Accept-Restless and Wild (1982)

And at last freed from record company shackles, the fascism of 'hits', Accept are finally able to define metal in it's purest form, with a vengeance. Rawer less polished than later albums, this is perhaps their tightest and most bruising album in their repertoire. "Faster Than A Shark", the first speed metal song, the best example of the new found ferocity only hinted at on previous albums. The title track is a supreme anthem, riffs, chorus, and Udo in perfect fist pumping synchronization, drums pounding away with necessary unsubtlety. Ballads? Ballads come here to die. This was first rate brutality circa 1982, so severe, so righteous, so German. Happy German style choruses are insanely happy. Even the cowbell moments are brutal. Ein Schwien!!!

Rating: 9 out of 10

Accept-Balls To The Wall (1983)

And here you have it.....the genre standard bearer. Heavy riffs, sparkling 80's production values,
the homoerotic lyrics, Udo's bestial gargle, all culminating in the eternal anthem "Balls To The Wall". Accept would rewrite this song from time to time throughout there career. This album stands the test of time against any of the other classics of the 80's. That said, it's still kind of a time capsule, a reflection of what shocked the elders in the day, but harmless now. In the end, only the riffs endure, those classic riffs.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Accept-I'm A Rebel (1980)

"Listen, you German swines, you play these gay ass songs so we can get a hit single. Or else!"

And thus, Udo and the boys are forced to fit into mold forced upon them by the evil company. But this is not a bad album, rather quaint by today's standards, especially the anthemic, happy chorused title track. It just comes across as fast and loose rock 'n' roll with extra heft in the riff department. They are one album away from becoming the monsters who would define Teutonic metal. But listen to that funky bass line! I guess they had to contend with the bass player back in the day, since he croons two of the songs in a commercially pleasing fashion. Udo Dirkschneider scared the shit out of everyone in 1980. Ahhhhhhkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!

Rating: 6 out of 10