Accept is a German heavy metal band that rose to prominence in the 1980s due to their aggressive style of playing. Their music is considered a crucial development in the evolution of the genre. Though most of their recordings have a harsh, industrial sound, later albums have shown a more progressive approach.
The band was formed by guitarist Gerhard "Geri" Schröer in 1976, in the German city of Solingen. The first lineup featured singers Peter Baltes, Frank Friedrich and Udo Dirkschneider, and engineer Horst Maehler playing bass. The group was soon re-tooled with bassist Peter Szigeti and drummer Stefan Kaufmann.
With this lineup, Accept quickly rose to international recognition. Their debut album Accept (1979) was met with mixed reviews, but received enough attention to spur a tour of the US in 1980. On their accompanying tour, Accept gained notoriety, with bands like Metallica, Megadeth, and Ratos de Porão shouting out their influence.
Their next albums Breaker (1981) and Restless and Wild (1982) perfected the aggressive sound and fast riffs that became the signature of the group. Following the release of these two albums, the band achieved worldwide fame. All the time touring extensively, Accept was later described as Germany’s answer to the Rolling Stones.
After the release of their fourth album Balls to the Wall (1983), Accept changed their sound somewhat. By this point, Baltes had left the group and was replaced by David Reece. That same year, they released the number one single "Balls to the Wall" in various countries.
But not everyone was happy with the new sound. Investing heavily in a North American tour (1984) failed, resulting in the band going on hiatus following their next release Metal Heart (1985). Eventually, after turbulent years of under-and-outs, internal conflicts and dramatic touring, the band members decided to part ways in 1989.
Fast forward to the start of the new millennium: Accept was resuscitated by founding members Baltes, Dirkschneider, and guitarist Wolf Hoffmann. With Jörg Fischer joining on guitar and Stefan Schwarzmann on drums, they performed several reunion shows all over the globe. This was followed by a new studio album, Blood of the Nations (2010).
The band’s style evolved once more, spawning a fast, dynamic musical language. Following the success of this record, Accept got the recognition that they originally had in the 80s. Albums such as Stalingrad (2012), Blind Rage (2014) or The Rise of Chaos (2017), finally gained them the international fame their early days in the 1980s.
Today, Accept is still at the top of the metal scene, headlining major festivals such as Wacken Open Air or Graspop Metal Meeting. Their impressive musical career hasn’t diminished, as the band continues to make and play new music. It's hard to imagine metal music without the influence of Accept; their ongoing relevance in the scene speaks for itself.