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ACCEPT

Neo-Prog • Japan


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Founded in 2007

Japanese artist ACCEPT is basically the solo project of multi-instrumentalist and composer Hisa, who has created music inspired by a life-long fascination for British progressive rock of the symphonic variety.

Featuring lyrics inspired by the theories of psychologist C. G. Jung the first album by Accept, Silver Moon, was issued in 2007. A sophomore effort has been planned for release in October 2009.

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ACCEPT discography


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ACCEPT top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

2.63 | 5 ratings
Silver Moon
2007
3.07 | 4 ratings
Mobius
2009
3.52 | 8 ratings
Taiji (Confrontation)
2012
3.10 | 2 ratings
Perpetual Flow
2014
2.96 | 5 ratings
Under The 23rd
2015
2.98 | 4 ratings
Dream of Tree
2019
3.32 | 9 ratings
Apogee
2021

ACCEPT Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

ACCEPT Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

ACCEPT Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

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ACCEPT Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Apogee by ACCEPT album cover Studio Album, 2021
3.32 | 9 ratings

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Apogee
Accept Neo-Prog

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

3 stars This is the second album I have heard from Japanese band Accept, who have apparently now finally bowed to the inevitable and after more than 10 years have since release have changed their name to Lua Azure to avoid confusion with a certain German metal act. This is their seventh album in fourteen years, and as with the last one, 2019's 'Dream of Tree', everything is provided by Hisao although Akihiro Fujii does get credited with snare drum on one track. Once again, we hear that Hisao is a master at making the listener believe we are listening to a full band as opposed a single player, as there is nothing here which makes one think any different. We are again deep in the world of Nineties neo prog, a style which I for one have always enjoyed as I lived through the scene at the time, although some may feel it has not dated as well as it might have done.

Here Hisao gives us nicely constructed songs, with English which only occasionally has a slight bit of accent, but even if one did not think he was a native English speaker one would still not imagine he was Japanese as there is nothing in the intonation or music which would lead to that conclusion. I was not massively impressed with the last release but for me this is a step in the right direction as there is a decisiveness throughout, and one can understand the rationale. He allows the music to ebb and flow, with nice contrasts, allowing space to come in and often is quite reflective, allowing the guitars to take second place to piano but brings them back when the time is right. I am sure his location combined with the name of the band has been working against him, but this is something which progheads would do well to listen out for (available on Bandcamp).

 Apogee by ACCEPT album cover Studio Album, 2021
3.32 | 9 ratings

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Apogee
Accept Neo-Prog

Review by alainPP

4 stars A little-known group that deserves more clarity and recognition, especially in this year 2021 when 2 important albums are released, the YES and the FRAGILE which was once a tribute band of the great YES.

An album full of various synths that smells of the sound of the 70's with obvious reminiscences of Wakeman's keyboards, of the complex atmospheres of his illustrious father. Smaller pieces also which show the instrumental quality of HISAO and two big pieces at the end of the album which start with sounds heard, but which we never tire of. Apart from that, the atmosphere leaves the rest of the time on neo between the two decades, vintage on one side and more worked on the other, giving a very successful musical atmosphere.

In short, an album not to be underestimated which can at times do as well as the two groups mentioned above, up to you.

 Dream of Tree by ACCEPT album cover Studio Album, 2019
2.98 | 4 ratings

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Dream of Tree
Accept Neo-Prog

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

3 stars No, this isn't the well-known Accept who have been making a mighty noise for some forty years, but instead is a solo progressive artist from Japan called Hisao. This is his sixth album, and was released earlier this year, with his debut coming out back in 2007. There was a time when I was listening to a great deal of Japanese progressive rock and must admit to having not previously come across a project quite like this. Most bands seemed to either be into classic progressive rock or jazz fusion, whereas what we have here is someone who is fully embracing the neo-prog scene of 25 years ago. Where Hisao succeeds very well is in making one think that Accept are indeed a band as opposed to a one-man project, as he is a strong guitarist and keyboard player, with some delicate piano here and there as well. His vocals are also clear and relatively unaccented, and it feels as if he is channelling Pendragon from 25 years ago, along with Shadowland.

