Label: REIGNING PHOENIX MUSIC AMERICA, LLC
Vinyl Release Date: 04/25/2025
Original Release Date: 03/28/2025
Variant: Winter Blue

Udo Dirkschneider and his masterpiece ‘Balls To The Wall’: an anniversary reissue with a star-studded line-up. With the 40th anniversary of the iconic ACCEPT album ‘Balls To The Wall’, Udo Dirkschneider, founder and former lead singer of ACCEPT, is breathing new life into a musical masterpiece.
This new recording was not born out of an impulse to revive the original, but in response to numerous conversations with renowned artists from the international rock and metal scene, where the question kept coming up at shows and festivals: ‘Aren’t you planning something special for the 40th anniversary of “Balls To The Wall”?’

These conversations eventually led to the idea of re-recording the songs from the legendary album with a variety of guest musicians. The result is a tribute that represents a special honour for Dirkschneider and the participating artists alike. For the musicians, taking part in this project is not only a personal honour, but also an impressive tribute to a groundbreaking chapter in music history, and the new version of ‘Balls To The Wall’ features an impressive all-star line-up that lends the reissue added splendour:

1. Balls To The Wall – Joakim Brodén (Sabaton)
2. London Leatherboys – Biff Byford (Saxon)
3. Fight It Back – Mille Petrozza (Kreator)
4. Head Over Heels – Nils Molin (Dynazty/Amaranthe)
5. Losing More Than You’ve Ever Had – Michael Kiske (Helloween)
6. Love Child – Ylva Eriksson (Brothers Of Metal)
7. Turn Me On – Danko Jones
8. Losers and Winners – Dee Snider (Twisted Sister)
9. Guardian Of The Night – Tim „Ripper“ Owens (ex-Judas Priest)
10. Winter Dreams – Doro Pesch

The reinterpretation of ‘Balls To The Wall’ not only allows the original songs to shine in new splendour, but also underlines the timeless relevance and influence of this album on the metal scene. At the same time, it is clear that this is no arbitrary attempt to reanimate an untouchable work. Rather, it is a celebration of the legacy of ‘Balls To The Wall’ – with the blessing and enthusiasm of many significant voices in the genre – and the result is a tribute to the history of heavy metal and a testament to how enduring and inspiring this album remains four decades on.

1. Balls To The Wall (feat. Joakim Broden)
2. London Leatherboys (feat. Biff Byford)
3. Fight It Back (feat. Mille Petrozza)
4. Head Over Heels (feat. Nils Molin)
5. Losing More Than You've Ever Had (feat. Michael Kiske)
6. Love Child (feat. Ylva Eriksson)
7. Turn Me On (feat. Danko Jones)
8. Losers And Winners (feat. Dee Snider)
9. Guardian Of The Night (feat. Tim Ripper Owens)
10. Winter Dreams (feat. Doro Pesch)