Accept – Symphonic Terror (Live at Wacken 2017)

Label: Nuclear Blast  Playing Time: 120 Min  Release: 23rd November 2018

Accept have already released a live album in the past year, now they release a new one. This time Wolf Hoffmann and his sidekicks recorded their show at Wacken Open Air 2017 and release it as a DVD with a double CD Symphonic Terror-Live at Wacken 2017 . At this point I have to point out that I only have the audio material to review. Therefore I cannot say a word about the video quality, the editing and other video related facts.

The concert starts in a quite unspectacular way. In the first quarter the band begins with some newer songs and also ‘Restless And Wild’ to warm up. In terms of music, the second quarter has actually the highest quality. The band (without vocalist Mark Tornillo) performs five classic tracks along with an orchestra. The participating musicians achieve the perfect fusion of Metal with orchestral sounds. Just listen to the last two tracks of this part of the show, ‘Double Cello Concerto’ and ‘Symphony No 40’. The perfect symbiosis! But from my subjective view, this part is a bit too long. The second half of the setlist consists of Accept songs played by the band and the orchestra. The result is, as often, a double sided medal. Some of the tracks gain depth and intensity. Those are especially the slower tracks like ‚The Dark Side Of My Heart‘, ‚Shadow Soldiers‘ and ‚Dying Breed‘. Also the final ‘Balls To The Wall’ has become really big and intense. But there are also some tracks that do not work, especially the faster ones like ‘Breaker’ or ‘Fast As A Shark’.

All in all, “Symphonic Terror” has turned out a very good live document. The sound is powerful and clear. Only the audience – the biggest Heavy Metal crowd of the world – could be a bit louder in the mix. The question if a new live album after only one year and one further studio album is necessary must be answered by everyone for themselves.

If you missed the Wacken show in the last year, there are a more chances to see the band live with an orchestra as in 2019 there will be a couple of shows. Until now, only the shows in Germany have been announced:

20.04.2019 Wuppertal

21.04.2019 Leipzig

22.04.2019 Hamburg

23.04.2019 Fürth

25.05.2019 Saarbrücken

27.05.2019 München

www.acceptworldwide.com