I have developed a greater appreciation for Accept over the last several years. I think they are a highly underrated band that was extremely important not just to the German metal scene, but the metal sound in general. They should be considered a formative band. The band is deep in their second life at this point since their return after a 15-year hiatus in 2010. This is their fifth album since the return, and though Udo Dirkschneider has long since left the band, they still sound just as fresh and vital as they did when they returned. The formula is mostly the same, but they are still capable of "Balls to the Wall"-style fist-pumping true metal anthems.
CRYPT DWELLER: THE FORBIDDEN DARK ARTS
I remember being sort of underwhelmed by this release the first couple times I heard it. This is one I bought because of the album art. I am not sure what the issue was before because I really got into this when I was listening in preparation for this blurb. The band this reminds me most of is Acid Witch. It's death/doom with absolutely disgusting riffs and decayed and rotting vocals. The horror vibes are loud and clear. There are samples from various movies that add to the atmosphere. The songs do tend to sound a little too much the same and it makes it kind of a difficult listen for nearly an hour, but this has grown on me.
CURSE: THE AWAKENING...AND THE OLD
I am a big fan of blackened thrash metal, and so of course I am going to grab something that I come across, especially one from Sweden, the country that brought us Nifelheim. And that is definitely the starting point for comparison's sake. This is a fairly short six-song EP. The band is at its best when they are playing fast, most notably on the title track. There are a couple of slower tracks which are not nearly as impressive. I was hoping to hear something more from this band, this is a very promising EP, but they have yet to release anything else.
RUIN LUST: CHOIR OF BABEL
Ruin Lust is the sound of chaos. The band does an excellent job of building up this atmosphere of complete and utter annihilation. There is nothing pretty here between the rampaging riffs, thunderous drumming and sepulchral vocals. These are not songs, they are anthems to violence. This is not a release for the weak of heart. It is not a particularly enjoyable listen, but it hits on a primal level.
MIDNIGHT: REBIRTH BY BLASPHEMY
After nearly 20 years toiling in the underground, Midnight managed to achieve attention by Metal Blade Records and Decibel Magazine. This did not come at the expense of their sound thankfully. Raised on an unhealthy diet of Venom and Motorhead, Midnight retained their fast as hell, blasphemic style. And with song titles such as "Fucking Speed and Darkness" and "Devil's Excrement", their rise to the sort-of-big-time hasn't softened their edge either. Longtime listeners (and I am one) know what to expect from a Midnight album and this absolutely delivers.
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