U.D.O. sign w Atomic Fire Records; announce 2022 album

U.D.O. – led by German heavy metal legend Udo Dirkschneider (who will turn 70 years old on April 6th, 2022) – have officially inked a deal with Atomic Fire Records for a special album release coming spring 2022. Mr. Dirkschneider (also known for his work with Accept, Dirkschneider and more) has been releasing U.D.O. music through AFM Records for nearly twenty years, with the band’s most recent album, ‘Game Over,’ seeing the light of day this past October. More news on the band’s fresh opus through their new home at Atomic Fire is to be revealed in the upcoming weeks.

On the topic, Udo states, “As a globally active artist, it is very important for me to work with our respective partners in a trusting and highly professional way since large parts of our careers depend directly on their work. A friendly relationship and fun in day-to-day cooperation are just as important. With my U.D.O. and Dirkschneider bands, I have always paid attention to long-term partnerships, which really did not make the decision to change labels again after nearly twenty years of cooperation with AFM Records easy for me. I would like to specifically thank Jochen Richert and his team once again for the very trusting and personal cooperation over the last two decades!”

He adds, “But when the opportunity arose to follow a fresh path with the newly founded Atomic Fire Records label and experience new inspirations, I seized it immediately and won’t let go. The opportunity to work with a nationally and internationally experienced and successful team consisting of friends and years-long companions was too tempting. The team and the concept as well as Atomic Fire Records’ professional setup worldwide has convinced me completely and I look very optimistically and happily toward the future and a cooperation with Markus Wosgien, Markus Staiger, and Florian Milz and their team.”

Atomic Fire Records CEO Markus Wosgien comments, “I was nine years old when I listened to a real metal song for the very first time – a live version of ‘Metal Heart’ – and it hooked me immediately. On that day, heavy metal became the center of my life. I started spending my whole pocket money for Accept’s records before I also discovered other groups. Accept were the ultimate band and the definition of heavy metal – it just had to sound like this. I was working with U.D.O. in support of their Mastercutor album during my time at AFM Records, but I even had the chance of cooperating with Accept for four full-lengths after their reunion in 2009. To welcome Udo Dirkschneider to Atomic Fire Records is a kind of a knightly accolade for us. He’s an icon and an old hand of metal who still has a lot to say. We’re pleased to release an outstanding album around his 70th birthday and can’t wait for all those U.D.O. hits that are yet to come.”

U.D.O. is:
Udo Dirkschneider – vocals
Andrey Smirnov – guitar
Sven Dirkschneider – drums
Fabian Dee Dammers – guitar
Tilen Hudrap – bass