Originally released at the end of 1983, “Balls To the Wall” is the fifth album by the influential German heavy metal band Accept.
Taking much of their inspiration from the likes of fellow German hard-rockers the Scorpions, as well as a debt to UK metal legends Judas Priest, Accept were fronted by the inimitable Udo Dirkschneider on vocals, backed by lead guitar heroes Wolf Hoffmann and Herman Frank.
Controversial at the time for its cover and some of the album’s themes, it was also their greatest commercial success, reaching number 75 inthe US Billboard Hot 100. “Balls To The Wall” received gold status in the US, partly off the back of the heavy rotation the title track’s video received on MTV.
The album is now backed by the bonus CD “Staying A Life”, a live album recorded at the Festival Hall, Osaka, Japan on 18th September 1985. As well as storming live versions of key tracks from “Balls To The Wall”, it features many Accept classics including ‘Breaker’, ‘Princess Of The Dawn’, ‘Restless And Wild’, ‘Son Of A Bitch’ and ‘Fast As A Shark’.
An expanded booklet features new liner notes from Classic Rock and Metal Hammer’s Malcolm Dome, commissioned for this release.
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DISC ONE: BALLS TO THE WALL
DISC TWO: STAYING A LIFE: LIVE IN JAPAN 1985 |
