Two years have passed since Hamburg-based glam n sleaze metal act Night Laser delivered an artistic quantum leap with the release of their fourth album, “Call Me What You Want”, and their European tours alongside Axel Rudi Pell.
Looking back, these major events have proved to be creative catalysts with brilliant results: Their new studio album “Rats in the Cradle”, available on CD, double LP and for digital download on Steamhammer/Open on September 25th, 2026, features the consistent development of the well-established Night Laser sound.
As singer Benno Hankers, says: “Night Laser have become the band we’ve always wanted to be. The handbrake is off and the turbo has been ignited. This is our most diverse album to date and it breathes rock, metal, blues, funk and, above all, friendship and fun”!
Night Laser’s bassist Rob Hankers sums it up: “With this new album, we’ve definitely found our unique style”.
“Rats in the Cradle” was produced and arranged by Eike Freese (Deep Purple, Saga, amongst others), a key component of the team behind the band’s success: “On this new album, we’ve worked together more closely as a band than ever before”, add Rob and Benno Hankers, guitarist Felipe Zapata Martinez and drummer Ingemar Oswald, who had active support during pre-production courtesy of Gamma Ray bassist Dirk Schlächter. Hankers: “Every track bears our individual signatures and is the result of days and nights spent in the rehearsal room. Each one of us contributed a piece of their soul to our latest album”! It’s this sense of belonging together that fans will see live on stage in the upcoming months when Night Laser embark on their tour – again alongside Axel Rudi Pell, amongst others!
The debut single “Heart of the Desert Rose” is a blues rock ballad which celebrates beauty and gracefulness in their purest form. Strength, love, courage, hope… Don’t you ever stop dancing! With Johnny Gioeli (Axel Rudi Pell, Hardline) on guest vocals the band dedicate this song to all those women out there who never surrender, who always keep going and who fill this world with their light.
Watch the video for “Heart of the Desert Rose” below.
“Rats in the Cradle” will be released on September 25th, 2026, via Steamhammer worldwide in the following configurations:
• CD DigiPak incl. poster
• 2LP, gatefold, 140 g, marbled green/yellow black vinyl, padded inner sleeves, coloured insert
• Exclusive CD/LP Bundles with a shirt only at the Steamhammer shop
• Download / Streaming
Pre-order & pre-save “Rats in the Cradle” here.
Tracklist:
1. S.T.F.U.
2. Make You Mine
3. Defenders (feat. Sebastian Zierof)
4. Blueberry Gin (feat. Sascha Paeth)
5. Heart of the Desert Rose (feat. Johnny Gioeli)
6. Rats in the Cradle
7. Into the West
8. 19CR490
9. Get Out (feat. Lars Rettkowitz)
10. Goddess of the Sky
11. You and Me
European Tour Dates 2026:
10.07. DE-Ehndorf – Rock Area A7 Open Air
11.07. DE-Bornemannshausen – Wipfelbeben Open Air
26.07. DE-Wolfsburg – Autostadt Porsche Stage Open Air
07.08. DE-Kiel – Bootshafen Sommer Open Air
22.08. DE-Handeloh – Wini Macken Open Air
29.08. DE-Brockhöfe – Farmfest Open Air
19.09. DE-Hamburg – Markthalle (w/ Hardbone)
23.09. CH-Pratteln – Z7*
25.09. DE-Cologne – Live Music Hall*
26.09. DE-Osnabrück – Hydepark*
27.09. DE-Bochum – Zeche*
29.09. DE-Ulm – Roxy*
30.09. DE-Mannheim – Capitol*
02.10. DE-Gelnhausen – Warehouse Seven*
03.10. DE-Stuttgart – Longhorn*
04.10. DE-Regensburg – Eventhall*
06.10. AT-Vienna – Szene*
07.10. DE-Nürnberg – Hirsch*
08.10. BE-Kortrijk – De Kreun*
09.10. NL-Heerlen – Nieuwe Nor*
10.10. NL-Zoetermeer – Boerderij*
11.12. DE-Oberhausen – Helvete**
* (Special guest for Axel Rudi Pell)
** (Headline Show)
German Live Shows 2027:
16.01. DE-Braunschweig – KuFa Haus
23.01. DE-Hameln – Regenbogen
06.02. DE-Hamburg – Bahnhof Pauli
08.05. DE-Lübeck – Rider’s Cafe
