German power metal titans Masterplan have announced a new album, Metalmorphosis, to be released on June 26 through their new Italian label Frontiers Music Srl.
The news broke on Tuesday alongside a fresh single, ‘Chase the Light’, showing their traditional power metal style. Beginning with a string section, the track quickly fires back into the trademark Teutonic territory which they have practiced for twenty five years now. The almost six-minute track comprises a melodic solo, old-school power metal singing and a usually anthemic chorus.
The album is to be their first full-length album of original material since 2013’s Novum Initium, having released an album revisiting guitarist Roland Grapow’s contributions to his former band, the celebrated power metal progenitors Helloween, in 2017, entitled PumpKings. Despite a dearth of album releases, an EP, Rise Again, did see release in 2024.
Grapow has stated that the primary reason for the long wait between album releases was trouble with Masterplan’s former record label, AFM, after the passing of owner Andy Allendorf, as he said in an interview with Argentinian YouTube channel El Cuartel del Metal, quoted in Blabbermouth.
Masterplan formed in 2001 out of the ashes of power metal band Helloween, put together by Grapow and drummer Uli Kusch. Neither were in the original Helloween lineup, but both made significant contributions on albums like the controversial Pink Bubbles Go Ape, 1991, and Master of the Rings, 1994. Since splitting off, Masterplan have released seven albums. Kusch departed in 2006, proceeding to go on and continue playing power metal with Symfonia on In Paradisum.
Masterplan’s style has occasionally wavered from traditional power metal, at times having expanded into more progressive and AOR-influenced territory, with Grapow citing Kansas, Deep Purple and Toto as influences alongside traditional power metal. He has, however, claimed that this album will owe more to older power metal influences.
On this album, the band consists of Grapow on guitars, longtime keyboardist Alex Mackenrott, vocalist Rick Altzi, former Stratovarius bassist Jari Kainulainen and drummer Kevin Kott.
Alongside a new album and single, Masterplan have also announced a tour of central, eastern and northwestern Europe, booked for April 2026. The tour dates can be found below.
Metalmorphosis Tour 2026 Dates
- 12/4/26 – Zagreb, Croatia – Boogaloo
- 14/4/26 – Ljubljana, Slovenia – Orto Bar
- 15/4/26 – Bratislava, Slovakia – Randal club
- 16/4/26 – České Budějovice, Czech Republic – Club Lucerna
- 17/4/26 – Regensburg, Germany – Airport
- 19/4/26 – Augsburg, Germany – Spectrum
- 21/4/26 – Bensheim, Germany – Musiktheater Rex
- 22/4/26 -Dortmund, Germany – Piano
- 23/4/26 – Leiden, Netherlands – Nobel
- 24/4/26 – Den Bosch, Netherlands – Willem II Poppodium
- 25/4/26 – Hoogeveen, Netherlands – Het Podium
- 28/4/26 – Hannover, Germany – Musikzentrum
- 29/4/26 – Hamburg, Germany – Knust
