Metal Wani Editor In Chief Owais 'Vitek' Nabi recently had a chat with Accept guitarist Wolf Hoffmann.

“Wolf discusses his recently released solo album, Headbangers Symphony, exploring the idea of classical arrangements interpreted as metal, his opinion on the differences between metal and classical and what similarities they have. He also talks about how the album could work as a great introduction into classical music for metalheads who find classical boring, and the possibility of playing the entire solo album at Hellfest or Wacken one day with a live orchestra. Wolf also throws light on upcoming Accept album, songwriting and current status with reference to recording.”

Listen below:

Hoffmann's classical handwriting carved a different niche for German legends Accept since the early music labeling of something called heavy metal, which can be witnessed on his second solo album, entitled Headbangers Symphony, completely dedicated to the grand Classic Maestros, out now via Nuclear Blast.

Wolf Hoffmann has a passion. His life-long love and dedication to heavy metal music is documented in dozens of albums spanning four decades with his long time heavy metal band Accept. But beyond heavy metal, Wolf has an incessant craving for the classics, yes, the ones written decades and centuries ago.

Classical music has always been an influence - albeit limited - on Accept's teutonic approach to rock and heavy metal. However, it wasn't until 1997 during a extended hiatus from Accept, that Wolf Hoffmann finally had the chance to fully explore and fulfill this interest by recording his first astounding solo album Classical, a record filled with his rock guitar driven interpretations of some of classical music’s most loved compositions.

"I have always incorporated classical music in my songwriting with Accept, especially with Metal Heart, but I constantly felt there was so much more that I could do and I did not want to overload Accept or force it in any way. I always knew I could make a whole record of it and that’s how the first record Classical was born. Even today, fans tell me that they are still listening to it, that's why it is so fantastic now to do another one."

Headbangers Symphony is truly a bold statement by a genuine musician who simply refused to rest on his laurels and continues to push and challenge himself.

Headbangers Symphony tracklisting:

“Scherzo” (L. v. Beethoven)
“Night On Bald Mountain” (M. Mussorgsky)
“Je Crois Entendre Encore” (G. Bizet)
“Double Cello Concerto in G Minor” (A. Vivaldi)
“Adagio” (T. Albinoni)
“Symphony No. 40” (W. A. Mozart )
“Swan Lake” (P. Tchaikovsky)
“Madame Butterfly” (G. Puccini)
“Pathétique” (L. v. Beethoven)
“Meditation” (J. Massenet)
“Air On The G String” (J. S. Bach)

“Night On Bald Mountain” video:

“Scherzo”:

Headbangers Symphony trailers:

Part 1:

Part 2: