U.D.O. Announces New Album, Tour Details; Drops Albums Lead Single

By: Philip Sayblack

​U.D.O. will release its latest album early next year.
The band made the announcement Friday through a news release. The album, Voodoo Ranger, is scheduled for release Jan. 8 through Reigning Phoenix Music. The album will be the band’s 20th and will be part of the band’s 40th anniversary.
In anticipation of the album’s release the band also premiered its lead single, ‘I’ll Die Trying‘ over the weekend. The song is a ballad very much in the vein of some of Ozzy Osbourne’s more emotional songs. Next to ‘Movin’ On,’ it is the album’s only other softer song. The rest of the 12-song record is far more energetic.
According to provided information, the song’s lyrical theme is a “ballad about perseverance self-belief and staying true to your path.”
Udo Dirkschneider, the band’s namesake and front man discussed the song’s theme in a prepared statement.
“‘I’ll Die Trying’ is one of the most personal songs on Voodoo Ranger,” said Dirkschneider. “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.”
Dirkschneider added, “We originally planned to launch Voodoo Ranger with a different song, but after Peter [Baltes] and Alen [Brentini] 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.”
The track listing for Voodoo Ranger is noted below.
Voodoo Ranger Tracklist:
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
In related news, U.D.O. will mark its 40th anniversary with a European tour set to kick off Jan. 9 in Leipzig, Germany. The tour is scheduled to run through Feb. 20 in Tampere, Finland. The tour’s schedule is noted below. Tickets are available here.
U.D.O. – TRIPLE ANNIVERSARY TOUR 2027
09.01.2027 DE-Leipzig, Haus Auensee
10.01.2027 DE-Hamburg, Große Freiheit 36
11.01.2027 DE-Berlin, Huxleys Neue Welt
12.01.2027 DE-Frankfurt, Batschkapp
13.01.2027 DE-Braunschweig, W estand
15.01.2027 DE-Oberhausen, Turbinenhalle
16.01.2027 DE-Markneukirchen, Musikhalle
17.01.2027 DE-Munich, Backstage Werk
18.01.2027 DE-Stuttgart, LKA-Longhorn
19.01.2027 FR-Paris, Bataclan
21.01.2027 CH-Pratteln, Konzertfabrik Z7
23.01.2027 ES-Barcelona, Sala Apolo
24.01.2027 ES-Madrid, Revi Live
25.01.2027 ES-Villava, Sala TOTEM Aretoa
27.01.2027 ES-Seville, Sala Custom
28.01.2027 PT-Lisbon, LAV – Lisboa ao Vivo
29.01.2027 PT-Porto, Hard Club
01.02.2027 IT-Milano, Magazzini Generali
02.02.2027 SI-Ljubljana, Club Cvetličarna
04.02.2027 BG-Sofia, Hristo Botev Hall
05.02.2027 RO-Bucharest, Quantic
07.02.2027 HU-Budapest, Barba Negra
08.02.2027 CZ-Ostrava, Club Garage
09.02.2027 CZ-Brno, Sono Centrum
11.02.2027 PL-Wroclaw, Concert Center A2
12.02.2027 PL-Poznan, B17
13.02.2027 PL-Krakow, Studio Kraków
14.02.2027 PL-Warsaw, Progresja
15.02.2027 PL-Gdańsk, Stary Manez
17.02.2027 SE-Gothenburg, Pustervik
18.02.2027 NO-Oslo, Vulkan Arena
20.02.2027 FI-Tampere, Tavara-asema
More information on U.D.O.’s new single, album, and tour is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Website: https://www.udo-online.de