U.D.O. Announces 20th Studio Album 'Voodoo Ranger', Releases 'I'll Die Trying' Music Video

2027 marks a unique triple anniversary for Udo Dirkschneider and U.D.O.: Udo turns 75, U.D.O. celebrates 40 years as a band, and "Voodoo Ranger" marks the release of the German heavy metal institution's 20th studio album. This very special record release will be celebrated on January 8, 2027 via powerhouse label Reigning Phoenix Music.

Written by Udo Dirkschneider, drummer Sven Dirkschneider, bassist Peter Baltes and guitarist Fabian "Dee" Dammers, with additional contributions from new guitarist Alen Brentini, "Voodoo Ranger" brings four decades of heavy metal experience into an album that sounds unmistakably U.D.O. The album was produced and mixed by Martin "Mattes" Pfeiffer, mastered by Stefan Kaufmann, while its artwork was painted by acclaimed artist Eliran Kantor.

Today, U.D.O. opens this milestone chapter with the first taste of "Voodoo Ranger": new single "I'll Die Trying". Accompanied by an official music video, the track also marks the launch of the album pre-order.

Rather than launching "Voodoo Ranger" with an all-out metal attack, U.D.O. introduces the album with one of its most personal moments. "I'll Die Trying" is a classic U.D.O. ballad about perseverance, self-belief and staying true to your path, carried by the unmistakable voice of Udo Dirkschneider. The song also became the album's first single through an unexpected turn of events — a change of plans that, as Udo explains, ultimately felt like the right choice.

Udo comments: "'I'll Die Trying' is one of the most personal songs on 'Voodoo Ranger'. It's about never giving up, believing in yourself and always moving forward, no matter what life throws at you. The last verse especially means a lot to me because it reflects what I've experienced on stage for so many years.

"Every concert is a special moment and as long as people want to hear me sing, I'll keep giving everything I've got.

"I've always believed that a great ballad can be just as powerful as the heaviest metal songs, and throughout my career these songs have become some of the most memorable ones. 'I'll Die Trying' is another one of those songs that comes straight from the heart.

"We originally planned to launch 'Voodoo Ranger' with a different song, but after Peter and Alen were injured during one of the recent concerts of the 'Balls To The Wall – 40th Anniversary Tour', we had to postpone the original video production. Rather than rush things, we decided to let 'I'll Die Trying' lead the way. Looking back, it feels like the right choice. The song captures a side of U.D.O. that has always been important to me.

"Ballads have been part of my career from the very beginning, and our fans have always embraced them. At the same time, nobody should think this album is getting softer: 'Voodoo Ranger' is packed with classic U.D.O. power and has plenty of surprises waiting."

And "Voodoo Ranger" does indeed have more than a few surprises in store.

The album finds U.D.O. as unmistakable as ever with their signature sound firmly intact. Powerful riffs, massive hooks and Udo Dirkschneider's unique voice meet heavier and darker moments.

"Voodoo Ranger" track listing:

01. Testify
02. The Sky Is The Limit
03. Keep Me Alive
04. Back Breaker
05. I'll Die Trying
06. Reach For The Crown
07. Pain & Glory
08. Hell Hunt
09. Voodoo Ranger
10. Magic Life
11. Devil's Mind
12. Movin' On

The album is only one part of what will make 2027 an exceptional year for Udo Dirkschneider and U.D.O. The band will celebrate four decades of U.D.O. live with the extensive "Triple Anniversary Tour 2027", taking the anniversary across Europe and bringing together material from throughout the band's history. At the same time, another major chapter in Dirkschneider's story will be told away from the stage: his official autobiography, created together with Dan Dreyer, will be published in the very same month as "Voodoo Ranger".

Album, book and tour therefore meet at a unique point in his career. After more than five decades in heavy metal, Udo Dirkschneider has plenty of history to look back on — but "Voodoo Ranger" makes one thing equally clear: U.D.O. is still looking ahead.

75 years. 40 years of U.D.O. 20 albums. And the metal heart keeps beating.

Earlier this year, Udo told Brazil's Headbangers News that his former ACCEPT bandmate Peter Baltes, who officially joined U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER as the two bands' bassist in 2023, "was very much involved" in the songwriting for the new U.D.O. album. "And I'm really happy to have him back," Dirkschneider said.

