By Dig Dirkler
After more than a decade without a new studio album, Masterplan is back with Metamorphosis, a record that marks both a creative rebirth and a personal rediscovery for guitarist and founding member Roland Grapow. Best known for his work with Helloween and as the driving force behind Masterplan, Grapow spent much of the last decade focused on production, mixing, and mastering projects for other artists.
Now, with Metamorphosis, he has returned to songwriting with renewed energy, embracing heavier sounds, broader influences, and a creative freedom he says had been missing for years. In this conversation, Grapow discusses life in Slovakia, the challenges of returning to songwriting, the evolution of power metal, his approach to guitar playing, and why inspiration remains the most important force in his musical life.
Metamorphosis is more than just another Masterplan album. It represents Roland Grapow’s return to creative freedom after years spent focusing on other people’s music. The record captures an artist reconnecting with the passion that first inspired him decades ago, while continuing to evolve rather than repeat past successes.
Whether discussing songwriting, guitar playing, the changing music industry, or simply the excitement of discovering a new riff, Grapow speaks with the same enthusiasm that launched his career in the first place.
Categories: Interviews
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