Scanner

Scanner is a seminal German power metal band formed in 1986 in Gelsenkirchen, emerging from the ashes of Lions Breed. Led by guitarist and primary songwriter Axel Julius, the band distinguished itself within the crowded European metal scene of the late 1980s by adopting a rigorous science fiction concept.

Their debut album, Hypertrace (1988), produced by Frank Bornemann of Eloy, is considered a cult classic of the genre, blending the speed of Helloween with a more technical, progressive edge and space-themed narratives. Throughout the 1990s, the band underwent numerous lineup changes, particularly in the vocal department, which led to shifts in their sonic profile - from the raw power of Terminal Earth to the more experimental and polished Ball of the Damned. Despite these fluctuations and periods of inactivity, Scanner has maintained a dedicated following among power metal purists and 'crate diggers' of the Noise Records era. Their 2024 return with The Cosmic Race proves their enduring commitment to the 'space metal' niche they helped define, characterized by high-register vocals, twin-guitar harmonies, and conceptual storytelling.