DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG – Babylon

What started out as a one-off charity project has now become a fully-fleshed heavy metal supergroup; if they even fit that description? Well, considering that three of the members were in Accept (lead vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, bassist and vocalist Peter Baltes, and guitarist Stefan Kaufmann), it’s safe to say Dirkschneider & the Old Gang meet the criteria for a supergroup. Completing the lineup are drummer Sven Dirkschneider (Udo’s son), guitarist Mathias “Don” Dieth (who previously played with Udo in his U.D.O. band) and lead vocalist Manuela “Ella” Bibert. Due to positive responses for their first three singles released between 2020 and 2021, Dirkschneider & the Old Gang got together to write and compile enough material for their debut studio album, Babylon (2025), which was recorded at Dierks Studios.

The Power of Heavy Metal Friendship

Like the band name itself, Babylon sounds like a bunch of buddies getting together and having a swell time recording heavy metal music, which is a good and bad thing. Album opener “It Takes Two to Tango” is a good “driving down the highway” song that’s pedal to the metal. The three-way shared vocal duties versus having one sole vocalist are an odd choice, but they symbolize the group’s harmonious nature. However, the female backing vocals during the last minute of the song are not necessary; the same can be said for “Hellbreaker,” “The Law of a Madman,” “Propaganda,” etc. The idea of giving everyone their fair share of the spotlight is understandable, but sometimes it’s better to let certain songs be dude songs. Or if female backing vocals are “absolutely necessary,” don’t introduce them towards the very end of the song. At least the female backing vocals for The Black Crowes’ “Remedy” appear early during the song’s chorus.

“Babylon” is such a bizarre song because of its Egyptian and dramatic flare, but that’s what makes it memorable. With Bibert’s haunting vocals, the title track locks listeners in a trance and takes them back to ancient times where technology didn’t even exist. “Time to Listen” is an upbeat rocker with lots of pop elements, thanks to the vocal harmonies, bright melodies, and sing-along chorus. It’s also the shortest track on the album being three minutes and 43 seconds; how’s that for commerciality? “Dead Man’s Hand” will most likely be a crowd favorite thanks to its catchy chorus, explosive guitar melodies, and wicked vocals from Udo. It definitely helps that he and vocalist Bobby Blitz from Overkill sound very similar.

“Propaganda” is full-on speed metal with bits of power metal. Despite the unnecessary female backing vocals during the song’s closure, the guitar melodies make it a worthwhile listen. All they need are machine guns blasting during the chorus to really spice things up. The album has two ballads, “Strangers in Paradise” and “Blindfold.” Despite the tasteful flamenco guitar solo in the former, it’s a boring track, so go listen to “Blindfold” instead. The lyrics are far more memorable, there’s no weird dynamic between lead female and male vocals, and it’s a beautiful combination between electric and acoustic guitars. The album closer, “Beyond the End of Time,” has the coolest guitar riff on the entire album. It’s tough-as-nails and freaking heavy. Plus, the song gets its message across in less than eight minutes!

Final Assessment

As hinted earlier, the concept of having a bunch of buddies record a heavy metal album cooked up some creative choices that are hard to swallow such as the female backing vocals at the very last minute for certain songs, the album length, and the vocal harmonies overload. Seriously, “Better Than Power” sounds like a heavy metal choir with vikings. On the plus side, it’s cool that everyone gets along with each other and the musicianship on the record is stellar, so if interested, give Dirkschneider & the Old Gang’s Babylon a chance!

Album Tracklist

1. It Takes Two to Tango
2. Babylon
3. Hellbreaker
4. Time to Listen
5. Strangers in Paradise
6. Dead Man’s Hand
7. The Law of a Madman
8. Metal Sons
9. Propaganda
10. Blindfold
11. Better Than Power
12. Beyond the End of Time

Band Lineup

Udo Dirkschneider – lead vocals
Peter Baltes – bass guitar, lead and backing vocals
Manuela “Ella” Bibert – lead and backing vocals, keyboards
Stefan Kaufmann – guitars and backing vocals
Mathias “Don” Dieth – guitars and backing vocals
Sven Dirkschneider – drums and backing vocals

Check out the music video for the title track from Dirkschneider & the Old Gang’s Babylon!