In a new interview with Brazil's Headbangers News, former ACCEPT and current U.D.O.

and DIRKSCHNEIDER frontman Udo Dirkschneider spoke about his bands' plans to release the follow-up to the "Touchdown" album.

Dirkschneider revealed that the new U.D.O.

album has just been finished, with a planned release in early 2027 through Atomic Fire Records.

The record was recorded at various locations with producer Martin "Mattes" Pfeiffer and mixed at Redhead Studio (Wilhelmshaven, Germany).

The follow-up to "Touchdown" will include artwork by Martin Häusler, who also shot band photos in support of the album campaign.

Dirkschneider discussed his former ACCEPT bandmate Peter Baltes' involvement in songwriting for the new U.D.O.

album, saying: "And I'm really happy to have him back." He went on to say that the chemistry between himself and Baltes was reminiscent of the classic ACCEPT lineup, but with a distinctly U.D.O.

flavor.

Although Dirkschneider announced 11 years ago that his DIRKSCHNEIDER tour would mark his final time performing ACCEPT songs, he has continued to play select shows under the DIRKSCHNEIDER banner for more than a decade.

DIRKSCHNEIDER recently reimagined ACCEPT's iconic album "Balls To The Wall" to celebrate the LP's 40th anniversary.

The band celebrated by performing the album in its entirety on recent tours of South America, North America and Europe.