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Line-up:
Mike DiMeo
- Vocals
Roland Grapow - Guitars
Mike Terrana - Drums
Jan S. Eckert - Bass
Axel Mackenrott - Keyboards
Release Date:
February 26st, 2007
Tracklist:
01. Phoenix Rising
02. Warrior’s Cry
03. Lost And Gone
04. Keeps me Burning
05. Take Me Over
06. I’m Gonna Win
07. Watching The World
08. Call The Gypsy
09. Trust In You
10. Masterplan
11. Enemy
12. Heart Of Darkness
Read
also:
Interview
with Roland Grapow
Website:
www.master-plan.net Check
also:
Surprise Of February 2007
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Masterplan
are true to their appointment with their fans and after two years
from “Aeronautics” they are back with a new album, but what’s
new on the band’s camp? The things weren’t so good for the band
especially in 2006 because Masterplan faced the departure of two of
its basic members and co-founders of the band. Jorn Lande was the
first one to leave the band due to some musical differences with the
rest of the band. Jorn wanted the band to move in some more melodic
paths, and the other members wanted to follow the more straight
heavy direction that they had on the first album. That was the
official reason for Jorn’s departure, of course we will never know
what really happened. Now that I recall some things on my mind, I
really do not remember Jorn staying in a band and recording with it
more than 2 studio albums in the past. So, I wasn’t surprised when
I heard the news. The news that really socked me were about Uli’s
departure. Uli Kurch was a founding member of Masterplan along with
Roland Grapow and they both formed the band after they left
Helloween. I truly haven’t understood why Uli left the band (after
the conversation that I had with Roland I did… read more on the
interview). Anyway thx goodness Roland found two very talented
musicians to complete the band’s line-up… so the new drummer of
the band is the well-known Mike Terrana and the new singer is the
gifted Mike DiMeo.
Now,
many of you, as I did will wonder if those changes affected the
band’s creativity and in general the band’s excellent music. I
had the same question too. I couldn’t speculate on what I was
going to listen to, but to tell you the truth I was afraid. Jorn was
the golden voice of Masterplan and Uli was to co-songwriter along
with Roland so, now that Roland has been left all alone can he win
the bet? Sure he can! After all he is a great musician and he proved
that once more. Not only he chose the right musicians for the band
he also, gave a fresh air to the new album. He released along with
the others guys a superb album. I feel like a fool that questioned
the band after Jorn and Uli’s departure.
The
songs of the album are great. They were written for Jorn’s voice,
no doubt about it. You can hear that in every note. The sound
quality is great and the production this time was done by Roland
himself with a little help of his friend Andy Sneap. “MK II” is
closer to the debut rather than to “Aueronautics”. It has a
straighter heavy/power melodic direction like the debut, but it also
has some new “prog” elements of the band’s second album. Mike
DiMeo signs like he has been with the band for years (he really gets
that “Jorn” tone in voice sometimes, but with his own fantastic
voice of course) and Mike Terrana made me forget about Uli’s
(although I consider Uli as one of the greatest drummers of our
time) departure, of course we all know that Terrana is a great
drummer, no doubt about it. The EP “Lost And Gone” (which
contains a non-album song the mellow “Dying Just To Live”) that
released a few days ago features two of the best Masterplan songs,
the homonymous one and “Keeps Me Burning”. “MK II” will
satisfy, surprise and please all those who loved the two Masterplan
albums and the new fans as well. Masterplan is surely one of the
greatest bands of our time and I’m so happy that I have the chance
to listen to such a great band on its pick. After all what have you
really been waiting from Masterplan? They are the best and they
proved it for one more time. I can see no reason why not to get one
of the best albums of 2007.
by Thanos Aggelakis 9/10
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