Agreed, and it's interesting that you highlight recent Accept.
These two new records have really strong songs, but arguably the driest, 'deadest' production I've heard. The 80s Accept albums, meanwhile, sound so fresh and "airy", the atmosphere is deep with room to breath.
The "Sneap sound" is a negative and I'd love to see bands walk away from it. Hard to believe his work is in such "in demand".
Another great example is the new Saxon album. The sound/production just doesn't "fit" a band of their sound/style.....it does them no favors. Give me their 1981 sound any day over this over-produced "wall of thick distortion", pease.