Accept | Stalingrad

by Nikiforos Skoumas
Staff Writer –

In retrospect most would agree that Accept served the metal community with one of the best comebacks in the new decade through Blood of the Nations. Blood of the Nations introduced American singer Mark Tornillo as the front-man of Accept along side founding members guitarist Wolf Hofmann and bassist Peter Baltes – the line up was completed by platinum-grade, six-string mercenary Herman Frank (the mastermind of Victory and Poison Sun) and drum titan Stefan Schwarzmann (who had previously supported Accept members David Reece and Herman Frank on their various solo endeavors.)

On account of the considerable success of Blood of the Nations it should come as no surprise that the very same team is back in 2012 with a brand new proposition in Teutonic metal (or Teutonic-US metal to be fair). Accept in collaboration with producer-extraordinaire Andy Sneap bring us Stalingrad, and you will be hard pressed to find a more metal title than this in 2012.

Though a fair part of the press have been quick to label Stalingrad as the artistic sequel to Blood of the Nations, the new album bares fundamental differences to the previous as a few more thorough plays clarify. For starters the double-bass drum attack has been kept to a minimum, prioritizing drum breaks and improvisations as opposed to a standardized pedal beat. In addition the rhythm and lead guitars seem to reach equilibrium on Stalingrad since the riffs are kept within the song opening, verses and choruses instead of having one riff playing over and over throughout the track. On the other hand the twin guitar melodies establish a firm presence early on in the play-list commonly found in the verses and solos, and often times following the chorus.

Thematically, it is critical to note that Stalingrad though named after the well documented WWII impact, is far less of an epic metal album than Blood of the Nations. Opposing its title, Stalingrad promotes rebellious attitude, liberalism and heavy metal as a lifestyle instead of going down the concept format of war-history.

Truthfully, Stalingrad has a lot in common with Accept’s earlier works such as I’m A Rebel and Balls to the Wall; hence it is the kind of metal that shares strong ties with hard rock, rarely touching upon their speed metal heritage (which does not make the album any less enjoyable).

Above all Stalingrad does justice to all Accept fans who demanded an album of similar artistic credibility to Blood of the Nations. Though different in many ways to its predecessor, Stalingrad verifies that the new Accept is far from a one-hit-wonder.

Genre: Heavy Metal, Melodic Metal

Line up:
Mark Tornillo – vocals
Wolf Hoffmann – guitar
Herman Frank – guitar
Peter Baltes – bass
Stefan Schwarzmann – drums

Track List:
1. Hung, Drawn And Quartered (4:35)
2. Stalingrad (5:59)
3. Hellfire (6:07)
4. Flash To Bang Time (4:06)
5. Shadow Soldiers (5:47)
6. Revolution (4:08)
7. Against The World (3:36)
8. Twist Of Fate (5:30)
9. The Quick And The Dead (4:25)
10. The Galley (7:21)

Band website: http://www.acceptworldwide.com/

Hardrock Haven rating: 9/10

Victory | Don’t Talk Science

by Nikiforos Skoumas
Staff Writer

German guitar hero Herman Frank is both an underground legend and a protagonist of the current metal scene. Having played guitar on the iconic album Balls to the Wall, he has rejoined the reunited Accept. Through the ’80s and ’90s Frank’s main musical vehicle was the German/American group Victory. Victory disbanded in 2006 following an album of re-recorded classics, at which point Frank pursued solo project eventually joining Accept.

Despite all of the above, in June 2011 Victory’s, Don’t Talk Science hit the stores. The album is an all original collection of songs recorded two years ago. Apparently their 2006 break-up did not stop Frank’s and company from re-entering the studio in 2009 cutting Don’t Talk Science their 9th all original-studio album.

Victory has always been the definition of “Hard & Heavy” standing right in the middle between hard rock and heavy metal. So once again you can expect heavy riffs, shredding solos and robust rhythm section. All this topped by glamorous choruses and ‘80s rock-star attitude in the vocal department, all glued together by a heavy-as-it-gets production-a load of sing-along choruses for your satisfaction. At this point credit has to be given to Herman for retaining the “Victory” identity on this release, suggesting that Don’t Talk Science isn’t like Accept, Poison Sun or Moon Doc. Songs like “Love Kills Love,” “Burn Down the City,” “No Return” and “Right Between the Eyes,” could not have been created by anyone but Victory.

The line up is mostly the same that cut the re-recordings in 2006, featuring guitarists Herman Frank and Tommy Newton, bassist Peter Knorn, lead singer Jiotis Parcharidis (also a member of Frank’s solo band) joined by new drummer Achim keller.

