Artist: Masterplan 
   Title: MKII
   Label: AFM Records

2006 was a turbulent year in the history of Masterplan the band originally formed by ex Helloween members Roland Grapow and Uli Kusch.  Firstly the shock announcement that lead singer Jorn Lande had left the band, quoting musical differences, then shortly afterwards founder member Uli Kusch also left the fold.  For fans of the band the future must have looked bleak, but stepping up to the plate to fill the shoes of Lande was saw the very capable vocal talent that is former Riot and Lizards front man Mike DiMeo.  Shortly after that it was announced that the vacant drum stool was to be filled with none other than the one of the finest skinsman of the modern era Mike Terrana.  Since then the band have gone quickly to work and are now ready to unleash their new album simply entitled 'MKII'.

The album gets underway with the aptly titled intro ‘Phoenix Rising’.  Just like the bird this album is a new beginning for the band and should be taken on it's own merit as a fine piece of full on power induced metal.

The first taste of what DiMeo brings to the band is when the album gets underway proper with ‘Warriors Cry’, as his vocal prowess is put out there for everyone to hear and quickly grinds those critics to a halt in their tracks.  The rest of the band pound out a majestic power enhance backing, especially the thunderous tones of Terrana and the spotless guitar work by Grapow.

The album continues its impressive start with the fantastic ‘Lost And Gone’, where once again DiMeo shines as they bring the tempo down a touch.  This is only a short rest bite though as things soon pick up once again with the guitar rich ‘Keep Me Burning’.

Fans of the band won't be disappointed with what they have heard so far.  Things continue to go from strength the strength as the album continues with the ‘Take Me Over’.  Another thumping metal fest with Terrana and bassist Jan S. Eckert laying down the foundations for the riff spewn guitars of Grapow and the haunting tones of the keyboards of Axel Mackenrott.

Another track where Mackenrott comes into his own is the anthemic ‘I’m Gonna Win’.  One of the highlights on the album for me has to be the bass fuelled ‘Watching The World’, this is where Terrana and Eckert really stamp their mark on the album and with Grapow outshining everyone with his immaculate fret work, this is a real masterpiece.

With the other band members pulling out all the stops it's now time for DiMeo to show what a great choice for frontman he really is, as he really gives us some of his finest vocal moments on ‘Call The Gypsy’ and the excellent ‘Trust In You’.

By this point in the album I’m totally hooked and when the metal tour de force that is ‘Masterplan’ is unleashed, I’m to take away.  This is what the band do best, full on pounding, guitar fuelled anthemic metal.  Things continue along a similar vein with another favourite of mine ‘Enemy’.  Another track with a pounding rhythm section interwove with Grapow’s now familiar guitar licks with the icing on the cake being the fine vocals of DiMeo.

The album closes in fine style with ‘Heart Of Darkness’, a menacing riff laden track which rounds off a quite superb return from the band and one that I’m sure with get the fans seal of approval when it goes out on general release.  

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