Archive for Metal albums 2027

U.D.O. Release New Single & Video “I’ll Die Trying” And Announce 20th Studio Album Voodoo Ranger 

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , on September 19, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

[Photo credit: Martin Hausler]

75. 40. 20. Three numbers. One extraordinary chapter in heavy metal history.
New Album available for Pre-Order now

2027 marks a unique triple anniversary for Udo Dirkschneider and U.D.O.: Udo turns 75, U.D.O. celebrate 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.

Today, U.D.O. open 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.

Watch the official video for “I’ll Die Trying” HERE:

https://youtu.be/3UR2iGAh05E

Stream “I’ll Die Trying” HERE: https://udo.rpm.link/dietryingPR

Pre-save / Pre-order Voodoo Ranger HERE: https://udo.rpm.link/voodooPR

Rather than launching Voodoo Ranger with an all-out metal attack, U.D.O. introduce 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.

Voodoo Ranger – Track-list:
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 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 Dirkschneider 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.

Written by Udo Dirkschneider, Sven Dirkschneider, Peter Baltes and 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. 

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, yet Voodoo Ranger makes one thing equally clear: U.D.O. are still looking ahead.

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

U.D.O. Artist Line-Up:
Udo Dirkschneider – Vocals
Sven Dirkschneider – Drums
Fabian “Dee” Dammers – Guitar
Peter Baltes – Bass
Alen Brentini – Guitar

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, Westand
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

Tickets & further information: https://udo-online.de/tourdates.html

Connect with U.D.O.:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/udoonline

Instagram: https://instagram.com/u.d.o._official

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2aWjaq32aRQo58dw0w8NM6

Website: https://udo-online.de

reigningphoenixmusic.com

Source: C Squared Music

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ILLUSION OF FATE Release “Exsanguination” Video, Announce New EP Out 2027

Posted in Black Metal, black metal bands, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , on September 12, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Watch “Exsanguination”Here! https://youtu.be/FHhAtN2-UfE

Blackened symphonic death metal ensemble ILLUSION OF FATE unveil their new single and video release, “Exsanguination.”  This is the first single to arrive ahead of the band’s upcoming EP, scheduled for January 2027. 

“‘Exsanguination’ began as one of the first songs written after experimenting with a seven string guitar”, the band explain. “While the foundation remained rooted in melodic blackened death metal, the goal was to create something with a stronger death metal punch while continuing to emphasize melody”.

The band also expand their sonic range, drawing inspiration from synthwave and incorporating industrial electronic textures to create an enhanced cinematic atmosphere. 

Lyrically, “Exsanguination” “explores the struggle of existing within an endless cycle of change while fearing the loss of identity. Ancient wisdom, symbolic imagery and forces older than humanity guide the narrator through a painful process of transformation”.

Alongside this announcement, ILLUSION OF FATE will be appearing at Northern Wisconsin Metalfest and performing at The Den supporting ARMED FOR APOCALYPSE with FATAL FALL, this September. 

9/10 – Northern Wisconsin Metalfest, Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin
9/13 – The Den, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Exsanguination was produced by Hayden Crownover at Crownover Productions. The release was mixed by Hayden Crownover and mastered by Alan Douches. The cover artwork for Exsanguination was created by Kevin Wegner (Very Deadly Media). 

About ILLUSION OF FATE:

Emerging from the wastes of the American Midwest, ILLUSION OF FATE has been honing their distinctive brand of blackened symphonic death metal since 2019. With multiple releases available worldwide, national tours across the United States, and performances at underground festivals including Tennessee Metal Devastation, Michigan Metalfest and the legendary Milwaukee Metalfest, the band only continues to persevere.

ILLUSION OF FATE unveiled their first EP Emerging Sentience in 2020, followed by the King of Serpents EP in 2021 and Portals to Kur LP in 2024, all released independently. At the core of ILLUSION OF FATE’s identity lies the Bloodcult Mythos, an epic, grimdark saga spanning millennia, conceptually woven through each EP and full length release.

Their unmistakable fusion of thrash, death, and black metal with sweeping orchestral arrangements conjures an atmosphere both ethereal and terrifying. Combined with their commanding stage presence, infused with the theatrical visuals of black and gothic metal, they immerse audiences fully into the world their music describes.

Notably one of Wisconsin’s only touring metal acts, the band has shared the stages with iconic acts such as OBSCURA, RIVERS OF NIHIL, VALE OF PNATH, DYING FETUS, DECREPIT BIRTH, PSYCROPTIC, UADA, OMNIUM GATHERUM, and many more. ILLUSION OF FATE continues to carve their place among modern extreme metal with new releases and live expansions on the horizon, the Bloodcult grows ever stronger. The forthcoming EP will arrive in January 2027. 