Don’t Talk Science is an authentic Victory album that takes into perspective the group’s previous works and, for that matter, is a faithful continuation of their distinct style. Admirers of “hard” and “heavy” music will probably enjoy this album to the fullest, fans of Herman Frank, Moon Doc and Accept can not escape this enjoyable comeback album.

Genre: Hard Rock / Heavy Metal

Label: Wacken Records

Band:
Jioti Parcharidis: Vocals
Herman Frank: Guitar
Tommy Newton: Guitar
Peter Knorn: Bass
Achim Keller: Drums

Tracklist:
1. Restless
2. Speak Up
3. Rockstar
4. Love Kills Love
5. Burn Down The City
6. Down Load Down
7. Right Between The Eyes
8. Blinded By Darkness
9. No Return
10. Victim Of Lies
11. Go To Hell
12. Waiting For The Wind
13. I’m So Excited

Band Website: www.victory-music.com

Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10

U.D.O. : Rev-Raptor

by Erik Tweedy
Staff Writer

In 1986, the band Accept was on top of its game and was one of the biggest metal bands touring Europe, and then it all instantly fell apart. In search of a solo career, lead singer Udo Dirkschneider unceremoniously left the band, leaving his fellow band mates to fend for themselves. Citing the usual musical differences, the members of Accept wished him well and waved goodbye. In 1987, Udo took his unique voice and his camouflage pants and started his own metal outfit, simply titled U.D.O.

Fast forward a couple of decades and an impressive 12 studio albums later, and U.D.O. continues to create some of Germany’s finest metal. Their latest release, Rev-Raptor is pretty much what you would expect from an U.D.O. release: Bashing drums, dueling guitars, pounding bass and that trademark Udo grunt and growl on vocals. Accept fans from around the world continue to shake their heads, trying to understand why Udo just didn’t stay in Accept because the music’s formula is pretty much the same with both bands. Because Accept reformed in 2010 with Mark Tornillo on vocals and having put out one of last year’s best metal releases, the comparisons will, no doubt, be the hot topic of conversation around the German water cooler.

The title track to Rev-Raptor kicks things off with a cool drum intro and the pedal to the floor. The fast pace of this release burns through tracks “Leatherhead” and “Renegade” and doesn’t slow down until hitting “I Give As Good As I Get,” which is as close to a U.D.O. ballad as can be, given the limitation in Udo’s vocal range. Some tasty guitar work near the end will keep you awake until the barn-burner that arrives in the form of “Dr. Death.” By now, you will have recognized that many of the tracks are starting to sound the same with different lyrics. This is not a knock on the band, but it is difficult to not recognize this. There are some solid guitar solos captured throughout the release, and the production is very good. But the almost continuous use of the same beat and the layering of Udo’s vocals many times over get to be a bit on the boring side by the time you are awaken by “Motor-Borg,” which is one of only a few standout tracks on this release. By the time you reach the final track, “Days of Hope and Glory,” sadly, it doesn’t provide the listener with any hope or glory.

The longtime U.D.O fan might enjoy this release even if it is quite boring, but it probably won’t pull in too many new fans. The guitar tone and drum beat rarely change throughout the entire album, and the over-mastered vocals are a sure sign that Udo’s singing career is coming to an end. U.D.O. has had some pretty solid releases during the past two decades, but this one falls somewhere in the middle of the pack.

Band:
Udo Dirkschneider: Vocals
Stefan Kaufmann: Lead Guitar
Igor Gianola: Rhythm Guitar
Fitty Weinhold: Bass
Francesco Jovino: Drums

Track Listing:
Rev-Raptor
Leatherhead
Renegade
I Give As Good As I Get
Dr. Death
Rock ‘N’ Roll Soldiers
Terrorvision
Underworld
Pain Man
Fairy Tales of Victory
Motor-Borg
True Born Winners
Days of Hope and Glory

Label: AFM Records

Website: http://www.udo-online.de/

Hardrock Haven rating: 7.6/10

Ronnie James Dio : Reflections on a Sacred Heart

by Alex Barbieri
Staff Writer

Ronnie James Dio was, and will remain, one of the most powerful and emotional singers in rock history. His legacy lives on in the vast collection of songs he recorded, and in the loving memories of those lucky enough to meet the man personally.

May 16, 2011 marks one year since the passing of Dio. Over the past year, Hardrock Haven has asked many artists the following question, “What are your thoughts on the passing of Ronnie James Dio, and do you have any memories you would like to share?” Without exception, all of them answered with loving respect.

