Archive – Album review: Accept – The Rise Of Chaos

By NEIL WILSON
I HAVE been a fan of this legendary German heavy metal band since Breaker (1982) and can 100 per cent honestly say:  I absolutely LOVE the latest album!

The Rise Of Chaos – the band’s fourth studio album since reforming over a decade ago with Mark Tornillo on vocals – is the  metal album of the year to me!

I have thoroughly enjoyed the three predecessors. All delivered some outstanding heavy metal music, some killer songs and proved the band still kick some major fucking ass, something they’ve done consistently for almost four decades!

The Rise Of Chaos sees Accept lose none of their firepower, tenacity or killer attitude. But the long-player does see them return to their roots and this album could easy slot between Metal Heart and Russian Roulette … old fans, you know what I mean?

That old-school groove and direction is absolutely dynamic throughout the new CD! It’s as if the band have heard another band inspire them or sat down and said let’s make a killer ‘old school’ album and they certainly have attained that goal!
Song-wise, where do I start? The double kick attack of “No Regrets” and “Carry The Weight” is a brace of bulldozers, the latter reminiscent of TV war anthems and both songs will having you head banging and singing along!

The title track “The Rise Of Chaos” is sublime, Accept delivering a killer song with all the right stuff featured and is a definite highlight, among a plethora of equally great tunes. The frantic intro riff disguises that “Koolaid” is in fact a four-on-the-floor stomping rocker and to many listeners, the stand-out here. Catchy riff, great groove and that chorus – it will be sung forever more at shows!

The marauding “Analog Man” is vintage Accept and delivers yet another likeable tune, with a tasty riff and hypnotising groove. Picking up the pace, we have the up-tempo charge of “What’s Done Is Done” – lots of tasty licks, driving riff topped and another gang chorus.

Riffarama reigns supreme on, “Worlds Colliding” – a cruiser with a catchy chorus and closing this epic album  is “Race To Extinction’ – the band doing what they do best!

As I said, Accept’s The Rise Of Chaos is 2017’s metal album of the year as far as I’m concerned – sheer old-school perfection that Accept and only a handful of other bands can still deliver.

Originally posted on Hot Metal’s website on October 3, 2017

Buy The Rise Of Chaos on CD or vinyl