Asked if any of the songwriting chemistry of the classic ACCEPT albums like 1982's "Restless And Wild Return" returned instantly once he and Peter started working on music for the upcoming U.D.O. album, Dirkschneider said: "We never sit down and say, 'Okay, we have to do songs like this and this and this way.' It's new stuff coming up. Of course it has a little bit of [the flavor] of the older ACCEPT stuff. Of course, two people [from the classic ACCEPT lineup] are there [in U.D.O. now] — the singer and the bass player. And Peter was also very much involved in songwriting in ACCEPT, and also when ACCEPT did the reunion [more than 15 years ago]. So, yeah, there is a [touch] of [the ACCEPT sound], but I think it's definitely U.D.O. and it's a really straightforward album."

In April 2023, Baltes officially joined U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER. The former ACCEPT bassist had been playing bass for U.D.O. since September 2022, initially as a temporary replacement for U.D.O.'s then-bassist Tilen Hudrap who was hospitalized after the band's show in Munich, Germany.

DIRKSCHNEIDER is the name of Udo's band which performs ACCEPT material exclusively.

Although Udo announced 11 years ago that his initial DIRKSCHNEIDER tour would mark his final time performing ACCEPT songs, he has continued to play select shows under the DIRKSCHNEIDER banner for more than a decade.

DIRKSCHNEIDER recently reimagined ACCEPT's iconic album "Balls To The Wall" to celebrate the LP's 40th anniversary. The band, which also features Udo's son Sven Dirkschneider on drums and the guitar duo of Alen Brentini and Fabian "Dee" Dammers, celebrated the 40th anniversary of "Balls To The Wall", which was originally released in late 1983 and is the most commercially successful and best-known album by ACCEPT, by performing the LP in its entirety on recent tours of South America, North America and Europe.

U.D.O. "Triple Anniversary Tour 2027" dates:

Jan. 09 - DE-Leipzig, Haus Auensee
Jan. 10 - DE-Hamburg, Große Freiheit 36
Jan. 11 - DE-Berlin, Huxleys Neue Welt
Jan. 12 - DE-Frankfurt, Batschkapp
Jan. 13 - DE-Braunschweig, Westand
Jan. 15 - DE-Oberhausen, Turbinenhalle
Jan. 16 - DE-Markneukirchen, Musikhalle
Jan. 17 - DE-Munich, Backstage Werk
Jan. 18 - DE-Stuttgart, LKA-Longhorn
Jan. 19 - FR-Paris, Bataclan
Jan. 21 - CH-Pratteln, Konzertfabrik Z7
Jan. 23 - ES-Barcelona, Sala Apolo
Jan. 24 - ES-Madrid, Revi Live
Jan. 25 - ES-Villava, Sala TOTEM Aretoa
Jan. 27 - ES-Seville, Sala Custom
Jan. 28 - PT-Lisbon, LAV - Lisboa ao Vivo
Jan. 29 - PT-Porto, Hard Club
Feb. 01 - IT-Milano, Magazzini Generali
Feb. 02 - SI-Ljubljana, Club Cvetličarna
Feb. 04 - BG-Sofia, Hristo Botev Hall
Feb. 05 - RO-Bucharest, Quantic
Feb. 07 - HU-Budapest, Barba Negra
Feb. 08 - CZ-Ostrava, Club Garage
Feb. 09 - CZ-Brno, Sono Centrum
Feb. 11 - PL-Wroclaw, Concert Center A2
Feb. 12 - PL-Poznan, B17
Feb. 13 - PL-Krakow, Studio Kraków
Feb. 14 - PL-Warsaw, Progresja
Feb. 15 - PL-Gdańsk, Stary Manez
Feb. 17 - SE-Gothenburg, Pustervik
Feb. 18 - NO-Oslo, Vulkan Arena
Feb. 20 - FI-Tampere, Tavara-asema

U.D.O. is:

Udo Dirkschneider - Vocals
Sven Dirkschneider - Drums
Fabian "Dee" Dammers - Guitar
Peter Baltes - Bass
Alen Brentini - Guitar

Photo credit: Martin Hausler