The new record from Acceptance makes me miss the 80’s, and I’ve never even snorted a line of coke using a fifty dollar bill.
I have, however, sang into a hairbrush in front of a mirror, while getting ready for a date with the girl of my dreams - Wild, Free (Tooth & Nail) invokes those same feelings.
Acceptance: Before The '80's'
Acceptance is a band that has been around, off and on, since the late 90's. Releasing their debut EP, Lost For Words, in 2000 they were off and running.
Their debut full length, Phantoms (Columbia), came out in 2005 with a sound that fit in with their emo/alternative contemporaries: Mae, Anberlin and Copeland. After releasing the album, the very next year they would call it quits.
Fast forward to January of 2015 when the band announced they would be getting back together for an appearance at a festival. Sporadic shows, and small tours, would happen over the next few years, until the release of their second full length, Colliding By Design (Rise Records), in 2017.
It's 2020 now, and Acceptance are still going strong, with the release of their third full length, Wild, Free. If Colliding By Design was a departure from their earlier sound, Wild, Free is a continuation of that evolution.
Wild, Free
The opening track, Midnight, ushers you into the record with a sound more reminiscent of The Killers, than Copeland. The slap back delay, on the vocals, helps to drive that sound home. The building guitars let you know that the synth heavy intro isn't telling the whole story - before you know it, you've hit a driving chorus with soaring guitars that bring to mind The Edge, and some of his more familiar riffs in U2. Maybe it's fitting that the closing track is titled At The Edge of The Earth.
Speaking of fitting song titles, track two is a song that would fit in quite well on the latest record by The Midnight - see what I did there? The first track is called Midnight...forget it.
For an album full of driving songs, layered with beautiful guitars and synth work, keeping things moving at a hopeful pace, Bend The Light and its delicate piano really standout.
Jessie Villa: The Voice of an Angel
Speaking of standing out, Wildfires and its feature of Jessie Villa is easily one of the best songs on the record. It starts off rather unassuming, but when Jessie's vocal comes in, it's instantly memorable. Being a song about a couple trying to decide whether their relationship is worth fighting for, or not, to have the male/female back and forth really helps bring the narrative home.
In closing, Acceptance have released an album worth your time. If you're a fan of a 2020 take on 80's synth rock, and you feel like going on an adventure - give this album a listen.
Standout Tracks On Wild, Free
Midnight
Release & Let Go
Son Of The City
Bend The Light
Wildfires
For more new music, read our review of the latest record from iDKHOW.
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