Review ACCEPT „Teutonic Titans 1976-2026“

Accept are without question among the pioneers of German heavy metal. Founded in 1971, the band has become a part of metal history. Starting with their self-titled debut and the follow-up I’m a Rebel, Accept gradually made their way into the hearts of the emerging heavy metal movement. Once the band found a lineup that provided stability and continuity, the foundation for a remarkable career was firmly in place.

That was 50 years ago, making this a good time to look back and celebrate everything Accept have accomplished. As we know, Wolf Hoffmann is now the only remaining active member of the original lineup and remains the driving force behind the band. Since 2009, Hoffmann has had a strong vocalist at his side in Mark Tornillo.

To celebrate 50 years of Accept in the proper fashion, however, the band has come up with something a little more special. A simple compilation or “Best Of…” album would hardly do a band like Accept justice. At the same time, the classics from five decades deserve to be celebrated. So Wolf Hoffmann and the band invited a long list of guests to join them. You could almost say that on Teutonic Titans 1976–2026, the who’s who of heavy metal is taking turns walking through the door. And, quite honestly, there are so many names involved that listing them all would be a metal historian’s endurance test.

One of the tracks that deserves special attention is “Fast as a Shark.” Here, none other than Phil Anselmo take on vocal duties with Kirk Hammett adding some riff power, while Billy Sheehan and Mikkey Dee provide the track with plenty of punch. Following the iconic intro performed by Harmonie Musik Hindelang, the song kicks in with an energy that almost foreshadowed speed metal. It makes for a fitting opener to Teutonic Titans 1976–2026 — and it certainly gets the birthday party moving.

Hearing the Metal God himself, Rob Halford, on “Balls to the Wall” is another highlight and the fact that Matthias Jabs of the Scorpions contributes guitar parts to the track pretty much speaks for itself.

Another song that stands out from this collection of successful re-recordings is “Save Us,” taken from the band’s second album. Tobias Forge takes on a vocal part here, giving the song a fresh dynamic while still respecting the character of the original. It is a nice example of what makes this project work: the songs remain recognizable, but the guest musicians bring their own personalities to the material.

These are just a few of the highlights on an album that is simply a lot of fun to listen to. With guests including Chuck Billy, Bobby Blitz, David Ellefson, and a whole host of other familiar names, Teutonic Titans 1976–2026 has no shortage of star power.

The song selection works well, too. The album covers several phases of Accept’s career, from the aforementioned “Save Us” to a strong focus on the band’s successful 1980s period. There is one little fantasy that unfortunately did not become reality, though: one song featuring a classic Accept lineup from the early ’80s, preferably something like “Restless & Wild.” That would have added another nice twist to the anniversary celebration.

Other than that, there is nothing to complain about on Teutonic Titans 1976–2026. It is a very fitting way to celebrate an impressive anniversary, and the sheer number of birthday guests assembled for the occasion speaks for itself.

Horns up!

no score

Tracklist:

Fast as a Shark – feat. Phil Anselmo, Kirk Hammett, Billy Sheehan, Mikkey Dee, Harmonie Musik Hindelang
Balls to the Wall – feat. Rob Halford, Matthias Jabs, Rex Brown, Jason Bowld
Aiming High – feat. Chuck Billy, Gary Holt, David Ellefson, Christopher Williams
Run If You Can – feat. Todd La Torre, Ola Englund, Chuck Garric, Roy Mayorga
Hellhammer – feat. Jason McMaster, Zeuss, Phil Shouse, Christopher Williams
Metal Heart – feat. Dino Jelusick, Joel Hoekstra, Ava Rebekah Rahman, Jason Bowld
Losers and Winners – feat. Hansi Kürsch, Paul Gilbert, Chuck Garric, Tommy Aldridge
Save Us – feat. Tobias Forge, Frank Bello, Ray Luzier
Up to the Limit – feat. John Bush, Alex Skolnick, Rudy Sarzo, Shannon Larkin
Wrong is Right – feat. Ralf Scheepers, John Norum, Ken Mary
Starlight – feat. Joseph Michael, Phil Demmel, Michael Cartellone
Fight It Back – feat. Mark Lopes, Bumblefoot, Billy Sheehan, Shawn Drover
Demons Night – feat. Bobby Blitz, Andy Sneap, David Ellefson, Ray Luzier
T.V. War – feat. Joe Lynn Turner, Fredrik Åkesson, Rudy Sarzo, Ken Mary
London Leatherboys – feat. Sebastian Bach, Rex Brown, Shawn Drover
Monsterman – feat. Jeff Scott Soto, Jeff Loomis, Rudy Sarzo, Michael Cartellone
Restless and Wild – feat. Chris Jericho, K. K. Downing, Billy Sheehan, Ray Luzier