Accept, ‘Blood of Nations’ — New Album

It's questionable whether German new wave of European heavy metal titans Accept, will be acceptable without squealing vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, who commanded us to get our 'Balls to the Wall' back in 1983 and fronted the group from its 1971 inception until 1987, then returned between 1992 and 1997, and again for a reunion tour in 2005.

But fans young and old are soon to find out. The band's new album, 'Blood of Nations,' will feature vocals by ex-TT Quick singer Mark Tornillo and is scheduled for release Sept. 14 on Nuclear Blast. The disc, their 12th record, is the band's first offering since 1996's 'Predator.' 'Blood of Nations' was produced by metal legend Andy Sneap (Megadeth, Exodus) at Backstage Studio in Derbyshire, England and includes the tracks 'Shades of Death,' 'Blood of Nations,' 'Pandemic,' 'Teutonic Terror' and 'The Abyss.'

"Just because Udo Dirkschneider isn't available to take part in the reunion doesn't mean we'll have to sit idle any longer," said bassist Peter Baltes. "We feel Mark is the perfect fit. Mark is an experienced veteran singer who is aware of the Accept legacy and his voice fits the sound of Accept perfectly. [Guitarist] Wolf [Hoffmann] and I have always been the songwriting team -- most of the classic Accept tunes were written that way, together with Deaffy (aka Gaby Hoffmann) as a lyricist."

"Something amazing has happened," added Hoffman. "We seem to have been transformed from one world into another. These new songs simply burst out of a vault that has been locked up for too long. We're not sure where 'Blood of the Nations' and all this new excitement will ultimately take us. We only know one thing: We never had it this good."

Tornillo's addition to the group was almost an act of fate. While Accept were working on new songs when they hooked up with Tornillo, they weren't actively searching for a singer at the time. "It all happened in minutes," Hoffman said. "Peter and I were working on some tunes in a studio in New Jersey. Somebody suggested we give this guy Mark a call to see if he would join us on vocals. So when he arrived, we started jamming on some old Accept tunes -- just for fun. As soon as Mark started singing, we looked at each other and realized the impossible just happened. We found a new voice for Accept."

Accept recently shot a video in Los Angeles for the new song 'Teutonic Terror,' and will make their live debut with Tornillo on May 8 in New York City. A full world tour will follow. The band will return to the U.S. to headline Progpower USA on Sept. 9 in Atlanta.



Accept tour dates

5/08 -- Gramercy Theater -- New York City

5/11 -- Forum Palace -- Vilnius, Lithuania

5/14 -- B1 Maximum -- Moscow, Russia

5/15 -- DK Lensoveta Theater -- St. Petersburg, Russia

5/18 -- Virgin Oil. Co. -- Helsinki, Finland

5/20 -- Debaser Slussen -- Stockholm, Sweden

5/22 -- Rock Hard Festival -- Gelsenkirchen, Germany

5/23 -- De Pul -- Uden, Netherlands

5/24 -- Le Bataclan -- Paris, France

5/26 -- Islington O2 Academy -- London, UK

5/28 -- Sala Heineken -- Madrid, Spain

5/30 -- Rockstar Live Barakaldo -- Bilbao, Spain

9/9 -- Progpower USA -- Atlanta, Georgia