Music: Power Metal
Website: http://www.masterplan.com
Country: Germany
Duration: 44:58 (10 Songs)
Cool Songs: “Far From the End of the World,” “Time To Be King,” “The Sun Is In Your Hands”
Jorn Lande. He of the puffy cheeks and walrus moustache. The singingest singer in the European Union. How many albums has this guy laid down vocals for? A lot, no doubt. Just this year aloneJUST THIS YEARaside from the present material Time To Be King, Jorn is on the two latest humongous Avantasia installments, his solo bands upcoming Dio, and whoopteedoo, a new duet album with Russel Allen courtesy of Swedish producer-guitarist Magnus Karlsson. Masterplans choice for a title could not have been more telling: Its Jorns time to be king, especially since Dios much grieved departure.
Enough Jorn now, its Masterplan who are on the dissecting table for this review. Its funny, considering what a talented band they are, Masterplan never quite made it to the hallowed pantheon of power/melodic metal. Hopefully this changes once the full impact of Time To Be King sinks in among those who indulge the album. Once youre dazzled by fairy dust upon pushing the play button, an epic opener lays down the law that every song henceforth shall follow. First track Fiddle of Time simply bleeds melody and is carried to lofty places by the impassioned tenderness thats the hallmark of Jorn Landes throatwork. What sets Masterplans brand of power/heavy metal apart from the herd is they dont resort to the usual tricks. No speed metal drudgery, no fey keyboards (though Axel Mackenrott is quite the accomplished tickler of ivories), dumb fantasy lyrics about Atlantis or testicle popping falsettos. Instead of the usual dross, Masterplan are catchy, uplifting, cliché free, and ever so cool.
The albums rollicking pace eases a bit on Blow Your Winds until the quintet deliver Far From the End of the World. Its a sci fi concept piece about an astronaut who escapes his doomed planet and finds a new home halfway across the solar system. A hefty dose of bombast drives the soaring title track and when Masterplan come down to earth, theyre ready for earnest, heartfelt material (The Dark Road) followed by epic narratives (Blue Europa, The Sun is In Your Hands) and finally wrap the grand affair with the slow waltz thats Under The Moon. Masterful as only Masterplan can be, Time To Be King isnt perfect, but it is worth your time and money.
note: 8/10
Tracklist
Fiddle of Time
Blow Your Winds
Far From The End of The World
Time To Be King
Lonely Winds of War
The Dark Road
The Sun is In Your Hands
The Black One
Blue Europa
Under The Moon
Line-up
Jorn Lande- Vocals
Roland Grapow- Guitars
Jan-Soren Eckert- Bass
Axel Mackenrott- Keyboards
Mike Terrana- Drums
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