Marking the 40th anniversary of Accept‘s iconic album “Balls To The Wall”, the band’s founding member and former frontman Udo Dirkschneider has reinterpreted this classic with a fresh and star-studded twist.
The first single from the album, a re-recording of the “Balls To The Wall” title track, now reimagined, is a monumental collaboration between Udo and Joakim Brodén of Sabaton, one of today’s most influential figures in metal, can be heard below. This powerful rendition not only bridges the gap between generations but also showcases the enduring impact of Accept‘s 1983 masterpiece on the global music scene.
Udo states: “To re-record ‘Balls To The Wall‘ with Sabaton‘s Joakim Brodén was definitely a highlight! This man has an incredibly powerful voice which makes the song sound even more explosive. It’s a huge amount of energy lifting this classic track to unknown heights. Joakim has simply delivered — and together we managed to revitalize the song, resulting in a brute new version!”
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Far from a simple remake, this project was born out of countless conversations with prominent artists across the global rock and metal scene, who frequently asked: “Are you planning anything special for the 40th anniversary of ‘Balls To The Wall’?” These discussions sparked the idea to re-record the album’s legendary tracks alongside a stellar lineup of guest musicians, transforming the project into a heartfelt tribute. For both Dirkschneider and the participating artists, this endeavor is more than a celebration — it’s an homage to one of heavy metal’s most groundbreaking albums.
The reimagined “Balls To The Wall”, which is due on February 28, 2025, via Reigning Phoenix Music, features an impressive roster of talent, breathing new life into each track:
“Balls To The Wall – Reloaded” track listing:
- Balls To The Wall (Featuring Joakim Brodén of Sabaton)
- London Leatherboys (Featuring Biff Byford of Saxon)
- Fight It Back (Featuring. Mille Petrozza of Kreator)
- Head Over Heels (Featuring Nils Molin of Dynazty/Amaranthe)
- Losing More Than You’ve Ever Had (Featuring Michael Kiske of Helloween)
- Love Child (Featuring Ylva Eriksson of Brothers Of Metal)
- Turn Me On (Featuring Danko Jones)
- Losers And Winners (Featuring Dee Snider of Twisted Sister)
- Guardian Of The Night Featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens of KK’s Priest, formerly of Judas Priest)
- Winter Dreams (Featuring Doro Pesch)
Regarding the task of reimagining the entire “Balls To The Wall” album, Udo previously stated: “Re-recording ‘Balls To The Wall’ was a big challenge for me. The album is a milestone of my career, of course. That’s why it was even more important to me to make the original songs shine in a new light without losing their initial essence. All guests have put their individual stamps on these classic tracks, and collaborating with such outstanding vocalists has moved them into a fresh and exciting dimension. The result is a powerful homage to all fans but also an invitation to the next generation to experience the songs not minorly passionate than I was when I recorded them back in the day. It’s a never-ending personal journey for me — ‘Balls To The Wall’ will always be a part of me.”
Reigning Phoenix Music managing director Jochen Richert expressed his excitement about the new version of “Balls To The Wall”, saying: “This masterpiece has accompanied me for almost my entire life. When Udo first told me about his idea, my initial thought was, ‘Can this really work?’ But as soon as he mentioned the first guest singers, I knew it would be great. When I finally got to hear the tracks, I was blown away. My nostalgic side cautioned me, ‘No, you can’t like this better than the original.’ But there’s no use denying it, I have to admit it’s at least as good as the 1983 recordings — if not better! Accordingly, it’s an incredible honor to be able to contribute to this opus.”
Dirkschneider, the band featuring former Accept members Dirkschneider (vocals) and Peter Baltes (bass), along with drummer Sven Dirkschneider (Udo‘s son) and the talented guitar duo of Andrey Smirnov and Fabian “Dee” Dammers, celebrated the 40th anniversary of “Balls To The Wall”, which was originally released in late 1983 and is the most commercially successful and best-known album by Accept, by performing the LP in its entirety on a recent tour of South America.
