Accept
Restless And Live

THE REVIEW

Unstoppable. This is the first word that comes to mind when I think of today's Accept. A band that, concert after concert, album after album, has quickly regained the respect and admiration of all classic metal lovers, after almost 15 years of total silence, interrupted by a small reunion with founder Udo Dirkschneider. If we try to go back to 2010, it seemed impossible to believe that after such a long time, Accept would be able to release a noteworthy album, an outing that would make the whole world reconsider, warning them that the legendary German band was back. Even I, admitting my great love for them, wouldn't have bet on it. But with "Blood Of The Nations" (2010), Hoffmann and company proved they still had talent, and although the figure, but especially the voice of Udo had always been the factor that distinguished Accept, the new singer was no exception. Mark Tornillo, then singer of the lesser-known TT Quick and an electrician by profession, turned out to be one of the best choices to replace Udo's daunting shadow. An angry and fierce voice, with a tone very similar to Brian Johnson of AC/DC, Tornillo managed over the years to dispel the doubts one had about Accept, namely would they be able to continue without Udo? The answer, now that we are in 2017, is absolutely yes.

Everything that Accept has represented from their second rebirth to today is contained in this "Restless And Live", an album that serves as testimony that classic metal is not dead and buried, quite the opposite. Available as a DVD edition of a concert held at the "Bang Your Head Festival 2015", and two CDs featuring tracks from concerts during the support tour for "Blind Rage" (2014), this release is a must for any fan of classic sounds. After all, we're talking about a good 4 and a half hours of music.

As one might easily guess, the DVD concert is the highlight of this release, featuring Accept setting the festival stage on fire with classics like "London Leatherboys", "Midnight Mover", or the blistering and perfectly executed "Losers And Winners". Only looking at the past would be unfair, so nearly 3/4 of the concert is occupied by songs from the last 3 albums, including the powerful "Stalingrad" and "Stampede", moving through the more anthemic "Dark Side Of My Heart", "Dying Breed", and the destructive "Pandemic". The finale is rightly left to the band's most famous and appreciated tracks like "Fast As A Shark", perfectly interpreted by Tonriello (despite those who considered only Udo capable of singing this song), and the ever-eternal "Metal Heart" and "Balls To The Wall". If we want to analyze the performance, there's absolutely no weak point. The two new members, Uwe Lulis on guitar and Christopher Williams behind the drums, show what they do best, especially the latter who displays truly perfect and precise technique, while Lulis provides a solid backing to Hoffmann, confirming himself as a great addition. Peter Baltes on bass, and Hoffmann on guitar are phenomenal. Justly considered the two pillars of Accept after Udo's departure, they entertain the crowd excellently, never boring, with Hoffmann always delivering great performances, with solos and more, never forgetting his goofy expressions on stage, of course in the best sense of the word. A concert that will surely entertain you, without a doubt. Of the concerts on the two CDs, there's little to say. The setlist, wider in scope, simply revisits the same songs from the DVD, with obviously different performances, but not by much, adding a couple of songs that are a great listen, and should by no means be considered unnecessary fillers. Among these are "Hellfire", "Starlight", the more measured and rhythmic "Fall Of The Empire", ranging also among more refined tracks, like "Son of A Bitch", "Demon's Night", and "Bullettproof", the latter not performed since 1993, the year of "Objection Overruled".

Accept in 2017 have regained the popularity and respect they rightfully deserve, and while waiting for their new album to see the light towards the end of the summer, this "Restless And Live" is sure to satisfy your appetite. Therefore, I recommend fans of the band pick up this release blindly, and the same for those experiencing Accept for the first time, you will surely be satisfied.

"Fast as a shark, he's a killer, he'll rip out your heart..."