U.D.O. return with the upcoming 5th live album of the heavy metal legend. The year 2020 faced many with tough challenges, but U.D.O. managed to play a great show under pandemic conditions in front of the breathtaking backdrop of the amphitheater in Plovdiv/Bulgaria, making it not only one of the world’s grandest shows under Corona, but also certainly beyond compare. This is exactly the feeling that the live recording captures.
There are certain events that put bands into the spotlight, even experienced musicians who have been in the business for over 40 years. This is one of those events, and happened on September 18, 2020 with U.D.O.
U.D.O., the band featuring German rock icon Udo Dirkschneider (the original voice of Accept who had rock hits like ‘Balls To Wall’, ‘Metal Heart’ and many more) played a concert in the stunning Roman Amphitheatre in Plovdiv, Bulgaria in front of 2500 fans – in the middle of a year that is one of the quietest ever for musicians and bands, both at home and internationally.
“Live in Bulgaria 2020 – Pandemic Survival Show will be released 19th March 2021 and available as CD/DVD, Blueray/CD and very strong limited vinyl (only audio)
Tracklist CD1 01 Tongue Reaper 04:35 CD1 02 Make The Move 04:33 CD1 03 Midnight Mover 04:32 CD1 04 Wrong Side Of Midnight 04:28 CD1 05 Metal Machine 04:53 CD1 06 Independence Day 07:22 CD1 07 Rose In The Desert 06:16 CD1 08 Vendetta 04:46 CD1 09 Rising High 04:04 CD1 10 Prologue: The Great Unknown 02:23 CD1 11 In The Darkness 04:57 CD1 12 I Give As Good As I Get 04:59 CD1 13 Princess Of The Dawn 11:28
CD2 01 Timebomb 05:13 CD2 02 Drum Solo 04:10 CD2 03 Bass Solo 03:41 CD2 04 Hungry And Angry 04:21 CD2 05 One Heart One Soul 06:22 CD2 06 Man And Machine 06:48 CD2 07 Animal House 04:46 CD2 08 They Want War05:22 CD2 09 Metal Heart 11:01 CD2 10 Fast As Shark 05:26 CD2 11 Balls To The Wall 10:41 CD2 12 Outro (Stillness Of Time) 01:09
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
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to former Accept singer David Reece about his new album Resilient Heart, his thoughts on the recent departure of bassist Peter Baltes from Accept, as well as his upcoming new tour Dates opening for U.D.O. in Switzerland and Germany in February 2019.
Watch the interview here:
When asked about the fan reaction to his new album Resilient heart
“The reception of the new album is unbelievable. The feedback that I am getting from my fans who have been buying my albums over the years are saying this is probably the best album I have done. I mean these are fans who have followed me for 35 years and they are saying they love it. People are buying it all over the world. I’m even getting glam metal websites sites saying it’s in their top five album of 2018. It’s been unbelievable I’m so grateful. “
When asked about the new video that will be coming out on December 5 2018
“The new video will be for the song ‘Two coins and a dead man’ on the new album which is basically about when you die they would place a coin on each eye and if you’re allowed into heaven or hell or not (old tradition) that’s the quick lyric summary. But I kind of wrote it about the devil and a woman meeting and the woman falling for him, And basically she realizes he’s the devil and then she murders him. So I’m the devil in the video with this crazy kind of Ozzy like makeup, you know with slicked back hair. The model that we had hired as the woman flaked out on me at the last moment, so I hired my wife to play that part. Yeah Nadia Reece it’s her first debut on film and she pulled it off beautifully. I’m so excited about it because it just it came together perfectly I mean the stars aligned on it. I’m planning to release it noon December 5 2018, Central European Time. “
When asked about his thoughts on the sudden departure of Peter Baltes from Accept
