After more than 40 years in the business and with a renowned breakthrough in the early 80’s with Accept behind him, as well as several million records sold worldwide, Germany's Udo Dirkschneider is one of the biggest Rock legends in the business. After honouring classic Accept songs live with his other project Dirkschneider in the last couple of years, it’s time to release a new U.D.O. studio album 'Steelfactory' at the end of this month via AFM Records/Soulfood Music, of which one of the tracks 'Rising High' is today's Track Of The Day. The current (core) band line up - a bit like a good family business - consists of Udo, Udo’s son Sven Dirkschneider (drums), bass player Fitty Wienhold and guitarist Andrey Smirnov.

The latest band to be showcased in our "Introducing ...." feature is The Edge Of Reason (TEOR) - a Rock band, founded in 2012 in Regensburg, Germany. Musically, driving rhythms meet with very catchy melodies with partial Punky and Rocky elements. The dynamic combination of brutal shouts and growls with the extraordinary clean voice of lead vocalist Ro Seven lends the band unmistakable character - supported by guitarists Alex and Billy, drummer Niko and bassist Dani - convince through energetic and thrilling live shows. Their debut album 'Broken But Not Torn' was released in 2017 and one of the tracks from the album - 'Loved A Liar' - is today's Video Of The Day.

The Dead Daisies are returning to the UK in November to play eight shows, adding special guests from both ends of the Rock spectrum: trusted classics Diamond Head, Tygers of Pan Tang, Chrome Molly and Oliver/Dawson Saxon as well as Britain’s new Rock sensation Massive Wagons for some mammoth nights of Rock! Every night will kick off with the band doing a special “Welcome to Daisyland” Acoustic Set before doors for the first 50 in line for the show! As if that was not enough, The Daisies will perform a special 120 minute set every night - with two different set-lists for both London shows on Sunday 18th and Monday 19th November! Fans who buy a special two-night ticket for the London show will also receive a commemorative, exclusive laminate! The guys are also confirmed to play at Hard Rock Hell, Planet Rockstock, Winterstorm and Monstersfest.

The Stevie Nimmo Trio and Bourbon Street Revival are the latest additions to The Chelsea Blues, Rhythm and Rock Festival taking place next year at London's Under The Bridge on Saturday 30th March between 3pm and 11pm. With Deep Sea Blue and JFK Blue already on board, a limited number of Early Bird tickets priced £29 are now on sale here.

Hanzel Und Gretyl has been an ever evolving band and the New York based industrial Metal duo mark their 25th anniversary with a brand new studio album released last month. ’Satanik Germanik’ is their darkest, heaviest sounding record to date - more evil, menacing yet fun than ever. It continues their progression towards a harder, more Metal based sound that marked their previous release, 2014’s ‘Black Forest Metal’ - a new era, employing black Metal & satanic themes crossed with motifs from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Made up of Kaizer Von Loopy/KyzrWölf - guitars, programming, vocals and Vas Kallas - vocals, bass - check out today's 'We Rise As Demons' Track Of The Day - still very much 100% Hanzel Und Gretyl!

The fast-rising Marcus King Band (Video Of The Day) are bringing their Carolina Confessions tour to the UK this October; four headline dates including a show at the Islington Assembly Hall in London on Friday 26th October. The six-piece band are fronted by the multi-talented, 22-year-old Marcus King, whose expressive guitar playing, soulful singing and emotive song-writing make it clear that this gifted young musician is a true talent to be reckoned with; a genuine force of nature. The UK dates come in the wake of a huge US run, which includes a stint on the Tedeschi Trucks Band's Wheels of Soul Tour, plus headline shows in New York, Boston, Nashville, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The band’s third studio album is due for release via Snakefarm Records in the UK later this year.

Today's Blues On The Radio Track Of The Day has a clutch of new releases plus a full preview of The Old Bush Blues Festival including music from Greg Coulson, Johnny & The Headhunters, The Robert J Hunter Band, The Wolves, Northsyde, Michele D'Amour & The Love Dealers, Gerry Jablonski & The Electric Band, Midnite Johnny, Elles Bailey, Adam Sweet, Catfish and Troy Redfern (pictured).

"The song structures are simple, but effective and catchy, easy to swagger along to in that Britpop way. ‘Petrol Fumes’ and ‘What’ve We Done’ are catchy but my favourite was ‘You Fly Too High’ with a solid riff and tight drumming from Rick sat at the back." Today read Chris Bourlet's complete take on last Friday's Zero UK gig at London's 229 The Venue in Great Portland Street here.

Experimental Metal band Manes of Norway have unveiled the first visual companion to their new record 'Slow Motion Death Sequence', due to be released on Friday 24th August via Debemur Morti Productions. Directed by Guilherme Henriques, whose past visual collaborations with artists such as Belphegor, Wormed, and Hideous Divinity have turned many a head, 'Endetidstegn' (today's Video Of The Day) presents a bleak window into a personal form of apocalypse, the inevitable demise handed down by the vengeful Gods of modern man, vice, alcohol, drugs. Containing elements of psychedelic electronica and trip hop converge over crunching guitars and haunting vocal harmonies, Manes cinematic approach to music creation evokes curiosity and a desire to discover what lays beneath.

Martin Barre, best-known as guitarist in Jethro Tull - one of the biggest selling Prog bands of all time, releases his new solo album 'Roads Less Travelled' on Garage Records on Saturday 1st September. Barre has developed his own distinctive style within the framework of Jethro Tull, and his instantly recognizable and original sound form the basis of this album. 'Roads Less Travelled' features 11 original tracks by Barre, which reflect the last 50 years of his esteemed musical career. While all the songs showcase his exceptional electric guitar, acoustic guitar and mandolin playing, the Martin Barre Band also shine throughout. A long-time resident of Devon, Barre’s band features several local musicians including Dan Crisp (vocals), Alan Thompson (bass/fretless bass), Darby Todd (drums), Becca Langsford (vocals/backing vocals), Josiah J (percussion/hammond), Aaron Graham (drums), Alex Hart (vocals/backing vocals) and Buster Cottam (“stand up” bass).

This week's Black on Blues Podcast Track Of The Day is an all European Blues line-up featuring Ad Vanderveen (Netherlands), Theo & The Boogie Sinners (Greece), BB & The Blues Shacks (Germany), Jan Mittendorp (Netherlands), Micke Bjorklof (Finland) and Petri Matero Group (Finland).

Today's Video Of The Day is Idlewar's first single 'Escape' from their new forthcoming LP 'Fractured' due to be released on Friday 5th October. If you pre-order now, $10 gets you an immediate digital download of 'Escape' as well as an exclusive bonus track plus the entire new album on its release. Idlewar return to the UK in November for eight gigs which includes London's The Black Heart on Friday 16th November.