German kingpins of Heavy Metal, ACCEPT, have today released “The Undertaker”, the first single from their highly anticipated new studio album “Too Mean To Die”. The album will be released on January 15th, 2021 via Nuclear Blast. The pre-sale for ACCEPT’s 16th studio album will launch on November 6th, 2020.
The video was filmed in an abandoned castle in Poland and at an old cemetery in Nashville, TN.
The mid-tempo number will captivate fans with its mesmerizing build and stirring vocals. Sing-a-longs are guaranteed, and the track is sure to deliver some future memorable live moments! According to ACCEPT mastermind Wolf Hoffmann, “The Undertaker” is one of the most catchy and pleasing pieces on the new album.
The single and album were recorded in Nashville (USA). At the mixing desk was once again the British master producer Andy Sneap (Judas Priest, Megadeth, among others), who has been responsible for the magnificent studio sound of ACCEPT since 2010.
Wolf Hoffmann states regarding the album title “Too Mean To Die“: “We wanted to approach the Corona situation with a twist. ACCEPT are the “Metal Soldiers” – we march on and on. We are “too mean to die”.
The album cover is still top secret and lies deeply buried by the “Undertaker” – safely underground.
But from today onwards, ACCEPT fans have the unique opportunity to reveal the cover, so it can see the light of day! The more often they stream “The Undertaker” on SPOTIFY – http://accepttoomeantodie.com/ – the faster and deeper the gravedigger works, until finally at 500.000 streams, the “Too Mean To Die” album cover artwork appears. On top of this, fans can also win an exclusive Zoom Meet & Greet with the entire band as well as some other goodies.
The single will be released in a 2-track format, with an unreleased live version of ‘Life’s A Bitch’ recorded in Oulu/Finland 2019. It is available digitally and as exclusive 7″ vinyl in three colours, each limited to 300 pieces. Colours for Europe are gold and marble and red for the USA. ATTENTION: The marble version is already sold out!
ACCEPT are back! The German kingpins of heavy metal will release new single ‘The Undertaker’ on October 2nd 2020 via Nuclear Blast, accompanied by a brilliant video. The track is the first insight into their new studio album. More details will be revealed on this in due course.
The single will be a 2-track featuring a previously unreleased live version of ‘Life´s A Bitch’ recorded in Oulu, Finland in 2019. It will be released digitally as well as via limited edition 7“ Vinyl in three colours, each limited to 300 copies. Colours are gold, white-marbled for Europe and red for the US.
‘The Undertaker’ is a catchy mid-tempo number with an eerie build that seeps into your skull, accompanied by stirring vocals from front man Mark Tornillo. According to Wolf Hoffmann, the piece is one of the most notable and brilliant pieces on the upcoming album. The track is sure to deliver some memorable live moments!
The single and album were recorded in Nashville, USA. At the mixing desk was once again British master producer Andy Sneap (Judas Priest, Megadeth etc.) who has been responsible for the magnificent studio sound of ACCEPT since 2010.
Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon from Canada’s The Metal Voicerecently interviewed Udo and Sven Dirkschneider of U.D.O. The two spoke about their upcoming orchestral new album ‘We are One’ and their songwriting collaboration with the Musikkorps der Bundeswehr (Concert Band of the German Armed Forces) and the two former Accept Stefan Kaufmann and Peter Baltes. Other topics in the interview, drive-in concerts, songwriting with Peter Baltes and touring with Ex Accept singer David Reece.
Watch here
When asked about why they decided to collaborate with German Armed Forces Orchestra
“We did two shows in the past with the orchestra, the first in 2015 at Wacken and the sound on stage was amazing, there was a lot of energy. Then we did another show on 2018 and the audience was 40% metal fans and the rest of was there for the orchestra. The audience was really enjoying the show and they were standing up and clapping. So after this concert we were having drinks with everyone and we were talking about continuing together by doing an album together. We said if we do a new album we have to write new songs. So we had a meeting with the two guys who do the arrangements for the orchestra and we started working on everything. We were sending files back and forth and it took nearly a year before everything was done, it was a lot of work.” Udo
When asked about former Accept bassist Peter Baltes contribution to the new album
“Peter’s participation was not planned unlike Stefan Kaufmann who’s participation was planned from the beginning on the new album. One day I was in Germany and Stefan told me to do some demos in the studio so I went there but he didn’t tell me Peter Baltes would be there. Peter was there doing some stuff with Stefan at the time. Then we started talking and Peter said he had some ideas to contribute to the new album and if I didn’t mind and I said I don’t mind. I never had a problem with Peter and his ideas. For this project it was important to have really good stuff and for me it doesn’t matter who is writing the songs. Of course Stefan and Peter ideas are not so far away from my ideas. Peter and Stefan were both very happy to work on this project. When I met him it was like I just saw him yesterday after 15 years. ” Udo
When asked if Peter is joining U.D.O.
