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Enlighten Me - Claudia Ehrhardt - Masterplan - Claudia Ehrhardt - Aeronautics - Claudia Ehrhardt - MK II - Claudia Ehrhardt - Far From The End Of The World - Claudia Ehrhardt - Time To Be King - Claudia Ehrhardt - Time To Be King - Umberto Mino -
Time To Be King
(AFM Records - 2010)
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After the first listening of this new Masterplan CD, my first thought is "e;Welcome back Jørn"e;!!! I have no prejudice about Mike DiMeo (my closest friends know how much I love Riot......), but this time I must admit that Mr Lande gives to these song a touch of class and aggessivness with his powerful voice, an element that in the bluesy style of DiMeo is missing. But anyway let's start with this review with another thing: inspiration is back to Roland Grapow and the rest of the band, because we can hear in this Time To Be King many influences from Irish music to Queen!!! Fiddle Of Time opens this album and, for people that have the bonus track on, ends with Kisses From You. This time it's easy for me to say that only two track are not at the high quality level (I don't mean bad songs), Blue Europa and Under The Moon. Other album song show Masterplan like they were in their fist album period, at the top and in perfect shape!!!! |
Time To Be King
(AFM Records - 2010)
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Jørn Lande is back and so the Masterplan fans have high hopes. The single was okay, but I was wondering which way the album will go. Time To Be King opens up with Fiddle Of Time, a fast riff-based track. Axel Mackenrott's keyboard play changes the atmosphere of the song more then once. But at the end it's Jørn Lande's vocals which ennobles the song. Fiddle Of Time would have been a better appitizer for Time To Be King then Far From The End Of The World. Next in line Blow Your Winds and Far From The End Of The World which both were already released on the EP. The title track Time To Be King shows them stronger, an up-tempo power metal tune with an epic touch - and so reminds me a bit of Dio here and there... Not one of their best songs ever, but well... The bombastic Lonely Winds Of War some will know from the EP, here it works better as it fits well to the flow of the album. For The Dark Road they speed up a bit for the opening passage, but then it becomes an emotional balladesque tune with a melancholy touch. Again it's Jørn Lande's voice which gives the song something special. The powerful The Sun Is In Your Hands gives you the idea that Masterplan are still able to deliver great songs, even if this album can't keep the level of their first 2 albums. At The Black One the keyboard is too prominent for me... Great solo by Roland Grapow. With Blue Europa they have one of the best songs at the end of the album, wish they would have more tracks like this guitar-driven one. The closer is Under The Moon, a powerful balladesque tune. I think this one would have worked better, if they would have stripped it down. This way it's too bombastic, especially the slower passages where the keyboard almost stream rolls the vocals.... A pity. |
Far From The End Of The World
(AFM Records - 2010)
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The first 2 Masterplan albums are already classics, MKII showed a new line-up incl ex-Riot singer Mike DeMeo and drummer Mike Terrana. The album couldn't meet the expectations, but had it's moments. Personally I think that DeMeo's style just didn't fit to Grapow's compositions... Anyway, Jørn Lande is back and this is their first sign of life since his return. |
MK II
(AFM Records - 2007)
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A few months ago the news arrived that singer Jørn Lande left Masterplan. Fans started speculating who will be his successor - but I never heard anybody mention Mike DiMeo of Riot. Anyway, ex-Riot Mike DiMeo is the new singer. But that wasn't the only change... Founding member Uli Kusch has left the band, too. A replacement was found in Mike Terrana (ex-Rage). With this news the fans waited anxiously for the first musical sign from Masterplan. The single Lost And Gone give a first impression - and not really a bad one. But still many doubted that the album can keep the quality level, now MK II has arrived. |
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Starting off with some sirens... The band joins in to some up-tempo track - Crimson Rider. I think that many fans were curious, if Masterplan are able to deliver another high class album.... And Masterplan did! I still think that the voice of Jorn Lande makes this special. Without him? I'm not sure, if it would be such a killer album. After the opening track the band of former Helloween guitarist Roland Grapow presents a mid-tempo tune - Back For My Life - which is also their first single and video. It's still heavy, but has balladesque parts - all crowned by the intense vocals of Mr. Lande. It's one of my favorite tracks and a good choice to check them out. Here Axel Mackenrott's keyboard is creating a sound web the other instruments are floating on.If someone is just expecting some melodic fast metal then one has to learn that the quintet has more to offer. They work with breaks so that there are fast double bass drumming, guitar riffing parts and then mid-tempo parts like at Wounds. Usually the keyboard stays in the background, so even metal fans who dislike keyboard sounds should give this one a chance. Even if Axel's keyboard play is essential for the sound of Masterplan, he mainly stays in the musical background. Sure there are parts where he takes over the lead - listen to I'm Not Afraid. Here he plays kind of intro. A real heavy track where in the beginning Uli Kusch's drums are the counterpart to the keyboard and the guitar riffing. A break. Then mid-tempo.... Speeding up. During the catchy chorus they slow down a little. This one has all the essentials of the Masterplan sound and not half way through the record it's clear that they could top their debut release! |
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The single Enlighten Me made me really curious to hear the whole album. The album opener Spirit Never Die starts slowly, bombastic before a fast drum beat speeds it up a little. An up-tempo track which shows its whole beauty when singer Jorn Lande joins in. Powerful, catchy it sneaks in your mind. Especially guitarist Roland Grapow and drummer Uli Kusch are known by the metal fans, they were part of Helloween for years. The rhythm section is completed with Iron Savior four-stringer Jan S. Eckert. Together they lay down a powerful playground for Roland's guitar riffing and screaming guitars while keyboarder Axel Mackenrott complete the sound. Later in the opening track there is a break where they slow down a little and Jorn Lande add some spoken words to the music. The Norwegian singer has the ability to change from track to track resp. from moment to moment. High screams and next whispered words. Next is the single Enlighten Me which is more mid-tempo. An enchanting song which keeps spinning in your head for awhile. The track shows perfectly that great musicians can work together as a band and it ain't necessarily has to be a battle of egos. They do what's best for the song. With Crystal Night they recorded a slower tune which is really heavy, even if it has fast drumming partly, but the song is carried by the guitar riffing and the keyboard lines. One of my favorites is Soulburn which has a Led Zeppelin vibe. A great tune! An up-tempo metal anthem is Kind Hearted Light which has for me some kind of Rainbow-vibe.... The vocals change from smooth to aggressive parts, used like an instrument. The chorus is a sing-along one and will live be killer. To me it seems like Roland is freed from a limitation, like in Helloween he had to keep control and now is free to let it flow. Perhaps it's the combination of one guitar and a keyboard.... Axel Mackenrott's keyboard remind me a bit of Rainbow.... Heroes sounds partly to me like a song from Helloween during the Kiske era... I just love this one! But don't expect to hear reminiscences to Helloween in every song! With Into The Light they five-some they have recorded a balladesque one which shows the emotional side of singer Jorn Lande. Acoustic guitar and the low melodic vocals make this one special. But after awhile it becomes more powerful, but just for seconds, then back to the slow basic theme just to explode a few moments later. |
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When Roland Grapow and Uli Kusch been out of Helloween it was sure that soon we will hear from them again. Now a single of Masterplan - their new band - is out as a kind of preview for their coming album. Singer in their band is none other then Jorn Lande and the line-up is completed by bassist Jan S. Eckert (Iron Savior, ex-Mydra) and Axel Mackenrott on keyboards. Musically the quintet present melodic power metal and with this line-up we can expect something special. |
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