K.K. DOWNING / KK'S PRIEST You can’t keep a heavy metal legend down. Although it’s been over a dozen years since guitarist and songwriter K.K. Downing departed Judas Priest, the iconic band he co-founded and played with for 40 years, he was never really going to retire. It was only a matter of time before he reclaimed the spotlight. As his new album title proclaims, The Sinner Rides Again. K.K. has had metal coursing through his veins from the beginning, starting in the Midlands region of England where Judas Priest was born. He compellingly chronicled his life odyssey in his 2018 autobiography, and his recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame further secures his legacy as a pioneering guitarist. His renewed passion for his chosen genre was well represented with his band KK’s Priest and their thunderous debut album Sermons Of The Sinner released in October 2021. The high speed “Hellfire Thunderbolt” and rousing rockers like “Raise Your Fists” and “Wild And Free” reveled in the passion and excess that metal fans covet. The Sinner Rides Again, the second and newest album from KK’s Priest, continues holding the torch for classic metal just as its predecessor did. There’s the emotive singing and intense screams of his past Priest bandmate Tim “Ripper” Owens, the high velocity guitar sparring between Downing and A.J. Mills, and the agile rhythm section of  bassist Tony Newton and drummer Sean Elg. The band’s first effort roared out of the gate with passion and aggression, as if they were a new band with something to prove – and in a sense, they were – and their sophomore release also finds the sweet spot between racing riffs and majestic mid-tempo anthems, while the lyrics take a more contemplative, personal tone.   The Sinner Rides Again kicks off with the turbo-charged “Sons Of The Sentinel,” then other songs on this musical journey traverse different territory. “Reap The Whirlwind” plays off of a distinctly ‘70s Priest vibe. The gothic-flavored “Hymn 66” and “Keeper Of The Graves” contrast tranquility with thunder within multi-layered compositions. Lyrical themes of salvation, redemption, and unity emerge, while there is also the sense of an individual soldiering through the tempests of life and refusing to surrender, epitomized by the closing anthem “Wash Away Your Sins.”   There are also Priest easter eggs to be found throughout the album. Fans will notice guitar squeals that invoke his famous solo on “Sinner”. One can hear little echoes of “The Ripper” and “Dissident Aggressor” in the new “Hymn 66”. Various classic Priest album and song titles surface in different configurations throughout the new album.   As a co-founding member of the classic Judas Priest line-up, Downing helped lay the foundation for the heavy metal genre as a whole. His distinct style of playing is easily identifiable, he was part of a six-string duo that complemented and contrasted each other, and they would progress to new levels of excitement. He has taken that ethos and applied it to KK’s Priest with impassioned results.   Fans already excited by the announcement of The Sinner Rides Again will also be elated that KK’s Priest are gearing up for their first round of shows in the UK and Europe in the summer and fall of 2023.   Downing’s recent prolific output comes after years of quietly enjoying life away from the rigors of the road and intense studio recording. He emerged again unexpectedly on stage in August 2019. His former bandmates had been given the Heavy Metal Hall Of Fame award at the Wacken Open Air festival that summer, and HMHOF board member Steve Goldby wanted to give the guitarist his award at Bloodstock. From there, the conversation led to the iconic six-stringer performing a few songs with Ross The Boss. The performance electrified the crowd and reinvigorated Downing.   In November of that year, Downing put on a show in Wolverhampton, UK with former Judas Priest singer Tim “Ripper” Owens, former drummer Les Binks, Megadeth bassist David Ellefson, and Hostile guitarist A.J. Mills. (He had produced two albums for the latter’s band.) Spanning Judas Priest’s catalog, this superb and successful show sent shockwaves throughout the metal world: K.K. was back and the fans were clearly hungry for more. Rather than simply rely on his past successes and go on the road performing classic Judas Priest songs, the renowned guitarist did what he has always done – make new music. Downing assembled Owens, Mills, Newton, and Elg to create Sermons Of The Sinner, an album that celebrated their classic metal roots and encouraged us to cherish those iconic pioneers whom we still have with us. Downing jokes that KK’s Priest is “like a new old band. Or an old new band.” It’s clear that Downing’s disciples want more from KK’s Priest. The tracks from Sermons of The Sinner have racked up millions of streams, and The Sinner Rides Again will replicate that success. He is united with his fellow defenders of the faith in keeping the timeless spirit of classic metal alive. For Downing, KK’s Priest is not just a statement of intent. It is a statement of being. His lifelong heavy metal saga continues.   —Bryan Reesman  

Accept is a German Heavy Metal band with legendary impact and an iconic reputation spanning over four decades. Towering guitar riffs, intense vocals, provocative themes, a soaring blend of unique melodic and rhythmic components, interwoven with classical themes.... Accept have a distinct sound identity and continue to refine their craft, producing chart topping Albums to this day. Recognized as pillars and key pioneers of the Heavy Metal Genre, they are acknowledged in the creation and development of speed, thrash and other Metal subgenres. Formed in Solingen in the late 1970’s, the band quickly rose to prominence with their dynamic sound of unequivocally Teutonic Metal. This first stable line up of the band in the early 80’s included Udo Dirkschneider on vocals, Wolf Hoffmann as Lead Guitarist, Peter Baltes on Bass, Stefan Kaufman on drums and Jörg Fischer on guitar. 
Although their debut album ‘Accept’ was released in 1979, the band achieved mainstream worldwide success with their following Albums, ‘I’m a Rebel’, ‘Breaker’, ‘Restless and Wild’ and ‘Balls to the Wall’, the latter certified as a Gold record in the United States and Canada. Their seminal and heavily influential Album Metal Heart was released in 1985. Produced by Dieter Dierks; it’s knowledged as representing the band's creative peak in these early years. Accept toured the world with the album, and documented the live shows with the live record Kaizoku-Ban.
1986 saw the release of Russian Roulette, while Eat the Heat ( with singer David Reece), Objection Overruled, Death Row and Predator were recorded and released during the following years with much critical acclaim and Accept decided to have a hiatus from their joint activities,
with all the band members continuing their own projects. It wasn't until 2009, when singer Mark Tornillo joined Accept that the band re-grouped and emerged once again, flourishing into the global success it is today.
 Accept, with Mark as singer, made their live debut on 8 May 2010 at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City, and a new album titled ‘Blood of the Nations’ was written and recorded with Andy Sneap as roducer. 
On 21 May 2010, Accept’s video for "Teutonic Terror" was number 5 on the worldwide video charts in all genres, topping such artists as Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and Christina Aguilera. The video also topped the MySpace Global Metal Charts at number 1. Following their triumphant return Accept delivered their 13th Studio Album, Blind Rage, giving them their first Number One in the German Charts.
 ‘The Rise of Chaos’, ‘Symphonic Terror’ and ‘Too Mean to Die’ were met with similar heraldry, placing Accept as being one of the most sought after bands today with worldwide Sold Out Tours and a level of insurmountable success. 
With Mark Tornillo and Wolf Hoffmann firmly at the helm of this new and astonishing constellation of Accept, a new band line up was seamlessly formed with Uwe Lulis on guitar, Christopher Williams on drums, Martin Motnik on bass and Phil Shouse as third guitarist making
Accept one of the most leading, powerful and thrilling live acts around! The release of their 17th studio album, HUMANOID, on 26th April 2024, has already been hailed by critics as “ Another towering musical entry, certain to rally fans from around the globe once again. An Album that targets the head, heart, guts and.....balls!”