“Peter to be the bass player of U.D.O. no. We were not really talking about this. I heard he is doing a solo album and if he wanted me to sing a song ok but he is not joining the band. ” Udo
“I mean it would be cool to play with him once but we already have a very strong 5 piece band.” Sven
When asked about Udo rapping on the song ‘Here we go again’ off the new album
“When I did the demo vocals my son Sven was saying are you sure you want to do this? Don’t ask me why I did this, it was just coming out like that. ” Udo
“Then I was asked to do some demo vocals on that song and it ended up being a duet between me and my father.” Sven
When asked about their thoughts about doing Drive-in shows
“That’s a bit weird, the stage would need to be very big so we could fit 85 people (orchestra and band). Can’t happen right now cause there are too many orchestra players and they have to maintain social distance. We have lots of offers at the moment to do these drive in shows but our band members are spread all across Europe, we come from three different countries and have a hard time to travel. We can’t even come together to practice. Of course we would like to do these shows, I think it would be cool once in a lifetime event. ” Sven
When asked about bringing former Accept singer David Reece as an opener for U.D.O. shows on future North American tours
“I’m up for it. he was very nice and he is a good guy to talk to and spend time with and it would be fun, why not? ” Sven
“I’m really good friends with David, we had a lot of fun on the last tour together.” Udo
The album contains 15 new songs that will be released through AFM Records /Soulfood Music. All songs have been developed and arranged by U.D.O. together with Christoph Scheibling. The two former Accept musicians Stefan Kaufmann and Peter Baltes have been part of the songwriting too – as well as the German Armed Forces´ composers Guido Rennert and Alexander Reuber.
The album is entitled `We Are One‘ and will be released on July 17th.
Track listing
01 – Pandemonium
02 – We Are One
03 – Love And Sin
04 – Future Is The Reason Why
05 – Children Of The World
06 – Blindfold (The Last Defender)
07 – Blackout
08 – Mother Earth
09 – Rebel Town
10 – Natural Forces
11 – Neon Diamond
12 – Beyond Gravity
13 – Here We Go Again
14 – We Strike Back
15 – Beyond Good And Evil
Listeners on mobile devices can choose to listen via the TotalRock player, or the TuneIn Radio app can be downloaded. The show is also repeated from 9AM every Friday and 2AM Sunday mornings.
The show will mainly be focusing on music from the last 20 years – with a special selection by fans, guests and host Blackdiamond. Joining the show to share all their latest news will be three artists from three different metal genres; Philip Shouse from ACCEPTand ACE FREHLEY, GiovaniVenttura from DEPRESSED and Nige Rockett from ONSLAUGHT!
Don’t miss it!
Philip Shouse
Giovani Venttura
Nige Rockett
TotalRock History:
TotalRock‘s beginnings go way back to 1978 with The Friday Rock Show at BBC Radio 1, hosted by Tommy Vance and produced by Tony Wilson. The effect this had on the rock and metal scene in the UK was substantial not only for fans to hear this music but also for the bands reaching out.
Many a conversation was had in the BBC hallways amongst like minded colleagues such as Andy King, and led to the formation of the UKs first full time rock and metal specific radio station in 1997, ‘Rock Radio Network’, in the front lounge at Skulls house, “The Skullery”, along with the walking encyclopedia of metal, journalist Malcolm Dome, and long time contributor, Maria Hererros.
In 2000 ‘TotalRock’ was born after receiving investment and launched on Sky Digital. First based at The Kings Head in Fulham and later Denmark Place in Soho next to The Astoria, with legendary DJs such as Krusher, Diamond Dave, Mighty Matt Mason and the Twisted Sisters and too many more to mention here. Artists and journos alike have flocked to our airwaves (including Jerry Ewing, Katie.P, Dougie White, Alex Milas, Bill Steer, Louise Brown, Robin Guy, Chris Dale, Sophie K, Kylie Ollson, Julia Hardy, Ginger Wildheart, Matt Goom, Anna Phoebe and Dom Lawson) helping to wave the flag of the true voice of rock and metal. A brief stint as Bloodstock Radio was enjoyed in 2013 based in Shoreditch and then another move to Euston back as TotalRock.
TotalRock now operates without a London studio, allowing presenters to contribute their shows from absolutely anywhere.
