Description
Release Date Friday 18th September 2026
All pre-orders will be dispatched/made ready for collection on that day.
Kai Hansen is one of the true architects of power metal. As a founding member of
Helloween, he helped define a sound that became a cornerstone of the genre: fast,
melodic, energetic and full of character. With Gamma Ray, he carried that spirit further
and shaped a catalogue that continues to influence heavy music today.
Following XXX – Three Decades in Metal, his 2016 solo project celebrating three decades
of metal history, Hansen now returns with Born With A Hammer, his first proper solo
album in nearly a decade. Riding the momentum of Helloween’s hugely successful
comeback and world tour, the album captures Kai Hansen’s full musical DNA: raw,
melodic, rebellious, anthemic and unmistakably authentic.
Born With A Hammer is a diverse, energetic and unmistakably personal new Kai Hansen
album rooted deeply in heavy metal. The record moves confidently between classic rock,
punk-driven urgency, power metal and straight-ahead heavy metal force, bringing
together the different sides of Hansen’s musical identity in one powerful statement.
Raw, melodic, rebellious, anthemic and unmistakably authentic, it captures the full DNA
of an artist who has helped shape the sound of heavy music for decades.
The album combines driving guitars, memorable hooks, high-energy performances and a
broad stylistic range that reflects Kai Hansen’s legacy as both a metal pioneer and
fearless songwriter. His unmistakable voice adds another defining layer to the record:
raw, expressive and full of character, carrying both the anthemic power and the
rebellious edge that have always made his music instantly recognizable. From fast and
direct heavy metal moments to big melodic choruses and raw rock-driven energy, “Born
With A Hammer” feels classic in spirit, but alive, direct and full of character.
The release will be available in three attractive physical formats designed for core fans,
collectors and the wider heavy rock audience.
With its strong artist identity, stylistic variety, high fan relevance and collectible formats,
Born With A Hammer is a high-value release for fans of Helloween, Gamma Ray, classic
heavy metal, power metal and guitar-driven rock music.
1. Feeding the Beast
2. Welcome to Life
3. Don’t Care
4. Wait and See
5. Born with a Hammer
6. I.D.G.A.F
7. End of the Road
8. Triple Trouble
9. Invaders
10. Wonderland
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