Originally released in the mid-'80s,
Hungry Years has been reissued, re-released, and remastered many times in many countries. The most common American version perhaps being the 1995 Castle issue. Short and to the point,
Hungry Years includes some of the best selections from
Accept's early catalog, including I'm a Rebel, Breaker, and the metal classic
Restless and Wild. Rightfully, nothing is selected from the group's woeful eponymous 1979 debut. All three songs culled from
Restless and Wild -- including the title track, "Princess of the Dawn," and "Fast as a Shark" -- are career highlights for
Accept, not just the early era covered on
Hungry Years. The tracks taken from the other two albums are among the best each have to offer, but any fans interested in the undeveloped sound of "The King" and "Midnight Highway" would probably want to seek out the releases these songs first appeared on. There is no substitute for
Restless and Wild, so new fans should start with either that record or
Balls to the Wall and leave
Hungry Years to the collectors. ~ Vincent Jeffries