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Artist: Masterplan |
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In
the short life of the Masterplan there have been various coming and
goings, but in 2004 the fans were shocked to hear that vocalist Jorn
Lande had parted company with the band, citing musical differences as
the main reason for this. Shortly after Mike DeMio was named as
Lande’s replacement and the band released the aptly title 'MKII' album,
which also the drum stool being taken up by Mike Terrana, as founder
member Uli Kusch had also announced his departure from the band. Roland
Grapow announced that this was the rebirth of the band he had first
started alongside Kusch, and all seemed well as the band supported Saxon on their next
tour. One of those shows I actually managed to catch in Manchester, and Masterplan were
great and DiMeo seemed to have filled the boots of Lande rather well. The band were sent into turmoil once more as on 11 January 2009, Mike DiMeo confirmed on his MySpace page that he had
parted ways with Masterplan. Then on 25 July 2009, the band finally
revealed that Lande had made his return to Masterplan. And so to the resulting
reformation with Lande at the forefront again, the band have returned with an album worthy of
the Masterplan name in ‘Time To Be King’. A triumph of Metal and
Power that will please the fans of the band and once again reinstate
Lande as the voice of Masterplan. So to the album, well
this is the same band as it was on 'Aeronautics', full of energy and power
infused metal of the highest calibre, with Lande’s vocals powering
through while Grapow spews out lick after lick of six string fire,
backed by the pounding rhythms of Terrana and the relentless crushing bass lines
of Jan S. Eckert, together with the soaring keyboards of
Axel Mackenrott, adding more than a touch of class to the overall sound. The album
launches into its refined Metal with ‘Fiddle Of Time’, there are no
fancy intros it's just all system go with Mackenrott getting things
underway before those unmistakable Lande vocals take over, and from here
on in there is no turning back. The album
keeps its towering anthemic pace with ‘Blow Your Winds’. Again a
keyboard start, then it's Terrana and Eckert who provide the foundation
for the track, as Grapow and Lande do what they do best on this one. The
thunder cracks and the wind doth blow as the intro for the excellent
‘Far From The End Of The World’ gets this metal monster
started. This the band at its best, a huge guitar feel on this one with some
excellent keyboards, which go head to head with the guitars, again backed
by that massive pounding rhythm section, all interwoven by the Norseman
himself Lande. The title
track ‘Time To Be King’ is next, a real atmospheric monster that just
punches out its intensions from the off. A powerhouse track that is
Masterplan through and through, lovers of 'Aeronautics'
will
just love this one. Then the pace is taken down a notch with the airy
tones of ‘Lonely Winds Of War’. The pace might have slowed but the
power in still here in bucket loads, and Mackenrott really excels on
this one as again he goes head to head with the massive guitars of
Grapow once more. A huge huge song and one of my favourites off the
album. The band
enter the epic stage with ‘The Dark Road’. At over six minutes in
length this is the longest track on the album, but it never seems so,
such is the intricacy of the piece you're just swept away on a Metal magic
carpet ride of excellence. Then it's full on rock n' roll with ‘The Sun
Is In Your Hands’. A great melodic metal opus that just rocks big
style, with Lande doing he Coverdale on this one. This for me is
Lande’s best vocal so far on the album, and Grapow injects his usual
prowess as he fires out a massive solo on this one. It's full
steam ahead with the bass ridden ‘The Black One’ and then it’s the
awe inspiring majesty of ‘Blue Europa’. Again massive keyboards and a
huge bass line fills this one, while Terrana punishes the kit with some
of best drumming on the album. The album
closes with ‘Under The Moon’, another atmospheric metal monster on
which Lande shows his mellower side. This one could have easily been on
any of his solo albums. A real gem to wrap up an album that will have
the Masterplan and Lande fans in raptures. I regard this album as the
bands finest to date and I for one hope to see a tour follow shortly. |
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Tracklisting:
01.
Fiddle Of Time |
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