2010 is an historic time for Metal, not due to all the bands out there waving the flag of the true, but because veteran German Metal meisters ACCEPT have returned to dominate the scene once again. Sounds of "Restless And Wild", "Balls To The Wall", and "Metal Heart" echo vigorously in the hearts and minds of all the die-hards who have loved ACCEPT so much since the glorious '80s, myself included. Sure there were JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, METALLICA, etc. etc., but ACCEPT were always the definitive German Metal band. They just always had that appeal, that substance to them. Well guess what? They still do.

With new singer Mark Tornillo (ex-TT QUICK) and more aggression than ever, ACCEPT are back in shiny Metallic style with their phenomenal brand new album, "Blood Of The Nations". Skeptics may use the absence of former vocalist Udo Dirkschneider (U.D.O.) as an excuse to turn the other cheek before even giving this a chance, but make no mistake about it - this album stands tall alongside the above-mentioned classics and is easily the best thing they've done since 1993's "Objection Overruled". It's 100% pure, lean, mean, unrelenting Metal with more than enough cast iron balls to keep you salivating from zero to end.

The core back-end strength of "Blood Of The Nations" lies in the skilled hands of Herr Wolf Hoffmann, who hasn't lost a single fragment of his signature talent. The way he (man)handles the guitar sends bolts of lightning up your spine as he shreds through each song. Bassist Peter Baltes is the other half of the driving force behind the music. Both he and Hoffmann share the collective responsibility in bringing ACCEPT's sound to life. Tornillo has made HUGE leaps and bounds since his earlier days, and proves that he can fill Dirkschneider's shoes not as a clone or a replacement, but as his own entity with his own unique style, and he does it with strength and ease. His impressive range in standout tracks like "The Abyss", "Teutonic Terror" and "Pandemic" provides density and flavour to the music. Other killer tunes include the hammer-driving "Locked And Loaded", opener "Beat The Bastards", and head-bangers "Bucketful Of Hate" and "No Shelter". Seriously, there are no lemons here.

ACCEPT are one of Metal's most celebrated institutions, and their legendary status has not come without hard work and dedication. 15 years is a long time to stay away from something you love, and to come back after all this time is no doubt a daunting, arduous task, but ACCEPT have come full circle to where they last left off. With the skillful help of Andy Sneap behind he controls, they have managed to produce one of the best and most important Metal albums of the year, if not the decade. Surely this is the beginning of a new era for ACCEPT. The fact is, Metal needs ACCEPT. In a time where creativity seems to be stagnant among many bands, and output has become boring and stale, ACCEPT inject newfound inspiration and relevance into the Metal scene with "Blood Of The Nations". This is an exciting time for Metal, and ACCEPT is responsible for a huge chunk of that. Welcome back, boys. We salute you.