The following is a compilation of those answers and memories. Thanks to all the artists, especially Paul Shortino, who contributed to this retrospective. Rest in peace, Ronnie. Cheers!

Anders Ringman of PLATFORM: Of course it’s a huge loss. In the eyes of his fans, he truly was immortal, so that’s why it was such a shock. I think, music-wise, I will cherish the Rainbow albums with him, Black Sabbath’s Heaven and Hell and Holy Diver, of course.

Chris Laney of PLATFORM: It’s a great loss, a small man with a BIG voice. I got into Dio back when Holy Diver was released, and still think Holy Diver and The Last in Line are among the best albums released by Dio. Of course there’s tons of good stuff with him in Sabbath, too, but I think those albums are killer. I literally ran into him backstage when Dio, Uriah Heep and Asia played Stockholm.

DJ Will of KNAC.com: Ronnie was a big influence and a huge, huge loss. My last moment/encounter was him giving me a thumbs up at the Revolver “Golden God Awards” backstage after winning an award as he walked by with his wife, Wendy. That, as we know, was to be his last public appearance.
Attending the services a month later was a bit surreal with its concert-like atmosphere. Saying good-bye to a music legend surrounded by fans like myself who shared the same thoughts. The tribute performances were fantastic, as were the personal stories at the podium. I have since ended my show each week with one of the final tracks he recorded—“Heavy Metal Will Never Die”—which to me says it all.

Glenn Five of Anvil: I have some very personal thoughts and memories about Ronnie that are very dear to my heart. Ronnie was one of the nicest men a person could ever get to know. He had a love for people and life that you rarely come across. He was the type of man who would meet you early in the day and then go off to do tons of interviews and ‘meet and greets’ and when he would bump into you again later that day, he would call you by name and ask how your day has been. The last time I saw him was backstage after a Heaven and Hell show with Motorhead and Judas Priest. He was having a great time laughing and smiling—a fitting last memory of a truly amazing man.

Gregg Livesay of Livesay: We opened up for Dio twice—once in ’97 and again in ’98. I just remember when we got tapped to do the show how psyched we were. We couldn’t even believe we were going to get to share the stage with the guy. I remember, after our set, I was down on the floor and I remember looking around the place. It was packed and they were turning people away at the front door—it was shoulder-to-shoulder, the balcony, everywhere. They couldn’t fit any more people. But I remember when he was on stage and he was singing “Don’t Talk To Strangers” and was just singing by himself, everybody was just absolutely blown away by him. His presence, his power. The guy just had incredible, incredible pipes. And so full of emotion. When he sang, you really felt like he was singing to you. He was the pinnacle of singers, and the fact that he’s gone is awful. He was the Pavarotti of metal.

Jaime St. James of Black N Blue: Ronnie was a very nice man and an amazing singer. He is horribly missed.

Jesse Damon of Silent Rage: I miss Ronnie James Dio. I got to see Heaven and Hell at the Forum in Los Angeles a couple years back and he was great to see and watch and listen to. What a nice gentleman. I also met him briefly at Los Angeles International Airport. He was coming in from Russia and I was heading to England. I walked up and said “Hi” and we exchanged pleasantries, a handshake, smile and a laugh or two. I asked him how the fans were in Russia, and he said they couldn’t have been nicer. He wished me well for England and good luck, and I said, “Thanks, Ronnie!”

Joey Concepcion of Chaos Embrace: I think (Dio’s passing) is very sad, and is such a tremendous loss to the metal community. I loved his voice and his music and he will be missed all over the world, and his music will without a doubt carry on.

Kyoji Yamamoto: He was one of the best rock singers in the world. I heard his voice for the first time on Rainbow’s first album. I was very impressed by his powerful, beautiful and dignified voice. I met him in an Indian restaurant in the U.K. by coincidence. He was with his wife and he was very calm and tender. We lost an irreplaceable treasure.

Marcie Michelle Free of Unruly Child: Ronnie and I first met at a Christmas party back in 1985. Carmine Appice introduced us. I will never forget how blown away I was at how much of a kind gentleman he was. Many so called “rock stars” are not as real and down to earth as he was. He was always like that. I miss him dearly.

Mark Tornillo of Accept: Ronnie was always a huge influence on my writing and singing. The world lost one of the all time greats, and he will be missed for a long, long time.

