The Metal Voice recently interviewed Udo and Sven Dirkschnider where they both talked about their decision of re-recording of Accept’s classic album BALLS TO THE WALL.
The album will be released February 28, 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music.
Udo was asked by The Metal Voice why they decided to re-rerecord the Ball to the Wall album he said, “It was not planned (the Album). We were just planning do a 4 year anniversary of Balls to the Wall on tour and some festivals (playing the whole album). A lot of singers came up to us and said are you doing anything special for the 40 Years of of ‘Ball to the wall’ and I said we are planning a tour (playing all the songs off the album) and then they came up and said I would really love to sing a song on that Album. So I thought to myself this album to touch it again is very critical and criminal, this is like the holy cow of Accept. So then we were sitting down and thinking and saying okay what can we do? If we do it we do it with guest singers. So then we made a list with all the singers we had in mind and started talking to the record company and of course the record company always said wow yeah great idea. For me I’m happy that we did the whole thing. I’m really happy with the result.
The result is a tribute to the history of heavy metal and proof of how enduring and inspiring this album remains, even four decades later.
Balls To The Wall feat. Joakim Broden 5:46 London Leatherboys feat. Biff Byford 4:00 Fight It Back feat. Mille Petrozza 3:44 Head Over Heels feat. Nils Molin 4:21 Losing More Than You’ve Ever Had feat. Michael Kiske 4:52 Love Child feat. Ylva Eriksson 3:42 Turn Me On feat. Danko Jones 5:17 Losers And Winners feat. Dee Snider 4:21 Guardian Of The Night feat. Tim Ripper Owens 4:25 Winter Dreams feat. Doro Pesch
Jimmy Kay and Alan Dixon recently spoke to Udo Dirkschneider about his upcoming U.D.O. album “Game Over”, which will be released October 22 via AFM Records.
When asked if the new album title ‘Game Over’ means and he will be retiring soon? ‘A lot of people were thinking, GAME OVER, is this my last album or my last tour? No it isn’t. The title of the album came during the recording session. The pandemic caused a lot of things. We could not work like we wanted to and we had to record in a different way. Then I don’t know who mentioned the words ‘Game Over’ but we said a great title for the album, so let’s do it.”
How did you work on this album during the pandemic? “We usually work face to face in a room with the producer but during the pandemic it was not possible. So that means we did everything over Zoom, Skype, Facetime and it took a little bit more time but of course in the end we had more time. This whole album for me was a band album effort. Everyone was really open minded. I had all these young people around me and they pushed me and they added some fresh ideas with a little bit more modern stuff.”
When asked about the musical direction “The whole thing is a really good mix up. A lot of different stuff going on, fast songs, mid tempo songs, up tempo songs, ballads, a lot of melodies, really good guitar work, what can I say I am happy.”
When asked if there will be DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG with Ex Accept Peter Baltes (bass) and Stefan Kaufmann album in the future? “We did the E.P. and people were saying is an album coming too? Definitely not at the moment. I would say if we have time, if we have enough ideas and we can do something in between. I would say maybe someday we can do an album together. But it would be more of a project and it would be more of a fun thing to do musically. So there won’t be that expectation that a new band is coming out. Also it would not be possible to go with this lineup on tour.”
Udo Dirkschneider, will release its new album “Game Over”, on October 22 via AFM Records.
The title of the new studio album by the band around rock icon Udo Dirkschneider (original voice of the cult band Accept) has become a statement that has a lot to talk about.
Global climate change is one of the topics that Dirkschneider brings up on the album. “Floods in Germany or the fires in southern Europe and Turkey have shown how urgent it is to do something,” says the musician. “But not only here. The world is also increasingly having a peace problem. International arms trade and private arms possession are increasing. In many countries, there is an increasing number of shootings among minors, including in schools. In addition, there is an unknown number of child soldiers who are actively involved in the war in many places. “ A theme that the song. “Kids And Guns” treats.
„Game Over!“ – that’s what rock icon Udo Dirkschneider (original voice of iconic band Accept) proclaims on his upcoming new U.D.O. record to be released in autumn, specifically on October 22nd 2021. The statement behind has got many different meanings. But one thing becomes clear immediately: U.D.O. is not doing things by halves and so they give everything they have. During hundreds of shows worldwide, some of them in the most remote places of Russia and South-America, the band has become one unit and a conglomerate of passionate musicians and friends. Each of them knows exactly, when and how to play his instrument to match to the sound of the band perfectly.
Songs like „Metal Never Dies“, „Kids And Guns“ or „Prophecy“ are precise, powerful, catchy and bursting of energy. And most notably they are: timeless. All the songs on this record feature a distinctive character, that convinces today as well as it will convince tomorrow.
Today he convinces with the brand-new single „Metal Never Dies“ which comes with a energetic performance clip of the legendary singer & band. “Metal Never Dies” is a teutonic Metal hymn from the reigning king of German heavy metal with those infectious and memorable melodic guitar riffs and with a brilliant chorus that metal fans will sing for years.
And why „Game Over!“? Udo Dirkschneider strikes a sour note on this opus. He is not so much into embellishment. If mankind does not rethink several aspects, it may have fatal consequences. For example „Kids And Guns“ is about the increasing number of gun possession in the USA and the associated shootings, that do not stop at nothing and do harm to schools and especially kids.
Without question – Udo Dirkschneider is a cosmopolitan and he sees the world in it’s entity. Therefore „Game Over“ has become an international production with and huge amount of greatness.
Former Accept singer Udo Dirkschneider appeared on Canada’s The Metal Voice live on March 1 2021 to discuss his new live album ‘Live in Bulgaria 2020’ on AFM Records.
Udo also talked about working on a new U.D.O. studio album, playing Accept songs live again and working with former Accept bassist Peter Baltes.
Tell us about the making of the new live album ” We had to rehearse before the show as everyone lived in another country. So we came together in Germany and started. We also did a photo session for the upcoming U.D.O. studio album so just in case to make sure we have everything. Then we flew to Bulgaria. Everything was well prepared, hotels were clean, restaurants were clean and everything was perfect. The only thing we were not allowed to do during the show was to have fans in the front of the stage. When we went on stage the fans were singing and shouting so loud, there were over 2500 people there. There was so much emotion for us and the fans. This show will remain a long time in our minds as something special. I think when you hear it on the CD and watch the DVD you will know what I mean. What is also important for me is that there are no overdubs, this was live, we did nothing in the studio afterwards. We had a great sound engineer and Stefan Kaufmann did a great job on the DVD. “
Tell if you will be playing Accept songs in the future live “In the beginning I said with U.D.O. I won’t play any Accept songs but for this concert (Bulgaria) the promoter was really begging. He said is it possible to play Accept songs? I said ok in the end we did five songs, we did the classic stuff. It’s the same with the tour in America. The promoter in America said I heard you don’t play any Accept songs with U.D.O. He said you can’t do a tour of America and Canada without Ball to the Wall. People want to hear that. I said I have no problem playing Balls to the Wall and two other Accept songs. I can now definitely say on our upcoming US and Canadian tour (2022) we will definitely be playing some Accept songs.”
Tell us about the New U.D.O. Studio album ‘It’s already done, it’s completely done just little things left. In the end I can say on the special edition there will be 16 songs with straightforward metal songs. My son got more involved in the songwriting and the new two guys were also very much involved in writing. End of summer it is coming out. There is also a lot of stuff we learned from making the orchestra album harmony wise, vocal wise that we put into this album but it’s still heavy.”
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
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