Band
Accept
Title
Blood of the Nations
Type
LP/EP
Company
Nuclear Blast
YOR
2010
Style
Traditional
Popular Reviews
Stunning comeback record from these German traditional pioneers
This is a tough pill to swallow. I really love this new album, yet as good as it is, it doesn’t assuage the fact that Udo should be singing these songs. We know the traumatic effects of a Udo led Accept, thus the inevitable break-ups through the years that eventually led to Mark Tornillo (T.T. Quick) becoming the full-time vocalist in 2009. The line-up of Baltes, Frank, Hoffman and Schwarzmann is astounding as a package with Andy Sneap’s high yielding production standards. ‘Blood of the Nations’ has the Teutonic metal fury we’ve come to know and adore from these Germans. Highlights are the gang-led choruses of “Beat the Bastards Down”, “Teutonic Terror” and the spirited “Blood of the Nations”. Tornillo nails that high raspy delivery perfectly and, based on this recording alone, would have been my obvious choice as the replacement. With all that said, I still feel damn shameful playing it for some reason.
With the hype and anticipation, this album had to be good- or else risk being a major letdown. I am happy to say this sucker does NOT suck! Right from the urgent intro riff to “Beat the Bastards,” this is compelling stuff. Most of the album maintains this level of quality, enhanced by superb Hoffmann/ Frank guitar work. Mark Tornillo proves a suitable vocalist, offering both a wicked rasp and stronger clean vocals than expected. Two or three tracks are almost filler; the rest is what fans would hope for, without being too pandering. Only complaints: a somewhat generic attempt at a “support our troops” theme on the title tune; and the cover.
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