When Accept guitarist Herman Frank is not busy with his main band, he is continuing to produce classic quality metal albums like this one, his second since 2009’s ‘Loyal to None’. From the first moment I pressed play, this album has balls of energy, forget balls to the wall, this makes your balls explode spontaneously such is the level of genius I hear from the respected opener ‘Roaring Thunder’. Vocalist Rick Altzi has a voice you can immediately connect with. He has power, and my main necessity, a sense of melody. Chugging guitars, vocal harmonies, ripping guitar solos, this is what metal is to me, it is an instant winner in my book.
Delving further into heroic guitar moments usually reserved for many a big name guitar god, Frank displays an effortless ability to brandish a hard hitting anthem, the quality is clear, the talent, well… it’s second to none, catchy as hell is how I would describe the title track. The cynics amongst you may think that this is another Accept sounding metal album, elements of that remain, what stands above recent releases of similar sounds is the general flow, and I also hark back to the tremendous vocal delivery of Altzi. If you fail to involve yourself in the melody of ‘Kings Call’ then I am afraid you need to find another musical outlet, it wouldn’t sound out of place on an album by the late great Ronnie James Dio, or even label mates Driver. ‘So They Run’ ends the release, the riffs and picking nature is a style I really love, lots of palm/bridge muted staccato action, backed again with that aforementioned solid level of melody, I cannot express my enjoyment enough for this. Frank should be proud of this and metal fans around the world should also not miss the opportunity to hear albums of this magnitude.
Delving deeper into a heavier traditional metal approach is ‘Black Star’, even though when the verse starts with simplistic chord structures, there is warmth and depth from an undertone of riffing if you listen hard in the background, thus ensuring you will be reeling in a foot stomping head banging sweaty mess. I would love to see this album played live, it works really well, and I don’t mean in a small club, this music travels, it has big venue appeal. If this indeed a personal metal journey for Herman Frank, then I need to know where to buy a ticket immediately, living with this album is very easy, making this to the top of your playlist is easy, ‘Right in the Guts’ is a thoroughbred metal album, it scores much higher for me than recent peers albums and I will even go as far as saying I prefer this to the latest Accept release, yes, I believe it is that good!
(8.5/10 Paul Maddison)
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