Metallus Maximus recently caught up with ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann to discuss the band's new comeback album, Blood Of The Nations. An excerpt is available below:

With the current buzz surrounding Accept maintaining a fever pitch, it’s fair to credit (former vocalist) Udo Dirkschneider with feeding the fire to some degree. He has been performing the band’s classics for over 20 years in U.D.O. – also featuring ex-Accept drummer-turned-guitarist Stefan Kaufmann – keeping the name and vibe alive, thus solving the need for the band to rebuild a connection to the fans.

“I’m absolutely aware of that and I think it did help,” Hoffmann agrees. “There are all kinds of bands out there playing Accept songs – cover bands, tribute bands – but Udo being out there playing those old songs certainly helped and we’re eternally grateful for that. He kept the fire alive until we could come back and take over (laughs). I guess some people don’t want to hear that, but… well…”

Accept also have the benefit of an older fanbase with an old school appreciation for the music they grew up with. An appreciation that, according to Hoffmann, they’ve passed down to their kids judging by the youngsters at the shows.

“Kids and grandkids sometimes,” he laughs. “It’s crazy. Some of the people in the audience look pretty old, but I guess we do too so it’s alright (laughs). I think it’s a phenomenon that’s just happened over time. I mean, we recorded Restless And Wild 30 years ago for crying out loud (laughs).We’re still playing it and people still want to hear it, so I think Accept has been elevated to this classic metal standard. We realize that now much more than ever before because there are new generations of metal fans now. It’s not going to go away any time soon.”

Click here for the complete interview.

Accept recently announced their European tour for 2011 and are now confirming additional shows. Due to popular demand, Accept will be coming to Scandinavia as well. Tour dates now include:

January

14 - Osnabruck, Germany - Halle Gartlage
15 - Bad Arolsen / Kassel, Germany - Outback
16 - Antwerp, Belgium - Hof ter Lo
18 - Paris, France - Elysee Montmartre
19 - Biarritz, France - L`attabal
21 - Madrid, Spain - Venue TBA
22 - Pamplona, Spain - Venue TBA
23 - Barcelona, Spain - Venue TBA
25 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
27 - Milan, Italy - Magazzini
28 - Tuttlingen, Germany - Stadthalle
29 - Geiselwind, Germany - Eventcentrum Strohofer
31 - Stuttgart , Germany - LKA

February

1 - Vienna, Austria - Arena
2 - Budapest, Hungary - Diesel
4 - Katowice, Poland - Venue TBA
5 - Warsaw, Poland - Venue TBA
6 - Gdansk, Poland - Venue TBA
8 - Hamburg, Germany - Große Freiheit
9 - Cologne, Germany - Live Music Hall
10 - Munich, Germany - Tonhalle
12 - Zlin, Czech Republic - Masters of Rock Cafe
13 - Athens, Greece - Gagarin 205
15 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Trädgårn
16 - Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller
17 - Stockholm, Sweden - Arenan
19 - Helsinki, Finland - Helsinki Metal Meeting