Jukebox Metal recently caught up with U.D.O guitarist / ex-ACCEPT drummer Stefan Kaufmann to discuss the new U.D.O. album, Rev-Raptor. An excerpt from the story is available below:

In the last ten years alone they’ve released six studio albums, three live albums, a 20th anniversary compilation and five EPs. Each new album was supported with a world tour and as many festival appearances as possible. Throughout the band’s lifetime the only near-constant besides Dirkschneider himself has been Stefan Kaufmann, previously Udo’s bandmate in Accept on drums. Kaufmann has produced or co-produced every U.D.O. album since 1990?s Faceless World, and since 1996, when the band reconvened following Udo’s second departure from the Accept fold, he has been the band’s guitarist, playing on all nine albums in that time.

The longevity they’ve achieved is not lost on Kaufmann, nor is its importance; “The music we’re doing is the music we all love! We’ve never really asked ourselves what we might have to do to keep going. We simply create this music from the heart, and maybe we are still very lucky to be able to do it? Of course, we try to record this music as well as possible, with all the newest technical possibilities available! I produce the band, so I’m always very aware of how we’re sounding from record to record. But I’m very sure that without us “older” bands this kind of heavy metal would be lost… so, we better stay around a little while longer!”

And when discussing the newest U.D.O. record Rev-Raptor, his ninth with the band, he’s equally frank; “We try to give our best, of course! It’s really important, and no bad idea too, to always try to make the best sounding and best-written album you can each time. But there’s no real plan on any record I don’t think. We’ve never really done what you would call a concept album or a specially planned procedure and this album was no different. We collect all the best ideas, give them the appearance that we think they deserve, and then put them together the best way we can. Rev-Raptor is a little more energetically ‘loaded’ than some and a little bit more complicated regarding the arrangements and performances, but it’s still a very honest record. It’s about the strongest set of songs at the end of the day. Udo and I spend a lot of time working on the material before everyone else gets involved – Rev Raptor has 13 songs this time because they all demanded their place on the record, but there’s no great plan. I really like how each song stands up this time. There’s no obvious fillers, and that’s very important too!”

Click here for the complete story.