ACCEPT‘s ‘Pandamic‘ official video clip reached more than 3 Million views on YouTube, which seems to be one good side effect of COVID 19 pandemic . The band has posted the following statement:
“We all hope that our fans across the world remain safe and healthy wherever they live or work! We all must band together to defeat this nasty virus!!! You are not alone – the ACCEPT Family will STAND TOGETHER and we shall all continue to help and support each other! We will stay connected … today and tomorrow and forever! The sad reality today: This is A PANDEMIC – but, when we wrote this song ten years ago, we were pushing the idea that it is THE LOVE FOR HEAVY METAL that is spreading like a disease; this is true for the past, the present and the future. Today we believe that when you are head banging’ to our song … that song is a Heavy Metal DISEASE, one that will make your day brighter and help you through this “other” disease!😊
Let’s unite virtually in metal, stand together STRONG. Please obey social distancing! #stayhome”
Take good care of yourself and your family! Stay safe! With eternal love,
ACCEPT ❤️”
Teutonic metal gods, ACCEPT released this song through their epic return album,”Blood of the Nations“, which was released on 20 August 2010 via Nuclear Blast. The album was a successful release for the band, which hit the charts on many country like USA, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, Japan and Austria. It was also the first album to feature the amazing vocalist Mark Tornillo, who replaced Udo Dirkschneider successfully for the fans.
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to former Accept singer David Reece. Reece spoke about his new album Cacophony of Souls which will be released on March 13th via El Puerto Records with the new video lyric single Metal Voice to be released on Feb 14 2020.
A snippet of this new song appears at the start and end of this interview on The Metal Voice.
Watch the interview below.
Reece spoke to The Metal Voice about the recording and musical direction of the new album as well as floated the idea of supporting an Accept Fest that would include all former members similar to Michael Schenker Fest. David Reece also weighed in on his opinion of Peter Baltes joining U.D.O. for Wacken 2020 and or another project.
When asked about the making of this album
“This time around I had an Ex-U.D.O. guitarist Andy Susemihl helping me write and arrange the album. Andy and I met in 1988 at Dieter Dierks Studios when he was working on U.D.O. Mean Machine Album. We got along, hung out and bonded. Fast forward to 2019 when I was a special guest on the U.D.O. tour for Steelfactory we met again and decided to work together on this new album.”
When Asked about the musical direction off his new album Cacophony of Souls
“I did a lot of studying on that U.D.O. tour, when you see UDO live there are song structures. tempos, certain choruses, things that they say that click with the audience. So I would make an effort to watch the U.D.O. band every night, just to absorb what was happening. My last album Resilient Heart did not have that punch, the album had more of a blues feel to it. And watching U.D.O. every night I wanted to get that vibe on my new album. The new album is a colourful album and it has a metal punch that was missing last time around. ”
“To talk about a few tracks on the album, The song Metal Voice the first single is more of an anthem song a sort of crowd cheering song, again inspired by watching U.D.O. every night. The idea of the song Collective Anesthesia originated from my bassist Malte Frederik Burker who is Iron Maiden and Megadeth fanatic, so if you listen to that track all the elements of those two bands are there. The title track to the album Cacophony or Souls I wrote that song with Martin Frank who wrote with me on the Resilient Heart album, I basically wrote that song sitting on the toilet and it has a more metal melodic feel. The song Another Life, Another Time, which is ballad, the title was inspired by my wife on a plane ride and some beautiful guitar strumming and writing by Andy. ”
When asked about Peter Baltas rumours on joining Udo Dirkschneider on stage at Wacken 2020
“I know Udo is going to do perform the whole Metal Heart anniversary at Wacken 2020 and I just saw on the Internet that former Accept bassist Peter Baltes is in on that. It looks like Udo is doing Wacken with Peter Baltes and with former drummer/ guitarist Stephan Kaufmann as well. I saw these posts today on Facebook with Udo, Peter and Stephan along with a military guy because they have a military orchestra involved in that performance. I’m not really sure of all the details. Udo told me not to long ago that there will be special surprises and at this point I think it is pretty obvious it’s Peter Baltes is that surprise and that’s great. I also asked Udo are you going back to Accept for a reunion and of course I cant say what he said but he just told me he is really happy the way things are right now with U.D.O. and he is really successful.”
When asked if he would be open to doing an Accept Fest similar to the Michael Schenker Fest with past singer and bandmates
“Absolutely, even if I had to do like Schenker Fest 4-5 songs each singer, why not? You have this weird dynamic with my tenure with the band Accept. Fans either hate my guts or they love me. There are even some fans today that talk to me every day telling me Eat the Heat is their favorite Accept album. So if the power that be can set aside any animosity and all those silly things that are involved we can do this Accept Fest for the fans. And maybe at the end of the night, maybe we can all join together and do Balls to the Wall or something like that. It would be killer, it would be great for us and the fans.”
