This is the debut album from Masterplan. The members consist of Roland Grapow (guitar) and Uli Kusch (drums) both ex Helloween, bassist Jan. S. Eckert ex Iron Savior, singer
Jorn Lande (ARK) and keyboarder Axel Mackenroot.
I am very impressed with what these guys have come up with. The style is classic Melodic Heavy Metal, but the variation form song to song is very high. Fast, slow, raw, sensitive, aggressive, epic, atmospheric, and so on. The 11 songs function very well in making this a truly magnificent record. Since each song has its own special profile I will give them a short description.
Spirit Never Die is a brilliantly composed song. Pretty straight ahead but with some cool breaks in rhythm, and a stunning chorus. The drums are very detailed and sounds great. The lyric is about believing in who you are and always keep on fighting. Well written and well played.
Enlighten Me has a huge chorus that it relies heavily on, but it is a good song with a catchy, direct edge. Not the best song on the record but the small details it has makes it interesting.
The powerful
Kind Hearted Light is one of my favourites. A very melodic song, with a hard pumping rhythm and a brilliant chorus. The vocal part, like in the rest of the album is fantastic.
Crystal Night is about the horrors of the persecution of the Jews under World War Two, an important and well written lyric. The song has a very raw and hard side to it. There is a great change in pace, and some great guitar riffs.
Soulburn combines some slow atmospheric keyboard elements with a really heavy guitar riff. A slow, but powerful song. It has some interesting breaks and has an epic touch.
Heroes is a very different song. Straight ahead Melodic Metal with a very catchy lead guitar. The albums simplest song, but pretty good, thanks a great deal to its chorus.
Sail On has a great melodic chorus, and is a pretty good song. The guitar lead creates the catchy rhythm. The pace is mid-tempo like many of the other songs, but it has a great depth to it.
Into The Light is a more complex song. A slow intro with acoustic guitar and a huge brilliant bombastic chorus that sounds very powerful. The more I listen to this song the better it gets.
It is one of the slowest songs of the album and the atmosphere is very cool and mystic, the guitar solo is also very fitting.
Once again the next song is very different.
Crawling From Hell is fast and aggressive, pounding away with a monster riff. There is a slightly strange melodic passage in the middle of the song, which sounds great, but has a more positive mood than the rest of the song. The keyboard arrangements work well as an element of variation through the song.
Bleeding Eyes is a society critical song, which relies on a pretty cool slow chorus. The rhythm is pretty hard and overall a good song.
When Love Comes Close ends the album with a ballad kind of song. The acoustic side of the track functions very well with the great vocal line. After a slow start a heavy riff sets in, and the sensitive mood becomes harder. The atmosphere in the song is a cool element that gives it more depth. The song has a
Pretty Maids ballad feel to it, this is of course just a compliment.
I keep singing along each time I hear it because it is so fucking catchy. A brilliant song.
So, summing up this album is a pleasure form start to end.
The musicians perform with lots of skill and interesting elements. Melodic riffs, varied drums, solid bass, atmospheric keyboard and a vocal performance, which to me is one of the best, I have ever heard.
Jorn Lande's voice has a lot of depth and the variation and melody he sings with is simply stunning.
The production is fitting and on a high standard scale.
Lyrically the album is very critical about all the war and suffering that is going on, and I think the band touches on the subjects in a very good and interesting way. Also the more personal lyrics about being yourself, love, struggle you meet and finding your way in life are well written.
All in all an extremely varied and melodic release.
Written by
Tommy Friday, January 3, 2003
Show all reviews by TommyRatingsTommy: 9/10Members: 8.75/10 - Average of 2 ratings.
Member ratings
 | Nina (Staff)
Rating: 9/10
Totally amazing album! Jorn sings like a god on this one, and all songs are awesome!... · Read more · |
 | Steen (Staff)
Rating: 8.5/10
Wow, This is some of the best Metal I've heard in a long time. Fantastic vocals, powerful ... · Read more · |
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