Michael Larrson of ColdSpell: Dio meant a lot to me and has a special place in my heart. Dio was the one that was supposed to be around as long as hard rock exists and unite us all. He will be remembered and not forgotten, that’s for sure! We have a song on the new ColdSpell album called “The King” that is dedicated to him. That lyric and song felt so right at the time he passed away, so I decided to include it on the new album.

Paul Shortino of King Kobra: When Rough Cutt was starting out, Ronnie was checking us out. Next thing we know, the Dios were managing us. Ronnie and Wendy took me under their wing and moved me into their home. I was able to live and breathe the Holy Diver album because Ronnie was working on it at home and he’d share ideas and mixes with me. I watched him do the artwork and create Murray the Holy Diver mascot. It was really an experience to get to know Ronnie on a different level—sharing his creativity in the studio and his guidance was quite an experience.

He was such a humble gentle man. One thing I learned from Ronnie was to try and always be humble. Ronnie always had time for fans and to say “Hi” to people, and be kind and gentle and humble. He always had time for people.

It’s a shame we lost such a talent and big voice in the rock scene. He was definitely too young to pass away. He’ll live on forever. King Kobra recorded a tribute to Ronnie called “Monsters & Heroes.” The first verse is, “Sing me a song singer, you’re the man on the mountain who rocked my world.” That’s exactly what he did in my life.

Sammy Serious of The Zeros: Ronnie James Dio was a great singer and front man. One of my favorites. I remember getting turned on to Elf and saying, “Who is that guy? What a great, powerhouse voice.” I also love his solo stuff. I just heard “The Last in Line” on the radio. What a great tune. He left us way too soon.

Stephen Jensen of F3 Studios: My good friend Keri Kelli of the Alice Cooper Band owns a bar in Las Vegas called Aces N Ales. He was hosting a fundraiser event for the Ronnie James Dio “Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund.” Keri had asked me if I’d donate some of my photo prints to auction for the fundraiser. I always try to help out my friends whenever I can and it was an honor for Keri to ask to be involved with this great cause. I donated a print of Ronnie, Alice Cooper and Dimebag Darrell. I never had the chance to meet Ronnie personally, but the show in Chicago that I shot with Heaven and Hell was amazing. I listened to Dio growing up and it was great to see him on a big stage again up close. He looked so happy like he was having the time of his life grinning from ear to ear. It was clear to me that he just loved what he did and what he was doing.

Donate to the Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund on the Official Ronnie James Dio website:
http://www.ronniejamesdio.com/

Official Dio Facebook Fan page:
http://www.facebook.com/OfficialRonnieJamesDio

Official Dio Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/dioofficial

Borealis : Fall From Grace

by Franco Cerchiari
Staff Writer

With wicked fast guitars, soaring vocals, pounding drums and keyboards adding a progressive edge, Canada’s Borealis roars back with this massive attack on the senses. Touches of Symphony X, Evergrey with the metal of Accept only enhance this progressive metal outing.

By way of comparison to their earlier work, 2008’s World of Silence, the soon-to-be released Fall From Grace shows a much heavier, darker and more intense sound. They have taken a step into a new direction but still come across as cohesive, and all the instruments blend well. The guitar and the keyboards have their time in the spotlight coming in and out of earshot but never, at any time, do they seem to be competing for a place on the track.

Something new to the Borealis arsenal are the guttural vocals heard on the opening track, “Finest Hour.” From there, the band allows itself to take different turns, keeping the listener on their toes. To be certain, each track is, indeed, progressive metal but with some tracks more melodic than others, such as “Fall From Grace,” “Take You Over,” and “Forgotten Forever.” Others are furious prog metal rockers that leaves one gasping for air, such as “Regeneration” and “Breaking the Curse.” On the far end of the other spectrum, it is complete with gorgeous acoustic guitars, soothing keyboards that come with the introspective, soothing “Watch the World Collapse.” Such a diverse, eclectic group of music would send another band into an uncontrollable tailspin as it is, indeed, difficult to do each of these as well as Borealis does. But with solid guitar work, strong vocals and some of the most standout drums heard on a progressive metal release, it all comes together quite well.

Borealis, it seems, has come into its own, taking a mature approach to the songwriting, seeing what works and what it is that they do well. While perhaps a track or two seems to be long in it’s undertaking, such as “Regeneration,” the overall end result is Fall From Grace is a CD that is sure to please longtime fans of this greatly underrated band, and in the process, bring to its flock new fans who appreciate a harder-edged sound.

