Im kommenden Jahr feiert Udo Dirkschneider gleich drei imposante Jubiläen: seinen 75. Geburtstag, 40 Jahre Solokarriere und sein 20. U.D.O. Studioalbum, das heute standesgemäß mit der ersten balladesken Single `I´ll Die Trying´ als Video angekündigt wird. „Voodoo Ranger“ erscheint am 08. Januar 2027 und damit genau einen Tag bevor es für das Urgestein auf große „Triple Anniversary Tour Europe 2027“ geht.
Udo Dirkschneider führt aus:
„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 (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.“
Videostream:
Lyrics:
Listen to the patter of the gentle rain
Falling in the twilight, wash away my pain
Listen to the echo of sounds that never cease
Hear the storm that’s coming whisper on the breeze
I’ll try – ‘til I stop breathing
I’ll try – You can’t stop me believing
Love to hear that patter of the gentle rain
Dreaming in the twilight, calming all my pain
Listening to the night wind, singing soft and low
Hear the distant thunder like songs from long ago
I’ll try – ‘til I stop breathing
I’ll try – to win the fight
I’ll try – chasing dreams of tomorrow
Every stage I stand on filled with rocking sound
Moments feel like magic and love shines all around
Crowds then fade to silence, echoes disappear
But I’ll keep on singing and chase away my fear
I’ll try – ‘til I stop breathing
I’ll try – to win the fight
I’ll try – I’ll die trying
Die „Voodoo Ranger“-Trackliste:
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