are the high kings of power metal.