Genre: Progressive Metal

Track Listing:
Finest Hour
Words I Failed To Say
Fall From Grace
Where We Started
Breaking The Curse
Regeneration
Watch The World Collapse
Take You Over
Forgotten Forever

Musicians:
Matt Marinelli – vocals and guitars
Ken Fobert – guitars
Sean Werlick – keyboard
Sean Dowell – drums
Jamie Smith – bass

Guest Musician:
Jimi Patrick Maltais – death screams on “Finest Hour”

Label: Lion Music

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10

LIVE! : Accept with Sabaton

by Steve Trager
Staff Writer

April 14, 2011 at Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia, PA.

Germany’s export Accept has always packed a punch with their live shows. In the ‘80s they rocked then; and now with a current new lineup in the fold, Accept has truly outshines once again with a stellar live show in Philadelphia during the Blood of the Nations Tour.

After more than 20 years alone, it seems like Accept has never lost touch with their fans nor has lost the depth of their music especially with a live show. The anticipation of Accept to play Philly once again truly makes it all worth while as The Trocadero embraced one hell of a metal show. While sitting through two local bands to get things underway, the stage was set for Sweden’s own metal onslaught of Sabaton. Always a real treat to get a glimpse of a band who never has played on American soil before, and yes this band certainly heated up the Trocadero stage for Accept with a quick set jumping through as many songs as possible; yet still pulling no punches and giving Philly metal maniacs a true Swedish metal “in your face” welcome.

Mind you if the two local showcased bands hadn’t played, Sabaton could have easily co headlined with Accept. Certainly can’t always get what you want from a typical rock show but, you can truly get your metal meltdown with one of Germany’s finest metal bands Accept.

After a great set by Sabaton, not only was the stage warmed up but so were the eager long awaited fans ready to embrace the new blood of Accept during their recent slaughter house live performance with some new tracks and a bolt load of cult classics spanning a musical career that has never missed a beat from day one. It is all about the music and a great live show, and Accept truly captivates the essence in that department. Seems like an eighties flashback with all the vintage flying “v” guitars swarming around the stage while Accept played just under two hours to a set list combining some new material like “Teutonic Terror“ and “Bucket Full of Hate“ while unleashing all the favorites Accept fans have come to expect to hear each night. As a great band all these years, Accept hasn’t lost touch in stellar guitar work from Wolf Hoffman especially on “Metal Heart “and
“Up to the Limit”.

While many of the songs seemingly felt like they were just dusted off the shelf for the first time with front man Mark Tornillo packing a vocal punch, he does truly display the vocal intensity which gives Accept a great musical makeover as live band. The legacy of all those great songs getting a fresh new sound live fits like a glove with Mark Tornillo adding the melodic touches that steps this band in to a new direction. Accept never sounded more revitalized on this tour then they have in years. Certainly in a small intimate setting gives any fan an up close monumental experience of the show — definitely doesn’t get any better than that.

The 19 song set-list set the tone with many great moments of Wolf Hoffman letting his guitar soar through solos especially on “Princess of the Dawn”, “Fast as a Shark”, and “Winners and Losers”. The actual breaking point of the show came the encore icon song of the evening “Balls to the Wall”, mind you this epic song all on its own broke this band in the ‘80s’ and still reigns as a power anthem for eternity. Again, Mark Tornillo steps up to the plate and gives this song a great swift kick, while we all know Mark isn’t about trading places with Udo in this outfit, it’s all about taking the band in a new direction and what better way than to display that in a great live show on this tour.

After seeing a great band perform all the amazing classics that has driven their musical career through countless generations, Accept still possess that melodic drive even if it’s not the same lineup from years past. Still doesn’t matter, fact is they still rocked Philly for the first time in more then a decade.

Accept & Sabaton Photo Gallery

Photos provided by Steve Trager

Mark Tornillo of Accept

by Alex Barbieri
Staff Writer

In 2010, Accept not only returned to metal, they ripped the genre a new a**hole. Blood of the Nations has, almost unanimously, been heralded as 2010’s metal album of the year. It is also—according the band’s official website—turning out to be “the most successful release in the band’s luminous history.” So what’s next for Accept? Singer Mark Tornillo took a moment to reflect on the past year and what’s in store for the reigning kings of metal.

HRH: Mark, congratulations on the Blood of the Nations album and tour. My 14-year-old nephew Kyle and I both agree it is metal album of the year. How does it feel to know so may metal fans feel that way? Anything you want to say to the Accept fans out there?

MARK TORNILLO: I’m very happy that the new record is being accepted by the fans this way! We set out to make a classic Accept album and I think, with the help of Andy Sneap, we accomplished that.

HRH: What have been some of the highlights of 2010 for you? What shows stand out?