There are times, such as during 'An Ancient Voice', when there are passages which just make the listener smile, but there are others when there is the feeling that he isn't really sure where he is trying to take the music. It can lose the thread, and along with it, the listener. It isn't a bad album, but solid as opposed to anything essential. If you are a fan of neo prog, particularly that of the early Nineties, then may well be interested. There are some strong rock guitar lines, and passages that can be inspired, but not all the time. I should also make comment on the digipak, which contains all the lyrics (which are all in English), as it is a nice presentation which isn't always the case with a self- release. It is a mystery as to why he chose to use the name of such a well-known band, but if you can get past the confusion then this may be to your taste.

 Dream of Tree by ACCEPT album cover Studio Album, 2019
2.98 | 4 ratings

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Dream of Tree
Accept Neo-Prog

Review by steelyhead

3 stars When someone says Neo-Prog is boring...He (or She) is telling the truth as it is. Most of those albums trying to get that seventie's "vibe" of prog are dull as hell. The album here is not a total waste of time, but it is difficult to know what was this guy thinking when He wrote it. There's no central thread (to my knowledge) and the music is a hodge-podge that bear some resemblance to classic Genesis (Hackett's Genesis, the good one I mean) and in only one song "Blessing" You can hear a classic Yes hommage. So I am giving three stars here because of the memories.
 Dream of Tree by ACCEPT album cover Studio Album, 2019
2.98 | 4 ratings

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Dream of Tree
Accept Neo-Prog

Review by Windhawk
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars Japanese project ACCEPT has been a going concern for more than a decade, and in that time main man, composer and musician Hisao have recorded and released half a dozen studio albums. The most recent of these is "Dream of Tree", which was released on the Prime Number label in early 2019. A label I suspect may well be the artist's own label.

Japanese project Accept continues it's journey where progressive rock and moods of a more ambient nature are blended, and in this case seeking to produce sounds, moods and atmospheres of a dreamlike nature. A lot of this is accomplished, but weaknesses in the technical department, with substandard mix and production, will ultimately make this an album with more of a limited reach in my opinion.

 Under The 23rd by ACCEPT album cover Studio Album, 2015
2.96 | 5 ratings

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Under The 23rd
Accept Neo-Prog

Review by Windhawk
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars Japanese project ACCEPT is mainly the creative vehicle for composer and musician Hisao, and ever since the first album "Silver Moon" appeared in 2007 this Japanese project has been an ongoing venture. "Under the 23rd" is the fifth studio production to be issued under the Accept moniker, and was released through the fledgling Prime Number Label in 2015.

"Under the 23rd" is a novel and experimental production, even if not extremely challenging, and as many such ventures goes not all the material is as interesting as the rest. Striking throughout, often compelling, but sometimes also a bit too odd and quaint for comfort. If you think that an album that blends old and modern classical symphonic details into a broader context of ambient music, neo-progressive rock and symphonic progressive rock sounds like a good thing, then this is an album that you probably should inspect at some point.

 Perpetual Flow by ACCEPT album cover Studio Album, 2014
3.10 | 2 ratings

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Perpetual Flow
Accept Neo-Prog

Review by Windhawk
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars Japanese band ACCEPT is first and foremost the creative vehicle for composer and musician Hisao, and has been a recording unit for almost ten years, starting with the "Silver Moon" album from 2007. "Perpetual Flow" is the most recent of the four albums credited to this Japanese project, and was released in 2014 through the obscure Prime Number Label.

"Perpetual Flow" comes across as a pleasant and charming excursion into mainly neo-progressive-oriented landscapes, with a few detours into more atmospheric, gentle, cinematic landscapes on one hand and the more brooding late '70s Pink Floydian territories on the other, with a mix and production that add a distinct cassette era sound to the entire album. Especially due to the latter aspect, I estimate that this production will have a limited general appeal, but at least those who remember the cassette era in the early '80s neo progressive scene with fondness should consider to give this album a listen.

