Kai Hansen - Born With A Hammer Kai Hansen

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.