Former U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER guitarist Andrey Smirnov has launched a new heavy metal project called AXE & ASHES and released the band’s second single, Stand And Fight. The track follows the debut single Trial By Fire, which came out earlier this year, and continues to introduce AXE & ASHES as a new outlet for Smirnov’s take on classic heavy metal.
AXE & ASHES was officially launched in early 2026 following Smirnov’s departure from U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER at the end of 2025, marking a new chapter in his career focused on songwriting, production, and building a new band identity.
Smirnov said: “Classic heavy metal will always have its place in the modern world. With AXE & ASHES, my goal is to preserve the spirit of the bands I grew up with while bringing that sound into the present.”