 Mobius by ACCEPT album cover Studio Album, 2009
3.07 | 4 ratings

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Mobius
Accept Neo-Prog

Review by apps79
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

2 stars Two years after ''Silver moon'' Hisao returns under the Accept moniker with the album ''Mobius'', Vital Records was again the musichouse.Taiki appears to be the concept maker, but actually this is only Hisao's own child, who inspired the Japanese musician to write down this release.Guitar, bass, keyboards and programming are all responsibilities of Hisao with one Akiko provides female vocals in four tracks.

Hisao explored the old British stylings of bands like PINK FLOYD and GENESIS in the album, which combines soft orchestrations with lyrical parts, but there are still some MIKE OLDFIELD vibes throughout the release.Again there seems to be some great potential in here and some tracks are really lovely, but certain flaws affect the final result.These come especially from the instrumental tracks, where sound effects are used next to the natural instruments, leading to a mechanical and flat sound.Other tracks, which hurt the overall consistency, sound very spacey and monotonous.The armour of Hisao seems to include a variety of keyboard sounds with synthesizer, piano and Mellotron being the most dominant ones, while the strong use of acoustic guitars strengthens the bonds with the old GENESIS and even KING CRIMSON offerings.These arrangements are the most convinving ones with a lush sound and some interesting instrumental themes with both dreamy and complex structures, highlighted by the mix of dark-sounding Mellotron with ethereal voices and acoustic parts, while the relaxing electric solos and lyrical deliveries are following a more PINK FLOYD-like mood.Some dynamics were even needed during these pieces, which sound very soft at moments, but the refined 70's-influenced themes are at least decent.

''Mobius'' sounds a bit better than ''Silver moon'', more convincing in terms of composing, but again these modern effects and abstract instrumentals are rather confusing and not very interesting.Consider half of the album to be pretty nice and act at your own thoughts.Recommended for fans of PINK FLOYD and GENESIS...2.5 stars.

 Taiji (Confrontation) by ACCEPT album cover Studio Album, 2012
3.52 | 8 ratings

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Taiji (Confrontation)
Accept Neo-Prog

Review by Evolver
Special Collaborator Crossover & JR/F/Canterbury Teams

3 stars First, my thanks go out to Windhawk, for sending me a spare promo he had of this album. After listening, I had to ask him if this album was a departure from their sound on the previous albums, as there was very little of what I would call neo-prog on this album.

Second, this group, judging from this album alone is in dire need of a producer. Vocals are mixed far too low, and often have too much reverb on them, making them sound as if they were in a different room from where the microphones were placed. Guitars and synth patches (I presume thay are synth patches) are inconsistent. Some are far too loud, drowning out the other instruments, and some, especially what appears to be fine guitar solos, are almost completely buried.

But the mix aside, the album intrigues me. Rather than neo-prog, most of this disk is made up of more avant-garde music, with guitar and electronic noises interweaving with some orchestral sounding music. The best comparison I could make would be maybe if Henry Cow had teamed up King Crimson (circa early 2000s, doing their live improvs). I find it very exciting. If only I could hear the words.

There are a few less experimental pieces. Yellow Storm sound like a mix of David Gilmour's Pink Floyd and alt rock, and Deep In The Flow and Blessing Of The Lesser Gods are more traditional neo, sounding like Genesis and Styx, respectively. And again, the vocals are buried.

With a better mix, I could easily give this 4 stars, but the aggravating mix drops it to 3.

 Taiji (Confrontation) by ACCEPT album cover Studio Album, 2012
3.52 | 8 ratings

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Taiji (Confrontation)
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Review by Windhawk
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars ACCEPT is the creative vehicle of Japanese composer and instrumentalist Hisao, who made his debut as a recording artist with "Silver Moon" in 2007. Following a second album in 2009, "Taiji (Confrontation)" is the third full length album by this project, and was released on Accept's own Prime Numbers label in the spring of 2012.

Accept's "Taiji is an album that by and large merits a description as unique. Introspective, distanced and somewhat detached music that utilizes sounds, effects, cinematically oriented themes and passages that showcase an inspiration from symphonic progressive rock into a whole that does belong somewhere within the art rock universe. The emphasis on moods and atmospheres makes me suspect that fans of artists like Vangelis and Kitaro might be something of a key audience, at least those among them who also find music of a more challenging variety to be of interest.

Thanks to windhawk for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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