Masterplan Time To Be King
by John Kindred
Staff Writer
Masterplan is back in 2010 with their forth studio release to date, Time to Be King. Following up ’07’s MK II led to a period of time that saw original vocalist Jorn Lande step down and Mike DiMeo (Riot) join the band as his replacement. Whatever fallout between Lande and Masterplan soon reared its head with DiMeo, as he departed the group early in ’09. To the delight of Masterplan fans everywhere, Lande was announced to be returning to the band during the summer of the same year. Now, after plenty of Masterplan’s fans anxiously awaited, the new studio album Time to Be King finally has finally.
From the beginning, Roland Grapow held the vision for Masterplan within his mind as he and Uli Kusch (former drummer) created a style of music that developed from their involvement with Helloween. Forging Power Metal with the Norwegian vocal prowess of Jorn Lande baptized Masterplan in fire, creating their vision of Melodic Power Metal.
Time to Be King comprises 10 songs. The music still has that metallic fire of Masterplan’s debut release as well the melodic tones of Aeronautics. It was produced and recorded by Grapow at studio Slavakia. Mixing duties fell upon Grapow as well as Mikko Karmilla at Finnvox Studios, Helsinki. Overall, the production is of the highest caliber.
The music on Time to Be King continues to have the epic feel of past studio albums. The audio experience is entrenched in lavish musical arrangements and produces a wall of sonic bliss. The band’s Power Metal edginess builds the accompaniment for Jorn’s powerful voice and lyrical prose. Lande’s voice dances from hard-edged tonalities to melodic vocal melodies.
Time to Be King scores big by delivering catchy and memorable music that focuses on the band’s strengths. There are no filler songs for listeners to skip over. The band drives its point home with songs like “Far From the End of the World,” “Blow Your Wind,” The Dark Road” and “Under the Moon.” Constantly producing driving rhythmic beasts with no let up of intensity, Masterplan takes Power Metal to another dimension, giving all the songs life with the infusion of melodic overtones. Within the context of the band, all the instrumentation; guitars, bass, vocals and keys, support each other to produce balanced and focused arrangements.
Time to Be King is a fitting return for Masterplan. Not that they went vary far, but the brief loss of Lande was an unexpected distraction. We can thank whatever god you pray to that he is back. Through this process of change, the music never lost its fire, but it certainly was hard to hear any other singer married to Grapow’s guitar work after Lande.
Genre: Melodic Power Metal
Band Lineup:
Jørn Lande: Vocals
Roland Grapow: Guitars
Jan-Sören Eckert: Bass
Mike Terrana: Drums
Axel Mackenrott: Keyboards
Track Listing:
1. Fiddle Of Time (4:20)
2. Blow Your Winds (3:19)
3. Far From The End Of The World (3:35)
4. Time To Be King (4:44)
5. Lonely Winds Of War (4:35)
6. The Dark Road (6:19)
7. The Sun Is In Your Hands (4:32)
8. The Black One (4:13)
9. Blue Europa (5:07)
10. Under The Moon (4:14)
Bonus track on ltd. Edition:
11. Kisses From You
Label: AFM Records
Web: http://www.afm-records.de
Hardrock Haven rating: 9/10