SOURCE – Hello Roland Grapow! You have a show scheduled in Brazil on June 14, 2026, in São Paulo, celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Time of the Oath. How did the idea for this event come about, and how were the Brazilian musicians selected to participate in it?
Roland Grapow (Guitars) – Hello, thank you for your question. This short tour, if you can call it that, was organized by a friend and long-time fan of mine. We’ve known each other for quite a while, and he also invited me to Brazil a few years ago. That’s when I first met the musicians involved in this project.
They play covers not only from Helloween’s repertoire but also many other well-known metal songs.
There may also be some more guest singers joining us, but nothing is confirmed yet. Maybe we’ll keep it as a surprise.
SOURCE – The last album, PumpKings, was released in 2017, and Metalmorphosis was not released until 2026. What was the reason for this long gap between the band’s releases?
Roland Grapow (Guitars) – After PumpKings in 2017, there were several reasons why it took so long for a new Masterplan release to happen. First of all, everyone in the band was involved in different projects and personal commitments, so it was not easy to find the right time and energy to focus completely on a new album.
And of course, the pandemic years also slowed down many plans, especially regarding recording, touring, and organizing the band’s activities.
SOURCE – How did the production and recording process for Metalmorphosis take place?
Roland Grapow (Guitars) – The material for Metalmorphosis had been prepared over a long period of time. We were collecting ideas and songs year after year, so in the end, we mainly had to put everything together and polish it.
Most of the work was done in my studio. All the instruments were recorded remotely, and when almost everything was ready, Rick came to my place, and we recorded all the vocals in just a few days.
After that, I finished the mastering, added the final details, and the album was ready.
SOURCE – What are your expectations for Metalmorphosis?
Roland Grapow (Guitars) – I can definitely answer this question differently now than I would have before the release of the first singles. We can already see the listeners’ reactions, so we now have a better idea of what to expect from the album.
What I’d really like to say to the fans is: don’t compare today’s music to musicians and eras from the past all the time. Try to enjoy what exists now. We put a huge amount of work, passion, and heart into Metalmorphosis.
This album was created the old-school way, just like we used to make records 20 or 30 years ago, without artificial intelligence and without shortcuts. Just real musicians writing real music together. Enjoy the moment because life moves fast, and you never know what tomorrow brings.
SOURCE – Masterplan’s self-titled debut album, Masterplan, released in 2003, was very well received by the specialized music press at the time. It was a powerful and remarkable record. How do you evaluate it today?
Roland Grapow (Guitars) – I still see the first Masterplan album as a very special record. At that time, everything felt fresh, hungry, and very natural. We had a strong lineup, strong songs, and a lot to prove, so the energy on that album was very real.
Of course, today many people call it a classic album, and I understand why. Songs like “Spirit Never Die” are still very important to the fans and also to us. I think the album has aged very well because it was written honestly, with real emotion and passion, without following trends.
Even after all these years, I’m still proud of what we created there.
SOURCE – Your style is particularly popular in Latin America, with major festivals and a highly dedicated fanbase for melodic bands. Do you plan to invest in non-traditional markets to promote Metalmorphosis?
Roland Grapow (Guitars) – Just to clarify, by “non-traditional markets,” do you mean Latin America? If so, that’s probably more of a question for our label regarding promotion plans.
But personally, I absolutely love Latin America. The fans there are incredible, always passionate, welcoming, and full of energy. Even with the difficult conditions many people face, they still have such a positive spirit, and honestly, that’s very inspiring to me.
SOURCE – Masterplan released PumpKings in 2017. It was a different scene and a different world, with completely different ways of promoting an album. How do you plan to use social media today to promote this new release?
Roland Grapow (Guitars) – To be honest, I personally don’t really like social media at all. Of course, I understand that today it can be a powerful promotional tool, and many people believe it has made promotion easier. But in my opinion, sometimes it actually makes things more complicated.
Still, we use our Instagram and Facebook pages to announce new releases, videos, and updates. But we’re not planning any big marketing campaigns or aggressive advertising. We’re still very old-school in the way we do things, and we prefer to keep it natural and honest.
SOURCE – Masterplan’s new album, Metalmorphosis, will soon be officially released in South America. Are there any plans for live shows to support and promote the album?
Roland Grapow (Guitars) – Yes, absolutely. We already have plans to bring Metalmorphosis to Latin America live on stage. Things are already moving behind the scenes, and most likely it will happen next year.
Latin America always gives us incredible energy, so we can’t wait to come back.
Stay tuned. More news will come soon.
Photo Credit: Patric Ullaeus
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