#dirk steffens

Breaker’s title track was the song where Accept essentially became themselves, but the rest of that album was only marginally heavier and more metallic than I’m a Rebel’s attempts at radio rock.  The real change had to do with focus: “Midnight Highway” was no less indebted to the likes of Bad Company or Foreigner than “I’m a Rebel”, but the band’s performance was less ham-fisted and more streamlined, while Dirk Steffens’ production added some much-needed grit.  Udo Dirkschneider actually tried to sing a bit, but Stefan Kaufmann’s drumming effortlessly locked in an AC/DC-worthy groove, while Wolf Hoffmann and Jörg Fischer followed suit with gut-level riffing.  The chorus was fist-pumping without being overly aggressive, unlike anything the band would play on their next 4 albums, and compared to Restless and Wild or Balls to the Wall, was more hard rock than metal.  But that chorus was a fist pumper indeed, and was obvious and even a little stupid, but in a profoundly glorious way.  “Midnight Highway” was Accept’s first successful anthem, though it didn’t sound much like what would follow.

Dirk Steffens - The Seventh Step. 1976 (full album)

Lost Home Of 16 Blackbirds

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