Axel Mackenrott is the keyboard

Musical keyboard

A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...

 player for the heavy metal

Heavy metal music

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

 band Masterplan.

Axel began playing at around 11 years of age with piano lessons, and went on to eventually acquire a bachelor of arts

Bachelor of Arts

A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...

 in musical sciences. In his early career he played in many small-time bands and cover band

Cover band

A cover band , is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band. A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is...

s, before he was invited to play keyboards on tour with Gamma Ray

Gamma Ray (band)

Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal Helloween. Hansen is the current lead vocalist, guitarist as well as the chief songwriter of Gamma Ray. The band is known as one of the most prominent...

. His career began to gather momentum when he was brought into the power metal

Power metal

Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...

 supergroup

Supergroup (music)

In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....

 Masterplan, shortly after the recordings for their debut album were completed.

In 2005 Axel also joined Beautiful Sin

Beautiful Sin (band)

Beautiful Sin is a European power metal band. They are heavily influenced by the popular power metal band Helloween.Beautiful Sin began when Uli Kusch met a Belgian singer called Magali Luyten, and wanted to record an album with her band...

, the side project of his Masterplan bandmate Uli Kusch

Uli Kusch

Ulrich Kusch, born 11 March 1967, is a heavy metal drummer. He is best known for playing with Helloween, Gamma Ray, and Masterplan. He is known for his technical style of playing, fast-paced speed metal-like rhythm and capable songwriting abilities.-Biography:...

, and he performed as a guest musician on Megadeth

Megadeth

Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

's 2007 album United Abominations

United Abominations

United Abominations is the eleventh studio album by the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Released on May 8, 2007, United Abominations is the first Megadeth release distributed through Roadrunner Records, and was recorded with an all new lineup excluding the band's singer, guitarist, songwriter,...

.

On Masterplan 2010 album Time to Be King

Time to Be King

Time To Be King is the fourth studio album by the multinational power metal band Masterplan. This album marks the return of the band's original singer Jørn Lande. He left the band in 2006, citing musical differences as the reason...

, Axel had a major contribution being one of the main three songwriters along with guitarist

Guitarist

A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...

 Roland Grapow

Roland Grapow

Roland Grapow, born 30 August 1959 in Hamburg, Germany is a professional guitarist and music producer. Roland is best known for his time in the power metal band Helloween, who he played with for 12 years after replacing founding member Kai Hansen...

 and singer Jørn Lande

Jørn Lande

Jørn Lande is a Norwegian hard rock and heavy metal singer who has sold over 2 million records worldwide. He is probably best known for being the lead singer of the power metal band Masterplan.-Biography:...

.

Masterplan

• Back for My Life
  Back for My Life
  Back For My Life is an EP by the German power metal band Masterplan. It also contains a multimedia section.-Track listing:# "Back For My Life" # "Crimson Rider" # "Love Is A Rock"...
  
  EP (2004)
• Aeronautics
  Aeronautics (album)
  Aeronautics is the second album by the German power metal band Masterplan. It's the first album to feature playing and songwriting by members Axel Mackenrott and former Iron Savior bassist Jan S...
  
  (2005)
• Lost and Gone
  Lost and Gone
  Lost and Gone is an EP by the German power metal band Masterplan. Along with the songs, it comes with a video interview with the band, including new members Mike DiMeo and Mike Terrana.-Track listing:# "The Master's Voice"...
  
  EP (2007)
• MK II (2007)
• Far From the End of the World EP (2010)
• Time to Be King
  Time to Be King
  Time To Be King is the fourth studio album by the multinational power metal band Masterplan. This album marks the return of the band's original singer Jørn Lande. He left the band in 2006, citing musical differences as the reason...
  
  (2010)

Gamma Ray

• Skeletons in the Closet (Live album) (2003)