MT: Opening for AC/DC in Hannover and Stuttgart was the thrill of a lifetime! And the Sonisphere Festivals in Romania and Istanbul were amazing! We co-headlined with Rammstein and The Big Four. It doesn’t get much better than that!

HRH: I read that Accept is launching the “Blood of the Nations Tour 2011” in mid-January. Where is Accept scheduled to go next?

MT: We’ll be touring throughout Eastern and Western Europe from January until the end of March and then returning to do some festivals during the summer. We’ll be in North and South America during the spring and shows are in the works for Australia and Japan. We’re hoping to wind up the tour by the end of the summer and get back into the studio.

HRH: Accept played 16 countries in 80 days on this tour, and up to 14 shows in a row in Europe. How has the tour been physically on you? Do you enjoying touring more now or back in the day? Do you feel your voice has improved with age?

MT: Touring is physically demanding on all of us, but it’s what we love to do! My throat is hanging in there. It’s a muscle, the more you work it, the stronger it gets. I am definitely enjoying touring more now. It’s a gift to be able to do it now and I appreciate it much more now than I did then.

HRH: What adult beverages would be found in Accept’s studio and on your tour bus?

MT: Beer and the occasional bottle of red wine.

HRH: What are your favorite songs to sing live off Blood of the Nations, and what are your favorite classic Accept songs to sing?

MT: “Bucket Full of Hate” and “No Shelter” so far. We’ll be doing some others this time out, so I’ll let you know! As far as the old stuff, what don’t I like?? It’s a killer catalog and I’m honored to be able to sing it every night! “Fast as a Shark” is a lot of fun, “Princess,” “Breaker”…

HRH: Take us back to your first meeting with Peter Baltes and Wolf Hoffmann at that rehearsal room in New Jersey last year. What memories come back to you?

MT: We just hit it off really well, right off the bat. It was very comfortable, kinda like a bunch of guys who went to different schools together. We had a lot of fun playing together that day.

HRH: Looking back at the early to mid ‘80s, what are some of your fondest memories playing with TT Quick during that era? Any funny/crazy stories you can share?

MT: TT Quick has been my family for the past 30 years. There are endless stories, not too many that I can tell, but the fondest memories are always of us just being together – including the crew. We always hung out together, even when we weren’t playing. Truly like a family.

HRH: What was the proudest moment of your musical career and why?

MT: The release of this album and the fan based and critical acclaim it’s getting. It has far surpassed my expectations and I am humbled.

HRH: Any thoughts on the next album yet? Any song titles, album concepts or a title you can share? (Wink, wink.)

MT: Not giving away anything yet, but I DO have them!! We started writing as soon as the Blood of the Nations was completed.

HRH: Dan asks via Facebook:
“I was a huge TT Quick fan growing up in L’Amour’s (famous rock club in Brooklyn, NY) backyard. How were you able to sing such demanding tunes night after night?”

Also, who makes more sense when they talk: Wolf Hoffmann, with his heavy German accent, or Dave DiPietro after three rounds of Jack Daniels?

MT: L’Amour was a huge part of our history, Dan. We opened it, and closed it. I think the energy in that club gave everyone the edge they needed to perform at a super-human level. And definitely Wolf Hoffmann!

HRH: Give us your first thought that comes to mind on the following names and words:

Metal: YES!

2010: Brilliant!

Europe: Coming!

America: Home!

The Music Business: Ugh…

Success: Work

HRH: Do you have any thoughts on the passing of Ronnie James Dio? If so, any personal stories you can share?

MT: Ronnie was always a huge influence on my writing and singing. The world lost one of the all time greats, and he will be missed for a long, long time.

HRH: Tell us something we don’t know about Mark Tornillo. Anything you want your fans to know about you?

MT: I’m glad I took four years of German in high school!

HRH: Is there anything else you would like to say to your fans and the Hardrock Haven audience?

MT: I look forward to seeing you all on the road! Fists in the air, spreading the Teutonic Terror!!!!!

HRH: Mark, thank you again for your time answering these questions. Please stay in touch and keep us posted on what Accept is up to.

MT: Thanks Alex – it was a pleasure. Talk to you again soon!

Visit the official Accept worldwide website: http://www.acceptworldwide.com/

Watch the video for “Teutonic Terror” on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=req-oDf2ZRc

Friend Mark Tornillo on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Tornillo/106273266078211

Order Blood of the Nations on Amazon.

