Accept – Humanoid (2024)

The news of a band synonym to Heavy Metal releasing new music, are always celebratory. Even when more than half of the members today are recent additions, with less than ten years of service. Under the leadership of the last original member Wolf Hoffman and with vocalist since the 2009 reunion, Mark Tornillo, this modern version of Accept continues its ravaging course by touring endlessly and releasing their already 6th album within 15 years, 17th since their inception.  

What do we want from a new Accept record? Based on their recent streak, a combination of fast heavy bombers, some slower paced Hard Rock hits, perhaps a composition with a more anthemic approach and most importantly, at least a couple of songs that will standout with their exceeding quality, songs that will blow your mind and will become an inextricable part of any Accept related playlist. Each album had those, examples are No Ones Master, What’s Done is Done, Trail of Tears and Fall of the Empire, Shadow Soldiers, Teutonic Terror. 

Does Humanoid check everything? For the first time in recent years, perhaps no, by omitting to check the most important thing: The mindblowing part. Before getting there, let’s start by stating how good the executional part of the album is. Winning factors are Mark’s vocals, who sings his lungs out, with the other being every single guitar solo played. Admittedly, Humanoid has a more classic and Hark Rock approach, something that I am not the biggest fan of. During songs like Diving into Sin and title track, guitars shred with a burning passion. At moments like Straight up Jack and Man Up, they speak no words to me. But even then, when it is time for any solo, I have no other option than picking that air guitar and bow in veneration. That good.

My biggest gripe with the album though is perhaps the lack of memorable choruses and that is what deprives the final result from its standout track. Southside of Hell is everything I want from a metal song with its instrumental part being unmatched, but with a lack of a more interesting climax at the chorus, I cannot but see a wasted potential. 

Everything said till now, does not alter the fact that if we isolate this new music, we are left with something good. If you live and breathe for more Accept, or are delighted to hear of this more Hard Rock approach, you will probably disagree with many things said. But in the end, if I have to choose a Tornillo era album to spin, chances are against Humanoid. Feeling forced to choose a representative song to bolster my lists, is the perfect sign that I wanted something more.  If hell is a place where we are not allowed to listen to metal, I just earned a place in it. However legendary a band is, they deserve our honesty the same they deserve our eternal respect. 

65/100

Pavlos Pavlakis

On behalf of Metal Domain