Restless and Wild

Restless and Wild is the fourth album on which Accept binds sharply chopped guitar, Udo Dirkschneider’s rough, wild voice and tense drums. The songs are hard-edged, yet not merely fast: the deft placement of the riffs and the overwhelming strength of the choruses produce a powerful drive. It is an important record that defined the aggression of German heavy metal. Above all, the ferocious speed of the opener “Fast as a Shark” is a historic song that became an archetype of later speed and thrash metal. From the momentum of the title track “Restless and Wild” and the stately epic “Princess of the Dawn” to “Ahead of the Pack” and “Neon Nights,” an impulse ahead of its time fills the album. The record’s power lies in how roughness and sure playing precision coexist at an extremely high level. Beyond mere aggression, it also holds the deftness of melody and construction. Giving vast influence to countless later metal bands, it is a masterpiece that became a decisive turning point in Accept’s career.