ALBUM REVIEW: Dirkschneider’s “Balls to the Wall Reloaded” – Out on 28 February 2025

I took a listen to “Balls to the Wall Reloaded” album from ACCEPT’s Udo Dirkschneider to be released on 28 February 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

Kicking it all off is the “Balls to the Wall“, an absolute classic to many a rocker and metaller. What can be said about such a banging tune that has not already been said? The only difference this time is that alongside Udo is Joakim Broden (Sabaton).  If you are into your rock and/or metal but missed this one, firstly know it is  the eponymous song from the first iteration of this whole album, which was the fifth from Accept and released in 1983. And it plays just like the idiom of the phrases meaning – that is to give maximum effort or commitment, or extreme, exciting, or violent. It is a classic anthem that will have you singing along before you know it and will be a guaranteed earworm from then on. Pure 1980s metal.

Continuing the reloaded effect is “London Leatherboys” this time featuring Biff Byford (Saxon) with its strutting metal timing, full of swagger and confidence. The riffs and rhythm combined with the twin vocals of Udo and Biff gives it a real gravelly oomph. Pure stomping and headbanging metal.

“Fight it Back”  swings in with a high speed aggressive self confidence and on this track it features Mille Petrozza (Kreator) with a vocal input that puts me in mind of “If Brian Johnston did Metal instead of Hard Rock”. The track just does not let up from start to finish and just gives that feeling that it is a perfect track on an open road. What a stormer of a song.

“Head Over Heels” featuring Nils Molin (Amaranthe and Dynazty) gives the song that Dio feel with his clear powerfully operatic style mixed slightly slightly gritty vocals. As he swings up and down effortlessly he brings a truly epic feel to the song Mixed with Udo as well this tune has such a vocal range as the two compliment each other. An incredible song with a wonderfully pure 80 euro/American rock feel to it, it would have fitted well in a Rocky movie.

“Losing More Than You’ve Ever Had” features the vocal skills of Michael Kiske (Helloween) and between the two its just such an incredible tune, with swings of vocals up to operatic like highs to baritone lows. This is a fantastic repeatable song that exudes pure 80s, but in solid high definition 4K. The guitars sweeping along with the anthemic drums and bass lines with the inevitable solo as well, its just a beautiful love song to the period of New Wave of Heavy Metal.

“Love Child” features the incredible vocals of Ylva Eriksson (Brothers of Metal) and with its baddass style fast pace Udo and Ylva combine like the ultimate Gundam Anime of the 80s, this is the theme song of that show. It pulls no punches, makes no apologies, no excuses. It is pure joyous metal with its driving rhythm and screeching guitars. Perfect for a really heavy work out, it is ultimate metal positivity. What a song!

“Turn Me On” has none other than Canadian rocker Danko Jones (Danko Jones) playfully combine his vocals with Udo to create along with the guitars, bass and drums a song that just bursts through the speakers with wry fun and heavy driving metal. Another classic that just feels it has had some magic metal dust sprinkled all over it.

“Losers and Winners” has the incredible master of performance rock Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) and along with Udo delivers a fast metal tune that feels like it should be playing when you are on your motorbike. It is such a wonderful heavy driving song that just drags you along right to the very end.

“Guardian of the Night” has Tim Ripper Owens (Judas Priest, Winter’s Bane, The Three Tremors, to name a few) mixing his vocal skills with Udo to concoct a delicious heavy 80s metal thing of beauty. Sweeping, lyrical and piercing guitars swoop between the vocals of Tim and Udo to deliver a perfect anthem tune.

“Winter Dreams” with the iconic Doro Pesch (Warlock, Doro) who has straddled four decades of heavy metal with of sign of slowing, is the beautiful, sweeping ballad that seemed to always be inevitable on most metal albums, especially in the 80s. The sound though of Doro and Udo intertwining their distinctive vocals to spin the lilting ballad is just pure joy to listen to.

Overall, while you can wax lyrical about each track and, especially if you are of a certain age, bathe yourself deeply in the nostalgia of a new version of a solid classic metal album, it has very much a brand new feeling to it. It does not play timid either. This is a well thought out ‘remake’, as it were, that only adds to the mystic of the album when it was first released.

It is different enough form the original you can very easily listen happily to both and feel slightly different, yet get that feeling of coming back home with the Reloaded version. Udo landed on a genius idea and executed it perfectly to deliver a new ‘classic’ album. For the new generation, this version can be a jumping off point for a deep dive into the very full metal albums of the 80s. Its a perfect introduction and a perfect reflection of what went before, it covers all generations of metallers.

This album is an absolute must have either digitally or on vinyl.