Accept Live in Hollywood

October 19, 2010 at the Key Club in West Hollywood, CA

by Erik Tweedy
Staff Writer

The last time Accept played in Southern California, President Bill Clinton was in office and the world had yet to hear of stains on a blue dress. 17 years have passed and the wait for Accept’s return was well worth it. The best thing to come out of Germany since Hitler’s suicide, Accept hit the stage of the Key Club with a full metal onslaught rarely seen on the Sunset Strip these days. Playing to a packed house, Accept stormed through a set list that encompassed most of their career including several tracks off the newly released Blood of the Nations.

Kicking the show off with “Starlight” from their 1981 Breaker release, Accept sounded fresh and tight and showed no signs of an aging band that just dropped their first studio release in 13 years and has played more shows in the past 10 months than the past 10 years. With the final departure of original lead singer Udo Dirkschneider, guitarist Wolf Hoffman has taken over the reigns as the band’s leader and through his partnership with bassist Peter Baltes, they put the Accept machine back together again in late 2009. Taking over the vocal duties this time around is the dynamic Mark Tornillo who is a perfect fit for the band. Tornillo, sounding a lot like Udo, easily pulled off the older material and his vocal range will add a lot of depth to future Accept releases.

Leaning heavily on material from the ‘80s, Hoffman and the boys ripped through classics like “Breaker”, “Metal Heart”, “Son of a Bitch” and “Losers and Winners”. Highlights of the show came when the pace was at its fastest. “Restless and Wild”, “Neon Nights”, “No Shelter” and “Fast as a Shark” were brutal double bass drum assaults that left most of the fist pumpers breathless. The new material off Blood of the Nations sounded great alongside the respective back catalog of these metal legends. This night was filled with non-stop guitar solos and a number of surprisingly good bass jams that had the crowd begging for more as the show closed with the eponymous “Balls to the Wall”.

With a couple dozen European dates locked in for early 2011 the return of Accept to the worldwide scene looks to be permanent. Hopefully the fans in the U.S. will not have to wait another decade to see this terrific band.

Accept Set List:
Starlight
Living for Tonight
Breaker
Teutonic Terror
Bucket Full of Hate
Restless and Wild
Son of a Bitch
Metal Heart
Neon Nights
Losers and Winners
Bulletproof
The Abyss
No Shelter
Up to the Limit
Monsterman
Fast as a Shark
Pandemic
Princess of the Dawn
Balls to the Wall

Accept Blood of the Nations

by Erik Tweedy
Staff Writer

Accept is back! After a 14-year hiatus the iconic German metal band have returned in full force with their new studio album Blood of the Nations, featuring new lead vocalist Mark Tornillo. From the first guitar riffs of “Beat the Bastards,” you know this is an Accept record complete with all the Accept trademarks from the dueling guitars of Wolf Hoffmann and Herman Frank to the double bass drums of Stefan Schwarzmann, the thundering bass of Peter Baltes and the deep growling background vocals. This is classic Accept heavy metal at its finest.

Absent this time around from the lineup is original vocalist Udo Dirkschneider who chose to sit out this resurrection of the classic lineup from the mid ‘90s in favor of continuing to front his own band U.D.O where he has been comfortably leading the metal charge across Europe for over 20 years. Replacing Dirkschneider was no small feat as his unique and gruff vocal style is synonymous with the band’s name. In early 2009, Wolf Hoffmann and Peter Baltes went on a mission to find a replacement and at the suggestion of a friend gave TT Quick vocalist, Mark Tornillo, a tryout and it was a match made in heaven. Tornillo’s vocal style is very much in the Udo vein while also maintaining its own style and Tornillo has more range.

Standout track “The Abyss”, about the self destruction of the planet, has a cool mellow verse half way in that showcases the vocal range of Tornillo and leads into a killer Hoffmann solo. This is definitely an improvement over the David Reece experiment Accept tried to pull off in 1989 when Udo first left the band and they released Eat the Heat. There will be some critics that say Tornillo is trying too hard to sound like Udo but if you listen to anything by TT Quick you will hear a mix of Udo, Lemmy and Dan McCafferty from Nazareth which fits perfectly on this release.

Musically, this record flat out rocks and the production by Andy Sneap is top notch. With all the crunchy guitar intros and leads, you can tell that Wolf Hoffmann had a lot of fun writing and recording this record. This is the best Accept have sounded since Metal Heart back in ‘85.

Blood of the Nations is not a concept record but does have a theme running through most of the tracks about global war, religion and destruction. Tracks like “Teutonic Terror”, “Shades of Death”, “Bucketful of Hate” and the title track “Blood of the Nations” give you the feeling that WW III is right around the corner. Tornillo is responsible for writing all of the lyrics which is something new for the band. On all past Accept releases, Wolf Hoffmann’s wife Gaby was the main lyricist.

