Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Kai Hansen is one of heavy metal’s leading figures. As co-founder of Helloween and founder of Gamma Ray, he helped transform power metal into a global phenomenon and created a sound that still defines the genre today.
Now Hansen returns with “Born With A Hammer”, due for release on 18 September 2026 via earMUSIC. This is his first solo album since “XXX – Three Decades In Metal” by Kai Hansen & Friends.
Raw, energetic, rebellious and unmistakably personal, “Born With A Hammer” brings together every facet of Hansen’s musical identity. Across ten tracks, the album ranges from powerful heavy metal and punk attitude to hard rock energy, melodic choruses and pure guitar-driven energy, underpinned by the songwriting instinct, guitar work and unmistakable vocals that have made Kai Hansen one of the genre’s most distinctive artists. Written without compromise and fuelled by a pure passion for heavy music, “Born With A Hammer” captures Hansen at the height of his creative power: direct, raw and unmistakably metal.
The album was produced by Eike Freese and recorded with a band that brings both power and history to the project. Alongside Freese on guitar, the line-up features Alexander Dietz (Heaven Shall Burn) on guitar and Dan Wilding (Carcass) on drums – who had previously joined Hansen on “XXX – Three Decades In Metal” – as well as Tim Hansen (Induction) on guitar.
To coincide with the album’s announcement, the first single, “Feeding The Beast” – the opening track of “Born With A Hammer” – is released today, accompanied by an official music video:
Tracklist:
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The available formats are:
