ACCEPT's WOLF HOFFMANN Putting Finishing Touches On New Solo Album

ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann is putting the finishing touches on a new classical solo album, tentatively due in early 2016. He tells Metal Shock Finland ‘s Alison Booth: “I’m still in the last days of mixing this album and so hopefully early next year it can come out. I’m very excited about it. I think it’s going to be very cool”

He added in a separate interview with Asen Manasiev, journalist for Bulgaria’s radio Z-Rock: “I want to try to get [the solo album] all mixed and ready to go before we [ACCEPT] head out on the road, so that it can be released sometime in the spring next year. I was hoping to get it out before Christmas, but it was just unrealistic. There was no chance, so it’s going to be out in the spring, I think.”

Wolf told Ultimate Classic Rock earlier this year that his next solo album would feature a collaboration with a Prague, Czech Republic symphony orchestra.

In 1997, Hoffmann released his first solo album, “Classical”, which consisted of rock renditions of classical pieces, including “Bolero” and “Habanera”.

Speaking to Guitar World magazine in 2013, Hoffmann stated about the influence of classical music in his guitar playing: “The whole thing started with ‘Metal Heart’, in 1985, where I used some classical elements in the solos and the songwriting. I’ve been a fan ever since, and it’s become somewhat of a trademark for me. I think it has to do, at least a little bit, with the fact that we’re from Europe. I think all Europeans are more into classical music and maybe more influenced by it, too.”

The latest ACCEPT album, “Blind Rage”, was released in August 2014 via Nuclear Blast. Like its two predecessors, 2010’s “Blood Of The Nations” and 2012’s “Stalingrad”, the new effort was helmed by British producer Andy Sneap, who has previously worked with MEGADETH, EXODUS, TESTAMENT, ARCH ENEMY and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. The cover artwork was created by Daniel Goldsworthy.