in the of and , and they were part of the German heavy metal scene, which had emerged by the early to mid-1980s…..
Accept played a crucial role in the development of both speed and thrash metal, influencing countless bands that followed. Emerging from the German heavy metal scene in the late 1970s, Accept gained international recognition in the early to mid-1980s with albums like Restless and Wild (1982) and Balls to the Wall (1983). These releases showcased a harder, faster sound that pushed the boundaries of traditional heavy metal, laying the groundwork for the aggressive tempos and riff-driven style that would define speed and thrash metal genres.
Accept’s signature sound, powered by Wolf Hoffmann’s razor-sharp guitar riffs and Udo Dirkschneider’s distinctive vocals, was a key inspiration for emerging thrash bands such as Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth. Their song “Fast as a Shark” is often cited as one of the earliest examples of speed metal, with its blistering pace and aggressive delivery. Alongside other German bands like Kreator, Sodom, and Destruction, Accept helped establish Germany as a major hub for heavy metal innovation.
Though not as extreme as later thrash acts, Accept bridged the gap between traditional heavy metal and the more extreme subgenres, making them a vital piece of the evolution of metal music globally.
