Stalingrad

Stalingrad is a record on which Accept thoroughly sounds the weight of traditional metal through sharp guitar riffs, a rhythm driving like marching boots and dignified choruses. Though it takes up war as a theme, the core that moves the songs remains simple, strong riffs and big melody to sing with the crowd. It is a record that pushes the comeback’s momentum further. From the aggression of the opener “Hung, Drawn and Quartered” and the weight of the title track “Stalingrad” to the speed of “Hellfire” and “Shadow Soldiers” and “Against the World,” every song is powerful. By highlighting charge in the fast songs and a heavy drive in the mid-tempos, the album keeps a strong tension throughout. It is fulfilling content proving that, after Mark Tornillo’s arrival, the band was fully on track. The playing created by Wolf Hoffmann’s guitar and the sturdy rhythm section has no gaps at all. It is a powerful, steady record that lets you fully savor Accept’s sturdy playing and the essence of traditional heavy metal.