GUWAHATI: Indian heavy metal vocalist Girish Pradhan has joined an elite lineup of global rock and metal icons for a special tribute album celebrating 50 years of legendary German band Accept.
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The Sikkim-born frontman of Girish And The Chronicles will perform the band’s classic 1981 track “Breaker” on the upcoming double album Teutonic Titans 1976–2026, scheduled for release on September 4 this year.
The anniversary project brings together some of the biggest names in heavy metal, including Rob Halford, Kirk Hammett, Phil Anselmo, Rex Brown, Matthias Jabs, Tobias Forge, Billy Corgan, Chuck Billy and Alex Skolnick, among others.
Pradhan revealed that the opportunity came through his long-standing association with American guitarist Joel Hoekstra, who toured with Accept in 2024 and also appears on the tribute album. The collaboration follows Pradhan’s earlier work with Hoekstra on projects including Crash of Life and From the Fade.
Speaking about the connection, Pradhan said their musical partnership developed over time through collaborations facilitated by Serafino Perugino and Frontiers Records. With Hoekstra’s involvement in Accept’s recent tours, Pradhan’s name eventually came up for the anniversary project.
Reflecting on his relationship with Accept’s music, Pradhan said tracks like “Balls To The Wall” played a major role in shaping his appreciation for melodic heavy metal. While he may not have been a devoted follower of the band during his early years, he acknowledged the German group’s enormous influence on the evolution of heavy metal.
For the recording of “Breaker,” Pradhan teamed up with former Megadeth members Glen Drover and Shawn Drover, along with bassist Chuck Garric. The track was recorded remotely, with Pradhan describing the experience as both exciting and challenging due to the legacy attached to the original song.
The feature marks another milestone for Indian heavy metal on the international stage. Over the years, Girish And The Chronicles have built a growing global fanbase through multiple European tours, albums such as Rock The Highway and Hail To The Heroes, and support slots for Guns N’ Roses.
The band also gained international attention in 2025 after appearing on America's Got Talent, where their rock rendition of Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” went viral online.
Pradhan said he is equally eager to hear the complete anniversary album, especially with so many renowned musicians bringing their own interpretations to Accept’s classic songs. Among the anticipated collaborations are “Balls To The Wall,” featuring Halford, Jabs and Brown, and “Fast As a Shark,” which includes performances by Anselmo, Hammett, Billy Sheehan and Mikkey Dee.