“I have said many times that I would not be sitting in this chair talking to Jimmy Kay at The Metal Voice or doing another interview somewhere else had it not been for the opportunity of being in Accept. Some people hated me and some people loved me in my time with the band. Some people, still hate me for that record ‘Eat the Heat’ but people in the last five years or so fans are bringing that album to me saying wow I never realize how really great the album is. I mean, if it wasn’t for the song ‘Fast as a shark’ there wouldn’t be Metallica, there wouldn’t be many of these speed metal bands that are out today. Accept opened that door and knocked it down and created metal. I have nothing but respect for Wolf Hoffman I have nothing but respect for Mark Tornillo. I saw them live in Milan Italy recently and they were fantastic and their new album is fantastic too.”I had a falling with Peter Baltes back in the day but I had never ever had nothing but the utmost respect for him, his input and his legacy in rock and roll. Peter is probably one of the greatest bass players . I wish him and Accept continued success . ”
When asked about his upcoming tour opening for U.D.O on Swiss and German Dates
“On February David Reese band will be opening as a special guest in Germany and Switzerland for U.D.O. I cannot tell you how amazing and blessed I am. I’ve known Udo Dirkschneider for a long time, I met him when he was no longer the singer of Accept. Over the years we’ve maintained a high level of respect for one another, his sons Sven had a group called Damage who opened for me in Germany back in the mid-2000s. And Udo occasionally would pop in the shows and it was kind of a big deal for the audience to see Reece standing there with Udo Dirkschneider. So I’m really excited to see how the public reacts to this upcoming tour. Right now officially there are 10 dates that we will be touring together. I cannot tell you how great I feel for this opportunity, I’m thankful from the bottom of my heart to U.D.O. and his organization.”
As previously announced, Swedish heavy metal act KAIROS joined, as main support, the German metal gods U.D.O. in Russia, on three shows.
The band stated: “So concludes our Russia tour together with U.D.O.! We’ve had an awesome time in your country and it’s been amazing playing for you and meeting you all at the shows! But it doesn’t end there. Soon we will post 3 songs off our upcoming “Queen of the Hill” album onto Spotify for you to enjoy! Thank you #Moscow – Thank you #Yaroslavl – Thank you #Kostroma. Spasiba Russia, and do svidaniya! From Sweden with love, Kairos.”
The shows were:
November 5th – Moscow @Glavclub
November 6th – Yaroslavl @Tyuz
November 7th – Kostroma @Ikra
Gothenburg, Sweden based heavy metallers KAIROS was formed in early 2013, their self-produced/mixed debut album “Wicked Callings” came out in 2015, via Bleeding Music Records, followed up by a two weeks’ tour in Europe and a number of shows in Sweden. With a new, unique sound the band is about ready to release their new full-length album, entitled ”Queen of the Hill”. More information will be revealed soon.
Watch the official video for “Strike While The Iron Is Hot”, taken from the upcoming album “Queen Of The Hill”:
ALPHA OMEGA Management has a huge pleasure to announce that Swedish heavy metal act KAIROS will be joining, as main support, the German metal gods U.D.O. in Russia, on the selected shows, as follows:
November 5th – Moscow @Glavclub – Tickets
November 6th – Yaroslavl @Tyuz – Tickets
November 7th – Kostroma @Ikra – Tickets
Gothenburg, Sweden based heavy metallers KAIROS was formed in early 2013, their self-produced/mixed debut album “Wicked Callings” came out in 2015, via Bleeding Music Records, followed up by a two weeks’ tour in Europe and a number of shows in Sweden. With a new, unique sound the band is about ready to release their new full-length album, entitled ”Queen of the Hill”. More information will be revealed soon.
Watch the official video for “Strike While The Iron Is Hot”, taken from the upcoming album “Queen Of The Hill”:
German metal gods U.D.O. roll over us with a heavyweight made of steel and metal better than ever!
On August 31st 2018 the new album “Steelfactory” will be released worldwide via AFM Records. With “Steelfactory” U.D.O return to their core competence, clearly influenced by their past shows with DIRKSCHNEIDER, the songs in their rousingly simple straightness have a hymn character, as it is only known from the past.
“Steelfactory” has become a timeless metal album and thus the impressive statement of a master of his craft.
With its earthy, punchy and handmade sound – with the participation of the Danish producer Jacob Hansen (among others Volbeat) – “Steelfactory” meets the nerve of the time, which may be triggered again since the successful DIRKSCHNEIDER tour worldwide.
Stream below “Rising High”, the first single from “Steelfactory”:
