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October 12, 2008 |
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01. Crimson Rider
02. Back For My Life
03. Wounds
04. I'm Not Afraid
05. Headbanger's Ballroom
06. After This War
07. Into The Arena
08. Dark From The Dying
09. Falling Sparrow
10. Black In The Burn
11. Treasure World (Bonus Track)
- Multimedia Section
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It was back in '03 that MASTERPLAN first appeared; the result of a collaboration between ex-HELLOWEEN members Roland Grapow (guitars), and Uli Kusch (drums) and Norwegian-born ARK/JORN vocalist Jorn Lande (not to mention the additional talents of bassist Jan S. Eckert and keyboardist Axel Mackenrott). At the time the Metal media was abuzz with speculation as to what this new project would bring to the table. After all, Grapow and Kusch's split from the Pumpkin's camp had been well-documented as - ahem - 'less than amiable', and given that HELLOWEEN themselves had also regrouped and were releasing their then-new release 'Rabbit Don't Come Easy', the ball was definitely in MASTERPLAN's court in terms of having something to prove.
Well, prove it they did. And then some. MASTERPLAN's self-titled debut was widely hailed as a triumph among triumphs in Power/Traditional circles, the bandmembers showcasing their trademark virtuosity alongside an undeniable penchant for crafting hooky, memorable songs that effortlessly melded elements of both old-school and modern Metal forms into a refreshingly enjoyable new format. Additional kudos were laid before the feet of Lande whose incredible vocal performance (already critically noted on his work both with ARK, and as a solo artist) truly stole the show, the man demonstrating one of the more powerfully original and emotively infectious tones to grace a Metal release since the glory days of classic Plant, Coverdale, Dio, and Dickinson to name but a mere handful of peers this relative newcomer matches in both talent and charisma.
Well, after a year and more of overseas touring, MASTERPLAN are back with their sophomore offering 'Aeronautics', and for me at least, it has been well worth the wait. In fact, I'd even go so far as to say that the band may have succeeded in raising the bar a notch higher than the original with this excellent, excellent collection of AOR-tinged Hard Rock and Metal. As stated before, while the entire band is without doubt a talented bunch (just gotta love those Grapow leads!), the simple fact of the matter is that the engine driving this machine is Lande's vocals. The man truly is that good of a singer.
Possessing incredible range, a tasteful instinct for what best suits an individual track, and an overall warm, life-affirming, inviting, and very organic tone, Lande's performance is what truly raises the songs on this album heads and shoulders above the rest of the pack, layering each gleaming golden sunray with shades and textures of thought and wisdom that make for timelessly enjoyable and engaging music. I've played this album at least four or five times in a row now from start to finish and honestly...there's not a dud track in the bunch. How rare and refreshing! From the speedy opener 'Crimson Rider', through the thoughtful 'Back For My Life' and 'Wounds', to the addictive guitar licks laid overtop of 'I'm Not Afraid', to darker fare such as 'After This War' and melodic personal fave 'Falling Sparrow'...man, just so much great music here! It's been awhile since I've experienced an album where the natural flow of the tracks works so effortlessly in complimenting the final product.
The beauty of MASTERPLAN is the way in which they have both managed to resurrect the classier elements of AOR/Hard Rock - i.e. attention to songwriting/composition - and fused it so tastefully with the ballsier elements of good Power Metal to create a uniquely uplifting hybrid that is truly their's and their's alone. Don't expect to hear traditionally 'Happy German' Power Metal ala say, an EDGUY, or - by stylistic comparison - HAMMERFALL. No. This is definitely positive, life-affirming stuff to be sure, but nowhere does it venture into realms of over-the-top-bombast. If anything, the vibe here is more reminiscent of a more modern take on old WHITESNAKE or ZEPPELIN. Here it's all about the simple power of songs performed with passion and intensity. Aural paintings which tell a story worth revisiting time and time again. This is a band whose talent and virtuosity is so transparently great that they don't need to shove it in your face. The music simply speaks for itself. That's the MASTERPLAN.
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