Michael Schinkel’s Eternal Flame – Man Or God 2026, MP3+FLAC

MICHAEL SCHINKEL’S ETERNAL FLAME return with “Man Or God”, a classy collision of melodic hard rock, heavy metal and that old RAINBOW-style grandeur where the guitars still have something dangerous to say. Mark Boals is now firmly at the microphone, and the whole album sounds built around his voice and Schinkel’s taste for big, dramatic riffs.

The fifth ETERNAL FLAME studio album opens with “Run”, charging straight out of the gate on double-bass drums and sharp melodic guitar work. “Lord Of Flies” then slows the pulse just enough to let the epic side of the band take over, with Boals sounding completely at home in material that clearly nods toward the Dio-era school of hard rock and metal.

“So Strong So Wrong” brings in Göran Edman, and his appearance gives the song another flash of classic melodic-metal pedigree. The guest list gets even more interesting on “Lost And Alone”, where Alessandro Del Vecchio joins Michael Schinkel for a dramatic vocal exchange that pushes the ballad away from safe territory.

The middle of the album is where ETERNAL FLAME really settle into their stride. “Right Back To You”, “There Was A Time” and “Bleeding Colors” mix thick riffs with polished melodic hooks, while the title track pulls together the band’s strongest ingredients — weight, melody, keyboards and guitar work that knows exactly when to show off and when to get out of the way.

“Into Eternity” and “No Return” keep the record moving toward a darker finish before “In Trance” turns the spotlight over to the instrumental side of the band. On the CD edition, the bonus track “Lady Of The Lake” provides a fitting full-circle moment: a RAINBOW cover from 1978 performed by musicians whose DNA has clearly carried that flame for years.

There is an old-school heart beating underneath “Man Or God”, but the record never feels embalmed in nostalgia. The production is modern, the performances are muscular, and Schinkel still plays like a guitarist who believes a well-placed melodic run can hit just as hard as a wall of distortion.

Country: Germany
Label: Fastball Music / BOB-Media
Genre: Melodic Hard Rock / Heavy Metal / Melodic Metal
Release date: October 30, 2026
Format: CD / Digital
Total time: 55:12

Tracklist:
01 – Run
02 – Lord Of Flies
03 – So Strong So Wrong
04 – Lost And Alone
05 – Right Back To You
06 – There Was A Time
07 – Bleeding Colors
08 – Man Or God
09 – Into Eternity
10 – No Return
11 – In Trance
12 – Lady Of The Lake [Bonus Track]

Mark Boals – Lead Vocals
Michael Schinkel – Guitars, Songwriting
Helmut Kohlpaintner – Keyboards
Fabian Pleiner – Bass
Tommy Wagner – Drums

Guests:
Göran Edman – Guest Vocals on “So Strong So Wrong”
Alessandro Del Vecchio – Guest Vocals on “Lost And Alone”

MP3 FLAC