Halfway in, “Locked and Loaded” hits you like a ton of bricks with its full speed metal attack that harkens back to the Restless and Wild days while “Kill the Pain” shows the softer bluesy side of the band with some very tasty soloing by Hoffmann. If you like great metal guitar, you will like every track on here and will not be hitting the skip button. Some listeners may tire of the soldier-like background vocals on most of the tracks that have become an Accept staple beginning with Balls to the Wall but the blazing guitar work and strong lead vocals more than make up for anything negative.

If you are an old-school Accept fan you need to own this and if you have never listened to them before, this is a great place to start. At the end of the year, Blood of the Nations should be near the top of every top 10 hard rock/metal list.

Band:
Mark Tornillo – Lead Vocals
Wolf Hoffmann – Lead Guitar
Peter Baltes – Bass
Frank Hermann – Guitar
Stefan Schwarzmann – Drums

Track Listing:
1. Beat the Bastards
2. Teutonic Terror
3. The Abyss
4. Blood of the Nations
5. Shades of Death
6. Locked and Loaded
7. Time Machine
8. Kill the Pain
9. Rolling Thunder
10. Pandemic
11. New World Comin’
12. No Shelter
13. Bucket Full of Hate

Label: Nuclear Blast

Website: http://www.acceptworldwide.com/

Hardrock Haven rating: 9/10

U.D.O. Dominator

by Jay Villain
Staff Writer

For those that don’t already know, as lead vocalist for Accept in the early ‘80s, Udo Dirkschneider set the high standard of heavy metal that others have to follow. Udo Dirkschneider continues to maintain that high standard today. The latest release by U.D.O. called Dominator is a prime example of that. His vocal quality is like he’s never aged. Still using his signature sound, Udo’s voice sounds as good today as it did when he first started.

Dominator’s full production adds to the skillful performances found within. There are harmony guitar solos and melodic hooks by guitar players Stefan Kaufmann and Igor Gianola. Fitty Wienhold and Francesco Jovino hold down the rhythm section, and together give Udo Dirkschneider a strong metal foundation. The first song on Dominator called “The Bogeyman” is a rhythmic song with a chorus so catchy that you’re likely to be singing it to yourself later. Next is the title track on Dominator. This is a quick up-tempo song that both the song and the guitar solo strongly reflect the title. In fact, there’s no shortage of great guitar solos throughout Dominator.

Thousands of metal fans will be chanting “Black And White” quite loudly during this anthem-type song. The pace picks up with “Infected.” With a thunderous and punchy double bass chorus, “Infected” is very energetic. Pounding forward is the stomping “Heavy Metal Heaven.” An attractive tribal drum beat along with a very memorable sing-along chorus is going to make this another favorite during live performances. While the bass rumbles away during a flanged guitar bridge, “Doom Ride” sustains the metal continuity along with a flashy yet melodic guitar solo.

“Stillness Of Time” is a bit different. A piano and keyboard start this song, and it maintains keys throughout along with a melodic guitar solo that wraps up using a tapping technique. Part of what makes this power ballad a unique addition to Dominator is the imaginative and classy use of the acoustic guitar during the midsection. Combining rock and roll with metal is the fun and upbeat “Devil’s Rendezvous” complete with a ‘50s-style finger snap during the bridge.

The tempo increases when “Speed Demon” takes off running with unstoppable force. This song is Dominator at top speed. Wrapping up Dominator is “Whispers In The Dark,” a power ballad that’s more ballad than power. This one also contains piano, keys and some acoustic guitar. If this were a movie, “Whispers In The Dark” would be the song playing as the credits role. It’s a melodic song that’s quite a contrast, especially following such a dominant song like “Speed Demon.” Dominator is a very strong release from U.D.O., and it delivers a full dose of metal and a bit more.

Label: AFM Records

www.udo-online.de
www.myspace.com/udoonline

Lineup:
Udo Dirkschneider – vocals
Stefan Kaufmann – guitars
Igor Gianola – guitars
Fitty Wienhold – bass
Francesco Jovino – drums

Track Listing:
01. The Bogeyman
02. Dominator
03. Black And White
04. Infected
05. Heavy Metal Heaven
06. Doom Ride
07 Stillness Of Time
08. Devil´s Rendezvous
09. Speed Demon
10. Whispers In The Dark

Hardrock Haven rating: 9/10