Metal-Roos spoke to Roland, guitarist from Masterplan, about their album “Metalmorphosis”
Metal-Roos: “Metalmorphosis” is a powerful title. What does it represent for Masterplan, and how does it reflect the band’s current evolution?
Roland Grapow: For me, Metalmorphosis represents transformation without losing your identity. We have been through a lot as a band and, of course, we have all changed as musicians and as people over the years. But I never wanted to make an album that simply tried to recreate the first Masterplan records.
At the same time, I felt very strongly that we should go back to the roots of what I personally love about metal — powerful riffs, strong melodies, emotion and a certain darkness, but without unnecessary restrictions. So Metalmorphosis is not about becoming a different band. It is about becoming a stronger and freer version of Masterplan.
The title also has this slightly crazy image of a human transformation into a metal version of yourself, which I liked. It describes the spirit of the album quite well.
Metal-Roos: Can you tell us about the creative process behind the album? How did the songwriting and recording differ from previous Masterplan releases?
Roland Grapow: The process was quite different because this album developed over a long period. Some of the ideas were already several years old. We started seriously working on the record around five years ago, and some songs went through quite a few changes before they finally became what you hear now.
The main songwriting partnership was between myself and Axel Mackenrott. I wrote several songs and Axel contributed several as well, with a little help from some friends outside the band.
The big difference compared with some previous Masterplan albums is that I had a very clear idea of the direction I wanted. I didn’t want to make the music too progressive or too commercial. I love melodies, of course — that’s always going to be part of Masterplan — but I wanted the songs to be more direct and heavier.
Because I also produced the album, I had a lot of freedom to make decisions about the arrangements and the sound. That was important to me. I didn’t want to compromise on the musical direction just because somebody thought we should sound a certain way.
In the end, we went through all these older ideas with fresh ears and arranged them so they felt like one album rather than songs from completely different periods.
Metal-Roos: Were there any particular themes, stories, or messages that inspired the lyrics on “Metalmorphosis”?
Roland Grapow: There isn’t one single concept behind the lyrics. They come from different experiences and observations, and some of them are more personal while others are more about what is happening around us. There are definitely more critical subjects on this album than on some of our previous records. We live in a pretty crazy world, and sometimes you can’t ignore that. But even when the lyrics deal with darker or more difficult subjects, I still want there to be some kind of positive element. That’s something that has always been important to Masterplan: strength, hope and the idea of moving forward.
The Call, for example, is much more spiritual and personal. Through The Storm is about resilience, while Metalmorphosis itself is about change, strength and renewal after difficult times. And then you have Rise Again, which was deliberately chosen to close the album. The message is basically that whatever happens, you get back up and continue.
Metal-Roos: Is there a song on the album that you feel best represents where Masterplan is today as a band? Why that track?
Roland Grapow: I would probably say “Metalmorphosis”, because it really summarizes what this album is about. It has the heavier direction that I wanted, but it still has the melodies and emotional elements that people expect from Masterplan. But if you ask me which song represents the band emotionally, then I would probably choose “The Call.” It’s a very unusual Masterplan song, and we worked on it longer than anything else on the album. It feels almost like a modern prayer. We deliberately didn’t explain exactly what the song is supposed to mean, because I think it’s better when people can find their own meaning in it.
So for me, Metalmorphosis represents the musical direction, while The Call represents the emotional side of where we are today.
Metal-Roos:. What were the biggest challenges you faced while creating “Metalmorphosis,” and how did you overcome them?
Roland Grapow: Probably the biggest challenge was simply the amount of time that passed. When you work on an album over several years, you change yourself in the meantime. Your musical taste changes, your production ideas change, and suddenly a song that sounded great three years ago doesn’t necessarily feel right anymore.
So we had to constantly step back and listen to the material with fresh ears. Some ideas survived almost unchanged, while others were completely rearranged.
Another challenge was finding the right balance between the classic Masterplan identity and the heavier, more direct direction I wanted. I didn’t want to make The Spirit of the Past, Part Two. At the same time, I didn’t want to lose what makes Masterplan recognizable.
I think the solution was simply to trust our instincts. After more than two decades of making music, we know what Masterplan is — and we also know that we shouldn’t be afraid to push it a little further.
Metal-Roos: Masterplan has always balanced melody and power. How do you think “Metalmorphosis” pushes that signature sound in new directions?
Roland Grapow: I think the album is definitely heavier and more direct than some of our previous records. There are still progressive elements and mid-tempo songs, and obviously there are plenty of melodies, but I didn’t want the music to become too complicated just for the sake of being complicated.
For me, a great metal song needs a strong riff and a great melody. If you can combine those two things, you already have something powerful.
With Metalmorphosis, we tried to keep that classic Masterplan DNA but make the guitars and the overall attitude more aggressive. It’s probably one of the least compromised Masterplan albums we’ve made.
And that’s something I’m really happy about.
Metal-Roos: Fans often connect strongly with certain songs for personal reasons. Is there a track on the album that holds special meaning for the band members themselves?
Roland Grapow: For me, without any question, “The Call.”
It’s probably the most personal song I’ve ever recorded with Masterplan. There is a part toward the end where I sing myself, and that was connected to memories of my mother and the emotions surrounding those memories. I also wanted to bring in something connected to where I live now. I’ve always loved Slavic folk music because of its melodies and atmosphere, so we incorporated a Slovak vocal passage at the end of the song.
That wasn’t something we planned as a gimmick. It just felt natural to me, and somehow it gave the song another emotional dimension.
I think that’s also why The Call means so much to me. It isn’t just a metal song. There is a real personal story inside it. Recently the band also felt in love with Shadow Man, which is a lot of fun to play live.
Metal-Roos: How has the response been from fans and industry insiders who have had an early listen to the new material?
Roland Grapow: Honestly, the response has been really encouraging. After thirteen years without a new original Masterplan studio album, you never know exactly what people are going to expect from you. What made me especially happy was that people immediately recognized the Masterplan identity, but at the same time noticed that there is something fresh about the album.
The reaction from the fans at the shows was also very important to us. We played some of the new songs before the album was released, and you can feel very quickly whether a song works in front of an audience. Now that the album is out, the reaction has made all those years of work worthwhile. For us, this isn’t just about nostalgia. We really feel that we have started a new chapter with this record.
Metal-Roos: Looking beyond the album release, what are Masterplan’s plans for touring? Can fans expect a world tour or special anniversary shows in the near future?
Roland Grapow: We’ve already had a very busy 2026. We did the European tour in April and then a number of festivals during the summer, and we still have more shows coming up. At the moment, we’re also looking at 2027. There are already quite a few concerts developing, and another tour is possible. We have to see how everything develops, but we’re definitely not planning to disappear again for another thirteen years!
For us, the live side is extremely important now. We want to play the new songs, but obviously we also have a big catalogue, so the set should give people a mixture of the classic Masterplan material and the new album. The important thing is that Metalmorphosis is not supposed to be a one-off comeback. We want to keep Masterplan active and continue playing live.
Metal-Roos: As you look toward the future, where do you see Masterplan in the next five years, and what goals would you still like to achieve as a band?
Roland Grapow: The most important thing for me is that Masterplan remains active and creative. I don’t want to look five years into the future and make some huge prediction, because things in this business can change very quickly. But I definitely want to make more albums. I don’t want Metalmorphosis to be another isolated chapter after a long break. We have a very good lineup, we have a lot of experience, and now we have the freedom and motivation to keep creating.
I would also like to play more countries and reach people who may have discovered Masterplan only recently. There is a whole younger generation of metal fans out there who weren’t even born when the first Masterplan album came out. And ultimately, my goal is quite simple: write great songs, make great records, play great shows and keep the Masterplan identity alive without becoming a nostalgia band.
I think Metalmorphosis is the beginning of that new chapter — not the end of a story.