Backstage Axxess' Kris Engelhart has issued a new interview with U.D.O. frontman Udo Dirkschneider (ex-ACCEPT), in which he talks about the band's upcoming Steelhammer album, future touring and more. An excerpt follows:

Q: U.D.O. has a brand new album coming out in May, Steelhammer. Can you tell us a little bit about the new record?

A: "Yeah, it is a little bit like the sound of Accept, of course. The music in a way of course is a little part Accept but I mean in a way it is also different. This time what we're doing, we have a lot of new things on this record, piano, orchestra, up-tempo songs, mid-tempo songs. I sing one song in Spanish so there are a lot of things going on on this album.

Read the full interview at this location.

Steelhammer will be released on May 24th via AFM Records. The editions and tracklistings of the album are as follows:

Standard CD:

'Steelhammer'

'A Cry Of A Nation'

'Metal Machine'

'Basta Ya'

'Heavy Rain'

'Devil's Bite'

'Death Ride'

'King Of Mean'

'Time Keeper'

'Never Cross My Way'

'Take My Medicine'

'Stay True'

'When Love Becomes A Lie'

'Book Of Faith'

Digi-Pack:

'Steelhammer'

'A Cry Of A Nation'

'Metal Machine'

'Basta Ya'

'Heavy Rain'

'Devil's Bite'

'Death Ride'

'King Of Mean'

'Time Keeper'

'Never Cross My Way'

'Take My Medicine'

'Shadows Come Alive' (bonus track)

'Stay True Stay You'

'When Love Becomes A Lie'

'Book Of Faith'

Japanese Edition:

'Steelhammer'

'A Cry Of A Nation'

'Metal Machine'

'Basta Ya'

'Heavy Rain'

'Devil's Bite'

'Death Ride'

'King Of Mean'

'Time Keeper'

'Never Cross My Way'

'Take My Medicine'

'Stay True Stay You'

'When Love Becomes A Lie'

'Book Of Faith'

'Dust And Rust' (bonus track)

U.D.O.'s April 17th show in Verona, WI at Heights Events Center has been moved to Janesville, WI. They will perform on the night at The Back Bar.

U.D.O.'s North American tour schedule can be viewed below.

April

9 - Amityville, NY - Ollie's Point (16+)
10 - New York, NY - Gramercy Theatre (16+)
11 - Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance (16+)
12 - Montreal, QC - Foufounes Electriques (18+)
13 - St-Ferdinand, QC - Style Metal (SOLD OUT - 18+)
14 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club (19+)
17 - Janesville, WI - The Back Bar (16+)
18 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's (All Ages)
19 - Westland, MI - Token Lounge
20 - Joliet, IL - Mojoe's (All Ages)
21 -Seattle, WA - Studio Seven (All Ages)
23 - West Hollywood, CA - Whisky-A.-Go-Go (16+)

Go to this location for updates and ticket links.