When Alissa White-Gluz first joined Swedish melodic death metal group Arch Enemy in 2014, she was stepping into some big shoes – her predecessor Angela Gossow had raised the bar incredibly high for female death metal vocals. White-Gluz in turn lifted the bar higher, bringing both guttural screams and powerful clean singing in one package, providing the band a new edge to their sound across 11 years and 4 studio albums. Upon leaving Arch Enemy in November last year, White-Gluz directed her attention to her solo efforts under the simple moniker ‘Alissa’, as well as founding all-female group Blue Medusa.

DragonForce meanwhile have continued to release technical power metal albums packed with their frantic guitar noodling since breaking into the mainstream with 2006 hit ‘Through The Fire And Flames’. The song gained cult status, especially following its inclusion as one of the most difficult tracks on 2007 video game ‘Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock’, and the 2005 album ‘Inhuman Rampage’, of which it was the lead single, has been acclaimed as one of the most important power metal albums by both Metal Hammer and Loudwire. With ‘Inhuman Rampage’ marking its 20th anniversary last year, the group have been gearing up to celebrate the milestone in style.

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DragonForce announced White-Gluz’s arrival today, posting that they welcome her as “the band’s newest member and first frontwoman”. Both acts have worked together in the past, with Alissa providing guest vocals on a remixed version of DragonForce’s track ‘Burning Heart’ in 2025. She will slot in alongside their continuing lead singer Marc Hudson, her harsh growls and low singing voice complimenting his soaring melodic wails, with the post also revealing she will join them for live duties starting this week. White-Gluz’s tenure with the band begins with US shows at Welcome To Rocksville on Saturday the 9th of May, and Sonic Temple on the 17th.

In a statement, DragonForce guitarist Herman Li remarked “Alissa joining the band is an expansion of everything we’ve done up to this point. 20 years is a long time to do anything, let alone survive the music industry and still be so inspired to continue doing what we love. Together we will honour what made Inhuman Rampage matter, while showing people exactly where we’re going next. Having Alissa in the room changes everything. She doesn’t just sing, she makes all aspects of our music better. And she sounds incredible live! I can’t wait for the fans to see her and hear what we have been working on.” White-Gluz also added “I am beyond excited to be bringing such iconic music to life with these amazingly skilled musicians in such a fun and inspiring environment. It feels great to showcase all the colours of my voice and utilise all my singing styles in technically challenging, deeply energising, highly addictive songs.”

DragonForce have confirmed plans for more shows in support of ‘Inhuman Rampage’’s 20th birthday, as well as new music to be announced soon. For Alissa White-Gluz, the year is already phenomenally busy – Blue Medusa released debut single ‘Checkmate’ in March, and her first solo album is rumoured to release later this year after she dropped her debut Alissa track ‘The Room Where She Died’ last November.

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