THE GRANDMASTER : featuring guitar maestro Jens Ludwig announce new album and drop new video

The Grandmaster will release their second album, ‘Black Sun’, on 12th January 2024 via Frontiers. The first single and video from it for the song ‘Watching The End’ are available now.

The Grandmaster burst onto the metal scene in 2021 with the explosive ‘Skywards’, a collaboration between German guitarist Jens Ludwig (co-founder of Edguy) and Brazilian singer Nando Fernandes. They are now set to deliver a formidable fusion of power and melody with a distinctive Teutonic twist as its follow-up.

Keen to hit the road to promote further releases, Danish vocalist Peer Johansson has been welcomed into the fold for the recording of ‘Black Sun’. Celebrated for his contributions to bands such as Fate, Ureas, and Pentakill, Johansson’s voice is characterized by its warmth and an impressive range that has seen him compared to fellow hard rock titans like Rob Halford, Jorn Lande, and Udo Dirkschneider.

Musically exuding infectious grooves and again displaying the exceptional prowess of Ludwig with a series of rhythmic riffs and captivating solos, the stellar vocal performances delivered by one of the genre’s hidden gems is the icing on the cake.

Ludwig was thrilled to get Johansson on board, stating “I’ve actually been a fan of Peer’s for decades and own all the Fate albums he was involved in. The excitement was back for this second record and it was great to see the songs take shape from their original demo form and also see how Peer’s voice has developed over the years.”

For his part, Johansson describes ‘Black Sun’ as “a fantastic collaboration from inception to completion. When I first heard Jens’ riffs, I was completely blown away. His guitar playing is absolutely mind-blowing and has left me with a sore neck from all the headbanging! He plays like a musical deity and I feel honored to be part of this extraordinary project. I can’t wait to share the stage with him during live shows and give it everything we’ve got.”

Guided by the ubiquitous Alessandro Del Vecchio, who plays bass and keyboards while also making a significant contribution to its superb production, ‘Black Sun’ is a dynamic and captivating album that is seen in 2024 with a massive metallic bang.

BLACK SUN
TRACKLISTING
1  Black Sun
2  Watching the End
3  While the Sun Goes Down
4  Learn to Forgive
5  Heaven’s Calling
6  Something More
7  Fly, Icarus Fly
8  I’m Alive
9  What We Can Bear
10  Soul Sacrifice
11  Into the Dark