Register Forgot login?

© 2002-2024
Encyclopaedia Metallum

Privacy Policy

Accu§er > Repent > Reviews
Accu§er - Repent

No, this is not J. Christ on the cover - 74%

Felix 1666, July 3rd, 2015
Written based on this version: 1992, CD, Metal Machine Music

...as far as I remember, it was the drum roadie of the band. However, after four releases, Accu§er realized that they were suffering from stagnation. Their songwriting did not lack of ideas, but the band was too often not able to connect its actually interesting thoughts to a gripping result. To create high sophisticated compositions has to be learned. It seemed therefore appropriate to modify the style in a more or less radical manner. I am not referring to the final track of "Repent". Its industrialized approach remained an isolated experiment. (This was almost a pity, because the powerful song contrasted with the "usual" tracks of the band in a noteworthy manner.) But I am speaking of the first eight tracks. Their compact appearance, the reduced amount of different riffs and the violent mix were characteristic for the "new Accu§er". By the way, this stylistic change corresponded with a line-up change. Founding member Eberhard Weyel had left the band. Contrariwise, René Schütz had returned.

Accu§er´s lyrics still did no lack of cynicism. Lines like "We can save your soul from hell / But only if you´re heterosexual" excoriated the Christian ideology with a pointed pen. But in musical terms, Accu§er was no longer the same. The guys did not any longer look out for any form of technical ecstasy. At the centre of attention were the songs themselves. They were predominantly based on flattening guitars, rapid drums and a brutal singing style. Frank Thoms had taken on the task of enriching the tunes with his vigorous - yet slightly monotonous - voice. In addition to these changes, Accu§er had discovered the power of the traditional verse-chorus-verse scheme and the band was able to implement this pattern successfully. The songs did not lack of power and aggressiveness. Highlights like the title track or "Get Saved" cleared my confused mind in a stormy manner. These tunes sustainably embodied the new belligerence of Accu§er. But even if the band chose a more viscous approach, the solid riffing guaranteed an enjoyable listening experience. Just lend an ear to the dragging "The Drones" in order to check my statement.

In alignment with the new musical vehemence, the production put the emphasis on density and robustness. The more or less clean sound of the former publications did not show up again. Accu§er were working on a new image while appearing less subtle and more antisocial. The uncompromising mix was suitable in order to support this effort. It was difficult to say whether the exhibited attitude was credible or not. We may not forget that the group did not originate from a socially disadvantaged area, but from the more or less tranquil Siegen, a medium-sized city in a rural region of Germany. But I guess this question can be neglected, because there was no doubt that the band did not lack of euphoria and combativeness. Like a new born child (a very angry new born child), the band wanted to conquer the world as soon as possible. They over-reached a little bit, but the powerful tunes of "Repent" shaped a remarkable album.

A crucifixion of balled fists - 60%

autothrall, February 10th, 2011

Beyond the severely lacking Double Talk, belabored with foolishness, I was not expecting much out of Accu§er for the foreseeable future. Thus, when the band changed their logo for the fourth full-length Repent, the cross-bearer adorning its cover image, I was horrified that I was about to experience some major change for the worse, like perhaps a transition into proto-groove or nu-metal, which was then in its inception. Thankfully, that's just not the case for Repent, and it's actually a better effort than most that the band have released: meaty, honest thrash metal with thick bass-lines and simple but appropriate chugging brutality that was very easily the heaviest of their efforts to date, if not the best.

A lot of the riffs reek of Metallica's ...And Justice for All, if it was super charged and splattered with deeper, more aggressive vocals. Speaking of which, Eberhard Weyel had left the band at this point, so Frank Thorns took over those duties, and this explains the positive shift and the ballsy power being leveled behind "Rotting from Within", "Repent", and "Get Saved". The guitars have a lot of punch and impact to them, hitting straight for the gut, while not abandoning the slight spurts of clinical technicality that were present on the last few albums. These are not necessarily timeless classics that will be forming nostalgia in your mind that prompts immediate re-visitations, but they're not bad, and when the band branches out to the acoustic intro of "Sacrifice Machine" or the slower plodding of "The Drones", it's only to refill the listener's attention span for the further propulsion of "Nosferatu" or "Judgement Gone Blind".

They close this album with a cover of Die Krupps' "Metal Machine Music", and though the vocals render it a little cheesy, it's still an interesting choice, and loyal enough to the original. I just don't care for a few of the boring, chugged riffs there. The guitar tone is also pretty blocky throughout the entire album, and while this gives it a primal force, it also seems to drain the potential ballistic savagery. This is not a good album. It's not the equal of Who Dominates Who?, their best overall. There's really nothing here I would specifically seek out, but my head did bang to a few of the rhythms, and I liked the new logo. For the most part, Repent is a passable facelift for the band. It's tight, it's pissed off enough to stand toe to toe with a lot of the emerging groove metal tough guys of the 90s, but it doesn't abandon the whole central notion of 'thrash'. The band would go down that drain soon enough...

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com

Repent - 80%

Maikkeli, March 1st, 2008

After "Double Talk" Accu§er's singer/bassist Eberhard Weyel left the band, and their guitarist Frank Thoms took over on vocals and Milan Peschel became their new bass player. And with "Repent" Accu§er came up with a good thrash metal album. Some useless info: after this album they started to add groove metal to their music.

Music on "Repent" is quite technical, but this never becomes overly technical so there is still some simple hooks, and they have put more thought on songwriting than in trying to be as technical as possible. Music style on this albums is a little bit similar to "Arise" era Sepultura, but this is far away from being a clone, and "Repent" is maybe a little bit more technical.

Frank Thoms vocals are quite good. And his vocals are one of the biggest things that remind me of Sepultura, as his voice is a little bit similar to Max Cavalera's voice. Guitar work of Frank Thoms and Rene Schutz is one of the best things on this album, there is a good amount of good riffs and there is few great solos. Drummer Volker Borchert and bassist Milan Peschel both does a good job but nothing amazing.

Production on this album is in my opinion good. It is heavy and quite clear, but still has a little bit rawer sound what I like. Especially I like the guitar sound which is really heavy, but it does get sometimes a little bit muddy.

"Repent" is a good album, it's not a perfect album as there is one bad song called "Metal Machine Music", which is a bad experiment with industrial metal. And this is at times a little bit generic. But if you like thrash metal, I'm sure you will find at least something to enjoy from this album.

Highlights: "Rotting From Within", "Sacrifice Machine", "The Drones" and "Judgement Gone Blind", which is my favorite song from this album.