Accept: Objection Overruled (reissue)

Much though it is lauded (quite rightly) by the melodic rock community, fans of Accept had thoroughly rejected the Americanised, commercial leanings of the band's, up to then, only album without frontman Udo Dirkschneider, Eat The Heat; Accept promptly folding after their one and only tour with David Reece as singer. Four years passed before the core duo of Peter Baltes (bass) and Wolf Hoffmann (guitars) reconnected, through their drummer Stefan Kaufmann with their ex-singer who had been enjoying reasonable success with his solo band, with which Kaufmann had also joined up. Initial meetings went well and the quartet agreed to team up once more under the Accept banner and this time, unusually, as a one guitar quartet.

Objection Overruled was the result and at the time the rock press seemed pretty nonplussed by an album that was accused of being Accept by numbers. Yet listening to the likes of "Bulletproof", "Slaves To Metal", the title track and especially "I Don't Wanna Be Like You" afresh, there's no denying the criticism was harsh. It's not as though this album broke new ground for Accept, yet after what had been a disastrous change of direction and subsequent split, that wasn't the point. Instead Objection Overruled did exactly what was intended, by announcing that Accept were not only back, but back as we knew them – leaders of the European metal scene and the inspiration for a whole host of classically inclined power metallers.

How much any of Hoffmann's guitar partners contributed to Accept as a studio outfit was always something open to question, so there was no noticeable difference to him working alone on the album. Hence the riffs are as big and thick as anything experienced on Balls To The Wall, Metal Heart or Breaker, while Udo had lost none of his authoritative bark. Baltes and Kaufmann were also fired up, the drums positively batter ramming their way into your head, while the bass thrummed with a serious, threatening intensity. Admittedly the slower "Amamos La Vida" may prove an acquired taste, yet for those who buy into Udo's strangely seductive, if unsteady, clean delivery, will find a song of real passion and heart. However it is the foot to the floor riff-a-rolla that will get most frothing, with "Sick, Dirty And Mean" and "This One's For You" prime examples of the sound for which this band are so renowned.

This HNE/Cherry Red reissue unfortunately adds nothing in the way of bonuses, however a skilled remaster from Andy Pearce brings extra bite, while liner notes by respected rock scribe Malcolm Dome featuring retrospective thoughts from both Hoffmann and Kaufmann add value.

Accept would go on to release a pair of lacklustre efforts before once more mothballing the name, as Udo went solo again. Amazingly in 2010, some fourteen years down the line, Hoffmann and Baltes would resurrect the band once more without Udo; an idea any sane minded metal hearted fan would see as folly. However with Mark Tornillo behind the mic they've gone on to deliver (thus far) three albums which can be viewed amongst their best. Not quite up to that standard, but not far behind, Objection Overruled is undoubtedly the last time they'd hit the heights with Udo at the helm. If you listened to the criticism of the time and have as a result always dismissed this album, you really should do yourself a favour and right that wrong as soon as possible.

Track Listing
1. Objection Overruled
2. I Don't Wanna Be Like You
3. Protectors Of Terror
4. Slaves To Metal
5. All Or Nothing
6 .Bulletproof
7 .Amamos La Vida
8 .Sick, Dirty And Mean
9 .Donation
10. Just By My Own
11. This One's For You

Added: April 18th 2015
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Objection Overruled at Cherry Red
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Language: english

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