A quality delivery which will truly hit you “Right In The Guts”,

Hot on the heels of Accept’s fantastic album ‘Stalingrad’ comes Herman Frank’s second solo album, ‘Right In The Guts’. Herman was in Accept in one of its early finest hours that being the ‘Balls To The Wall’ album, then left to join Victory and become a producer for bands such as Molly Hatchet and Saxon. As part of the triumphant and re-energised Accept with its brace of smash comeback albums, ‘Blood Of The Nations’ and the aforementioned ‘Stalingrad’, Frank has chosen a good time to stay in the limelight.

The quality of the musicianship on the album is ultra-high and fans of both melodic and speed metal will have something to like here. Opening with ‘Roaring Thunder’, the song really is as the title suggests, with Frank´s guitar screaming throughout. The title track is truly memorable with a heavy souped-up ‘Smoke On The Water’ vibe to it. Along with a mesmerising chorus, you can´t get this song out of your mind.

What becomes clear very early on is that the singer, Rick Altzi (At Vance), excels with a caterwauling style and is a perfect match for Frank’s quality on the guitar. A trio of blistering songs follow – ‘Ivory Gate’, ‘Vengeance’ and ‘Starlight’ all with double bass drum and a speed metal tempo and essentially what the doctor ordered and Frank has supplied. Interestingly, the standout track is a bit different to the rest. It is ‘Falling To Pieces’, a very 1987 Whitesnake affair with a pulsing bass line, a very David Coverdale-esque vocal delivery and a first rate harmonised guitar solo. This song is worth the album price alone and for me is the track of the year.

‘Raise Your Hand’ has a modern funky sound to it with a bit of wah-wah and a crowd pleasing chorus. The next tracks keep up the pace and descend into the much appreciated metal mayhem envelope before launching into the epic ‘King’s Call’; a stomping track with vocals turned up past 11 and an unforgettable chugging guitar rhythm. Frank pulls out the stops and literally all the tricks of the trade in the solo to match the intensity of the song.

The penultimate track on the album, ‘Black Star’, again excels, a more mid-tempo song allowing Altzi’s voice to soar with multi-tracked guitars weaving another classic rock tapestry. Closing with ‘So They Run’, it is a full-on rollercoaster of a song encompassing yet another great chorus and memorable riff. With an abrupt ending, the album closes; thirteen songs and no fillers.

This truly is a quality delivery which will truly hit you “Right In The Guts”!

Rob McKenzie