Their current lineup consists of Hoffmann, vocalist Mark Tornillo, guitarists Uwe Lulis and Philip Shouse, drummer Christopher Williams and bassist Martin Motnik. Before arriving at their current lineup, Accept has undergone numerous lineup changes, being Hoffmann the last remaining original member since its inception, and he is the only band member to appear on each album.
Accept played an important role in the development of speed and thrash metal, and they were part of the German heavy metal scene, which emerged in the early to mid-1980s. They have also been cited as an influence or inspiration by a number of acts, including Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Pantera, Testament, Anthrax, Guns N' Roses, Mötley Crüe, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Overkill, Exodus, and Annihilator, as well as fellow Germans such as Helloween, Blind Guardian, Doro, Sodom, Rage, and Grave Digger. Accept achieved its first commercial success with their fifth studio album Balls to the Wall (1983), which is the band's only album to be certified gold in the United States and Canada, and spawned their well-known hit "Balls to the Wall".
Accept have broken up and reformed multiple times. They first split up in 1989, several months after the release of Eat the Heat (which was their only album with Dirkschneider's initial replacement David Reece), but reformed in 1992 and released three more albums before disbanding again in 1997. After briefly reuniting in 2005, Accept announced their third reunion in 2009, with former T.T. Quick frontman Mark Tornillo replacing Dirkschneider (who declined to participate), and the band has recorded five albums with him: Blood of the Nations (2010), Stalingrad (2012), Blind Rage (2014), The Rise of Chaos (2017) and Too Mean to Die (2021); each of those albums renewed Accept's popularity in Germany and entered the top ten charts there.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accept_(band)
Studio albums
Accept (1979)
I'm a Rebel (1980)
Breaker (1981)
Restless and Wild (1982)
Balls to the Wall (1983)
Metal Heart (1985)
Russian Roulette (1986)
Eat the Heat (1989)
Objection Overruled (1993)
Death Row (1994)
Predator (1996)
Blood of the Nations (2010)
Stalingrad (2012)
Blind Rage (2014)
The Rise of Chaos (2017)
Too Mean to Die (2021)
The Quick And The Dead
Accept Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tensions rise, push the needle to red
Pick up the tempo, it's getting late
You've got that inner need accelerate
What now lies in between the hunter and the prey
Set sail, apart from the rest, let nothing get in your way
You've got the world in your hand
Pull the trigger, move out ahead
There's two kinds of people the quick and the dead
Cut loose the horses, right to the chase
Got to adrenalize, win this human race
Driving momentum, you take the lead
Gaining intensity, strive to succeed
What now lies in between the hunter and the prey
Set sail, apart from the rest, nothing will get in your way
Speed and power, take command
You've got the world in your hand
Pull the trigger, move out ahead
There's two kinds of people the quick and the dead
What now lies in between the hunter and the prey
Set sail, apart from the rest, nothing will get in your way
Speed and power, take command
You've got the world in your hand
Pull the trigger, move out ahead
There's two kinds of people the quick and the dead
Speed and power, take command
You've got the world in the palm of your hand
Pull the trigger, move out ahead
There's two kinds of people the quick and the dead
In the song “The Quick and the Dead”, Accept describes the experience of a person pushing themselves to their limits through speed and power. The lyrics start with the imagery of a clock being wound in the singer's head, indicating the building tension they feel. As the song progresses, the lyrics continue to use metaphors for acceleration and speed, such as “Pick up the tempo” and “Cut loose the horses”. There is a clear message of the importance of winning and being the best, with lines such as “Driving momentum, you take the lead/Gaining intensity, strive to succeed”. The singer sees the world as a competition, with only two types of people: "the quick and the dead".
The song can be interpreted as a call to action for listeners, encouraging them to push themselves to their limits and strive for success. It may also be interpreted as a critique of a society that values competition and winning above all else. Regardless of the interpretation, the lyrics convey an intense sense of urgency and drive, challenging the listener to take control and be the best they can be.
Line by Line Meaning
A hand is winding the clock in your head
Your mind is telling you that time is running out and you need to act fast.
Tensions rise, push the needle to red
As the pressure grows, you're pushing the limits beyond the red zone.
Pick up the tempo, it's getting late
Speed up your pace as there is limited time left to reach your goal.
You've got that inner need accelerate
The inner drive within you is pushing you to go faster and take the lead.
What now lies in between the hunter and the prey
The game of survival, where only the fittest and fastest prevail.
Set sail, apart from the rest, let nothing get in your way
Stand out from the crowd, and overcome any obstacle or distraction.
Speed and power, take command
Be in control of the situation with your speed and strength.
You've got the world in your hand
You have the power and ability to shape your future success.
Pull the trigger, move out ahead
Make the move to get ahead of your competitors and achieve your objectives.
There's two kinds of people the quick and the dead
Those who act quick on their feet and reach the top, and those who do not make it.
Cut loose the horses, right to the chase
Free yourself from any constraints and go straight for the finish line.
Got to adrenalize, win this human race
Boost your energy and win the race to the top of the game.
Driving momentum, you take the lead
Use your force to build the momentum and take the first place.
Gaining intensity, strive to succeed
Put your heart and soul into your drive to reach your ultimate goal.
Speed and power, take command
Be authoritative with your speed and flair for executing tasks.
You've got the world in the palm of your hand
You are in full control of your success and destiny.
Pull the trigger, move out ahead
Make proactive moves to push the boundaries and come out at the top.
There's two kinds of people the quick and the dead
In this constantly evolving world, you're either quick and adaptable or left behind.
Speed and power, take command
Lead the race by being dominant with your strength and authority.
You've got the world in the palm of your hand
You are holding the key to your success and future, with limitless potential.
Pull the trigger, move out ahead
Take the first step towards your goals by making assertive decisions and taking action.
There's two kinds of people the quick and the dead
The world is ruthless and you need to be quick to succeed, or fail to adapt and fade into obscurity.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARK TORNILLO, PETER BALTES, WOLF HOFFMANN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind