For thirteen years, Masterplan was a name people spoke about in the past tense. Roland Grapow spent most of that time behind a mixing desk, working on other bands‘ records — and now he is back with Metalmorphosis, an album he describes as a return to the roots of metal. The former Helloween guitarist talks about the long silence, the song that came out of memories of his mother, and why he still refuses to look back with regret.
Hi, Roland. So, we’ve got the new album, Metalmorphosis. If there was someone who had never heard of Masterplan in their life, how would you convince them to give it a spin?
Roland: If you like old classic rock and metal with prog elements and great melodies, you should give it a listen.
Your last full-length album, Novum Initium, saw the light of day back in 2013. Why was there such a massive gap between the two records?
Roland: The main reason was my studio work, which I started in 2008. I was working a lot worldwide for other bands at that time; now I’m focusing more on Masterplan again and on my solo work.
Why the title Metalmorphosis?
Roland: I felt this album is more back to the roots of metal – not a drastic change, but a change without any borders or limitations, which we sometimes had with former band members. I liked the idea that the human body had turned into a metal kind of version.
What was the songwriting process like for the individual tracks? Are you the sole writer, or did the other guys contribute as well?
Roland: The main songwriters are Axel Mackenrott and myself. There was also a little contribution from two guys, friends of ours from outside the band.
Which track on the album is the most personal to you?
Roland: The Call is very personal and emotional. I love that song, and the part I sang on it as well. The inspiration for that part came from memories of my mother and the emotions connected with them. That’s what gave the song its heart and made it so personal for me.
That’s exactly what I wanted to ask about next. 🙂 How did the idea to include Slovak vocals at the end come about?
Roland: I’ve always liked Slavic folk music. It’s very melodic and has a unique atmosphere. Since I’ve been living in Slovakia for many years, it felt natural and fitting to include a Slovak vocal part at the end of the song.
The closing track is called Rise Again. Was it a deliberate choice to end the album with a message of hope?
Roland: Yes, that was intentional. It’s part of what Masterplan has always been about. Many of our songs carry a message of hope, strength and moving forward. We always try to leave people with a positive feeling through our lyrics, and Rise Again was the perfect way to close the album.
Live shows
Where will Masterplan’s upcoming shows take place?
Roland: We already toured in April, fifteen shows, and since then we have played and will keep playing many festivals until October. We also have a lot of shows lined up for 2027 already, maybe another tour as well. We’ll see.
Can you tell us yet which songs from the new record will make it into the live setlist?
Roland: We have already played three songs on our tour: Chase the Light, Through the Storm and Shadow Man.
So far, you’ve only played one show in Slovakia, in Bratislava. Is there any chance you might come back later this year?
Roland: Maybe next year. For the rest of this year, we’re only doing festivals.
Present and past
Metal-Archives also lists you as a member of the project Level 10. Any chance you guys will release something new in the near future?
Roland: Not that I know of; the mastermind behind it was Matt Sinner.
You’ve been living here in Slovakia for quite some time now. Unfortunately, as we all know, when it comes to politics and society, things are a bit of a mess right now. Have you ever thought about leaving?
Roland: I don’t really follow the news or politics, and I’ve never thought about leaving for that reason.
What about your work as a producer? Are you working with any interesting bands at the moment?
Roland: Soon I’ll be mixing the next Avalanch album again, a well-known band from Spain.
Are there any Slovak or Czech bands among them?
Roland: No, as I said, I’m focusing more on Masterplan and my solo work again. When it comes to working for other bands, I’m very selective right now.
Could you tell us a bit about your musical journey? How did you first get into music, and what were your very first bands?
Roland: I started learning guitar and singing at the age of twelve and played my first show at school when I was fourteen. My first band came when I was sixteen. It was called Troja. After that I played in several smaller bands until I joined Rampage at nineteen. We recorded two albums together. Seven or eight years later I joined Helloween.
Rampage is my next question. 🙂 Together you released two albums – Victim of Rock and Love Lights Up the Night. Is it still possible to get hold of the original recordings?
Roland: No, I still have two new, sealed vinyl copies. It might be possible to remaster and release them, but there are no plans right now.
Looking back today, is there anything you would have done differently during your years in Helloween?
Roland: No, I did the best I could. I was always proud of my work with them.
Besides that, you also played with the Czech legends Kreyson for a while. Why was your collaboration so short-lived?
Roland: There was no real band feeling and no plans to make an album. I also had to drive too much to get to the shows.
What about guys like Uli Kusch, Jørn Lande, Mike Terrana? Are you still in touch with them?
Roland: Sure, we’re still friends. We’re still in contact once in a while.
What advice would you give to a budding guitarist who wants to get to where you are today?
Roland: I don’t think I’m able to give advice. I worked hard and I also had a lot of luck. Things are totally different nowadays. Just be true to yourself and work hard – good songs are the key. And try to do as much teamwork in a band as possible.
Speaking as a producer, what is the biggest mistake young bands make when recording their debut album?
Roland: Not listening to the producer and not trusting him, haha. I think being original is very important. Don’t try to copy other bands too much!
Is there any real chance for a successful metal or rock musician to emerge from Slovakia? (I was inspired to ask this by Václav Votruba, who recently ran a poll among Czech musicians asking whether „it’s possible to make a living playing metal in the Czech Republic“ 😀 )
Roland: I think so – you just have to think outside the bubble. Look at the Scorpions. They had the same problem back in the seventies, wondering how to make it as a band from Germany. Maybe think more internationally. Singing in English helps too!
Alright, that wraps it up. Thank you so much for the interview, and to finish off, could you leave a brief message for our readers?
Roland: Thank you very much and I hope you like our new Masterplan album Metalmorphosis. I hope to see and meet you at the next shows 😉
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Links:
https://www.masterplan-theband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/masterplantheband/
https://www.instagram.com/masterplan.official/
https://www.afm-records.de/
