UNISONIC guitarist Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY, ex-HELLOWEEN) is featured in a new interview with Matt Phelps at Über Röck. An excerpt is available below:

Q: So how did approaching the other Unisonic guys about you joining go?

Hansen: "When we said that me joining Unisonic would be the only option that made sense I was still really doubtful because I didn't really know what Unisonic would be about, if it would be something I could really contribute too. I didn't know the other guys so a lot of things had to be sorted out first. So Michael talked to the others and told them that he thought it would be a great thing if I joined the band, and they liked the idea. So we got together and got to know each other. Mandy (Meyer) was not present at that time, it was Kosta (Zafiriou), me, Michi and Dennis (Ward) and we just went out and had dinner to get to know each other and it was fun and full of good spirit. We talked about things and I said that there were a few things I wanted to make clear up front because if I join something and I devote myself to it I can be pretty strict and pretty choosy when it comes down to saying what I like and don't like. If I think a song is crap I say it, you know? And they were all cool, we were all happy and it felt good. Then the final test was to make a date and just do jamming for a few days, see how it works out and see how it feels because sometimes you could be put together with the best musicians in the world and the outcome would be zero because you just don't fit together. You never know. So we did that test and it went brilliantly so in the end there was no reason for me to say no to joining."

Q: But that's not the end of Gamma Ray though is it?

Hansen: "No no no. That's not the end of Gamma Ray. This is just like a temporary holiday from the stuff I do with Gamma Ray. We will switch back and forth. We'll work it so that one year's a Gamma Ray year and one year's a Unisonic year and that we we can work without leaving the other band cold."

Q: Those jamming sessions then. I take it you maybe ran through a Helloween song together. How did it feel looking across and seeing Michael singing 'I Want Out' again after so many years?

Hansen: "Well we did that already with Gamma Ray. Michael joined me on the Skeletons & Majesties tour and we did it. We played it with Gamma Ray for a few shows, played some songs that we hadn't had on the set list for years and Michael joined in for two shows and we played 'I Want Out' so I knew that feeling. But it was different now with Unisonic when we took the line up to Japan because it was more like a band for people to focus on. Especially in Japan where we haven't been since maybe Keeper 1. So that was really great, really big time we got an amazing response."

Click here for the complete interview.

Unisonic's full length debut will be released on March 30th (March 21st in Japan).

‘Unisonic’

‘Souls Alive’

‘Never too Late’

‘I’ve Tried’

‘Star Rider’

‘Never Change Me

‘Renegade’

‘My Sanctuary’

‘King For A Day’

‘We Rise’

‘No One Ever Sees Me’

‘Over The Rainbow’ (Bonus Limited Edition)

Check out the new video for 'Unisonic' and a promotional video clip below:

Unisonic have the following shows booked:

May

12 - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Teatro Flores
14 - Antofagasta, Chile - Statix Rock & Soccer
16 - Santiago, Chile - Teatro Teleton
18 - Sao Paulo, Brazil - HSBC Hall
20 - Mexico City, Mexico - Circo Volador
27 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Rock Hard Festival

June

15 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
21 - Milan, Italy - Gods Of Metal

July

1 - Malakasa, Greece - Rockwave
12 - Vizovice, Czech Republic - Masters Of Rock

October (with GOTTHARD)

11 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Apolo
12 - Madrid, Spain - La Rivera
13 - Pamplona, Spain - Sala Totem