ILLUSION OF FATE:
Kevin Wegner (King Morbid) – Vocals
Hayden Crownover (Erebus)- Lead Guitar and backing vocals
Bryan Bykowski (Slaanesh)- Bass Guitar and backing vocals
Austin Vicars (Malevolence)- Drums and percussion

ILLUSION OF FATE Online:

Bandcamp: https://illusionoffate.bandcamp.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IOFofficial/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illusion_of_fate

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7vlsXTuFGlg6psz4rjj742

Source: C Squared Music

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BELPHEGOR Finishes Work On 13th Studio Album, Set For Release in 2027

Posted in Black Metal, blackened death metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on August 4, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Black death metal force BELPHEGOR has finished work on its 13th studio album, scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2027 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

The forthcoming record will mark the next chapter in BELPHEGOR’s uncompromising legacy, continuing the band’s relentless exploration of black death metal and its distinctive fusion of brutality, darkness and ceremonial intensity.

As work on the album progresses, BELPHEGOR reminds their supporters to revisit the first two singles from the upcoming release:

“Scarlet Beast – Leviathan”
Released February 2026
https://youtu.be/R84svP3mTJo

“Sanctus Diaboli Confidimus”
Released August 2025
https://youtu.be/yCORFvKY6J0

Further details surrounding BELPHEGOR’s 13th studio album will be revealed in due course.

BELPHEGOR will also unleash its magickal processions across Europe in autumn 2026 with the “Praise The Beast” European Tour 2026.

The trek kicks off September 29 at Turock in Essen, Germany, and will storm through Belgium, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Central Europe, Poland, and the UK before reaching its final ritual on October 18 at The Underworld in London.

Joining BELPHEGOR as special guests are death metal legends KRISIUN and black metal coven ASAGRAUM. A fourth band will be announced soon. Stay tuned.

BELPHEGOR “Praise The Beast” European Tour 2026:

29.09. – GER – Essen, Turock
30.09. – BEL – Kortrijk, DVG
01.10. – NLD – Dordrecht, Bibelot
02.10. – NLD – Hengelo, Metropool
03.10. – DEN- Copenhagen, Richter
04.10. – SWE – Gothenburg, Monument
06.10. – FIN – Helsinki, On The Rocks
07.10. – SWE – Stockholm, Kollektivet Livet
08.10. – SWE – Malmö, Plan B
09.10. – GER – Berlin, Musikbrauerei
10.10. – CZE – Uherske Hradiste, Klub Mir
11.10. – CZE – Plzen, Serikovka
13.10. – POL – Krakow, Hype Park
14.10. – POL – Gdańsk, Drizzly Grizzly
15.10. – GER – Osnabrück, Bastard Club
16.10. – UK – Sheffield, Corporation
17.10. – UK – Torquay, Arena
18.10. – UK – London, The Underworld

Tickets and additional information will be available through local venues and promoters.

More from BELPHEGOR: www.belphegor.at | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube

reigningphoenixmusic.com

Source: C Squared Music

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BRAINSTORM Announce New Studio Album, Nightfall, To Arrive in Spring 2027 – via Reigning Phoenix Music!

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , on July 8, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

A new chapter begins. German metal veterans BRAINSTORM have officially announced their brand-new studio album, Nightfall. The band’s forthcoming full-length will be released via Reigning Phoenix Music in Spring 2027, marking the next milestone in a career spanning more than three decades.

Following the critically acclaimed Plague Of Rats, BRAINSTORM continue to expand the lyrical universe inspired by Indian mythology while delivering the powerful songwriting, memorable hooks and unmistakable heaviness that have become the band’s trademark. At the same time, Nightfall will see the band embracing an even rawer and more dynamic approach, reaffirming the qualities that have made BRAINSTORM one of Germany’s most enduring metal acts.

Nightfall also introduces BRAINSTORM‘s current lineup, welcoming bassist Danij Perl and drummer Kevin Lütolf. Together with vocalist Andy B. Franck and guitarists Torsten Ihlenfeld and Milan Loncaric, the renewed lineup has forged an album that confidently looks ahead while staying true to the band’s unmistakable identity.

Andy B. Franck comments:
“It’s been a while since you last heard from me, right? Well, buckle up because next year sees the release of our new album, Nightfall, which takes us even deeper into the realm of Indian mythology and more demonic realms.

Nightfall brings you to a world of beauty and grace, but also of death and despair. I’m so excited and can’t wait to drag you all down into these abysses with me, haha! I’m really keen to bring more of that raw, primal power back into the traditional sound. The result is going to blow your minds, and with my friend Seeb (Sebastian ‘Seeb’ Leverman\Orden Ogan) at the mixing desk, we can look forward to an awesome metal album in the spring of ’27! So, get ready for an incredible journey…”

Further details about Nightfall, including a first single and more info, will be revealed in the coming months.

Connect with BRAINSTORM:
www.brainstorm-web.net
www.facebook.com/officialbrainstorm
www.instagram.com/official.brainstorm

Source: C Squared Music

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