| Written by Alex Stojanovic TRACK LISTING Zombie Apocalypse Too Mean To Die Overnight Sensation No Ones Master The Undertaker Sucks To Be You Symphony Of Pain The Best Is Yet To Come How Do We Sleep Not My Problem Samson & Delilah Release Date: January 29, 2021 Label: Nuclear Blast Records Website: www.acceptworldwide.com www.facebook.com/accepttheband |  |
ACCEPT IS:
Wolf Hoffmann - Lead guitars & backing vocals / Mark Tornillo - Lead vocals / Uwe Lulis - Rhythm guitars
Christopher Williams - Drums / Martin Motnik - Bass / Philip Shouse - Rhythm guitars
Wolf Hoffmann - Lead guitars & backing vocals / Mark Tornillo - Lead vocals / Uwe Lulis - Rhythm guitars
Christopher Williams - Drums / Martin Motnik - Bass / Philip Shouse - Rhythm guitars
In the last four years, Accept has gone through a couple more changes in its lineup. The major one happened in 2018 when Peter Baltes left the band after 42 years, which came as a surprise to many because nobody saw it coming. This leaves Wolf Hoffmann as the only remaining original member. The other change was that the band became a sextet after years of being a quintet. Philip Shouse filled in for Uwe Lulis when they did the Symphonic Terror tour, and the chemistry between Philip and the band members was positive, that they decided to pull an Iron Maiden and have three guitarists. On top of all that, just recently, Mark Tornillo went through a terrible tragedy when his 26-year-old son suddenly passed away. All of us at Metal Master Kingdom wish Mark and his family all the best in this difficult time.
Now, if you read my review of The Rise Of Chaos, you'll remember me saying that I wasn't a fan of the album. Even though the new album Too Mean To Die continues in the direction taken on the previous four albums, there's seems to be more of an exuberance in the songs this time around, because the songs on the last album felt rushed, and they lacked the excitement that was present on the three albums that preceded it. As I was listening to the new album, and while Wolf may be the only original member left now, I felt the renewed sense of excitement in the songs, but that's just me.
On the last album, the opener "Die By The Sword" lacked the compelling factor that was there in "Stampede", "Hung, Drawn & Quartered" and "Beat The Bastards" before it. "Zombie Apocalypse" comes out of the gate swinging with a fast-paced, super catchy main riff and a piercing intro scream from Tornillo. Once the riff started, the excitement I felt when I heard "Stampede" came back. That's just one track though. As we go down the album, we're greeted to several more standout gems like "Overnight Sensation", "The Undertaker" and "Not My Problem". The melodic twin guitar intro to "Symphony Of Pain" gave me big Judas Priest vibes, and it's immediately followed by what I think is the best riff on the album.
The only flaw to be found on the album is on the title track. While a solid track musically, the lyrics come across as corny and a little juvenile, filled with a bit too many metal cliches. After experiencing a dip with The Rise Of Chaos, Accept dug themselves out of that little rut with a great new album and new lineup. The new members definitely gave the band the kick in the ass that I felt it needed. The new album truly shows that after so many years, Accept are still and always will be "too mean to die!"
Highs: "Zombie Apocalypse", "Overnight Sensation", "The Undertaker", "Not My Problem"
Lows: The rather juvenile lyrics on the title track.
Now, if you read my review of The Rise Of Chaos, you'll remember me saying that I wasn't a fan of the album. Even though the new album Too Mean To Die continues in the direction taken on the previous four albums, there's seems to be more of an exuberance in the songs this time around, because the songs on the last album felt rushed, and they lacked the excitement that was present on the three albums that preceded it. As I was listening to the new album, and while Wolf may be the only original member left now, I felt the renewed sense of excitement in the songs, but that's just me.
On the last album, the opener "Die By The Sword" lacked the compelling factor that was there in "Stampede", "Hung, Drawn & Quartered" and "Beat The Bastards" before it. "Zombie Apocalypse" comes out of the gate swinging with a fast-paced, super catchy main riff and a piercing intro scream from Tornillo. Once the riff started, the excitement I felt when I heard "Stampede" came back. That's just one track though. As we go down the album, we're greeted to several more standout gems like "Overnight Sensation", "The Undertaker" and "Not My Problem". The melodic twin guitar intro to "Symphony Of Pain" gave me big Judas Priest vibes, and it's immediately followed by what I think is the best riff on the album.
The only flaw to be found on the album is on the title track. While a solid track musically, the lyrics come across as corny and a little juvenile, filled with a bit too many metal cliches. After experiencing a dip with The Rise Of Chaos, Accept dug themselves out of that little rut with a great new album and new lineup. The new members definitely gave the band the kick in the ass that I felt it needed. The new album truly shows that after so many years, Accept are still and always will be "too mean to die!"
Highs: "Zombie Apocalypse", "Overnight Sensation", "The Undertaker", "Not My Problem"
Lows: The rather juvenile lyrics on the title track.
FINAL RATING
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