Customer Reviews

Masterplan

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is absolutely a fantastic release by the ex- Ark/Helloween/Iron Saviour members of Masterplan! My ratings on each song:

1: Spirit never die (My favourite song on this album - a fantastic power-melodic start, pre-chorus and chorus, great, fast riffs, amazing vocal by Jorn Lande - and catchy lyrics, you easily learn by heart) - 10/10

2: Enlighten me (Spooky, classic inspired verses, a stunning ear-hanger of a chorus including a heavy sound and nice vocals) 10/10

3: Kind hearted light (The only thing I dislike about this song is the keyboard-intro, which doesn't quite match to the rest of it IMO. Otherwise, the uplifting pre-chorus, progressive double-pedal drumming and wonderful lyrics make this track a fantastic result) 10/10

4: Crystal Night (A great idea to make a song about the horrible matters on Crystal Night in the 2nd WW. Creepy vibes, rough vocals, a nice guitar solo and much more) 10/10

5: Soulburn (Along with Bleeding Eyes the "worst" song on "Masterplan". Especially, I think the chorus' guitar riffs sound much like the Crystal Night chorus - but still a very nice song) 9/10

6: Heroes (The song you should stand up and rave to! Fantastic melody overall - "dance-able" rhytmetic drumming and a gorgeous duet between Lande and ex-Helloween member Michael Kiske - also one of my favourites) 10/10

7: Sail on (Familiar to Heroes and therefore maybe a little overshadowed, but especially in this song keyboarder Axel Machenrott shows his worth. Well done) 10/10

8: Into the light (One of the best silent songs made in this genre. Includes the most catchy chorus and vocals on this record - already a real classic to me!) 10/10

9: Crawling from hell (The heaviest song on this album and definately worth listening. It's been hard for me to decide, as I must admit this is a favourite one, too. The best moment on this track is the guitar-solo combined with the almost "movie-sound-track-like" play on the keyboards! Excellent! 10/10

10: Bleeding eyes (Like a tale from the middle-east. It has the orential sound and nice agressive vocal, but still not one of the best.) 9/10

11: When love comes close (As for "Into the light", this one goes for a classic tune, too. A love story for every soul!)

One of the best p-metal records ever made - one word: BUY!!!!!!

My favorite bands are Dream Theater, Armored Saint, Symphony X, Kamelot, Manowar etc. I like Helloween and Gamma Ray but both bands lack and have lacked in the past a GREAT lead Singer. Masterplan does not have that problem. Jorn Lande is an incredible vocalist. I think he blows away all of the Helloween vocalists. I first fell in love with his vocals when I saw him fronting Yngwie Malmsteen in Salt Lake City. Since then I have enjoyed some of his solo stuff and I think Ark was a decent band. Masterplan however is by far the best work he has done so far. The ExHelloween guys outdid themselves on differentiating themselves from the Typical Helloween/Hammerfall/Gamma Ray/Edguy Euro Speed Metal sound ( a sound I happen to enjoy very much). I am just very impressed with the unique sound they have created. We need more unique sounding bands out there. These guys remind me a little of Roy Kahns first band CONCEPTION in that htey don't sound like anyone else. I just hope that Jorn has found a consistant home with Masterplan for awhile. Bleeding Eyes and Enlighten me are worth the price of the album.

Masterplan is another fantastic band from Europe. The day it came out I went and bought it. My expectation was right on target. Melodic, heavy, Catchy Chorus, great song writing and musicians. Jorn Lande was the one of the reasons why I bought it. Because I knew how it will sound like. I love his vocals mainly from Ark and his solo albums. With his new 3rd solo album " Out To Every Nation" out, thats a brilliant album as well. And the ex-members of the legendary Helloween. What a combination!!! Spirit Never Dies being the opener for this album really put the listener wanting for more and great songs. I can't complain about this album. I love all the songs....... It is indeed a great album that every metal fan should own and embrace to the fullest. My high hopes for thier 2nd album soon.... Highly Recommended!!!

Does Jorn Lande have finally found his new home?
Alright, here we have a mix of progressive elements from Ark and power metal elements from Helloween. The first half of the disk is a pure killer while the second isn't that strong. However, it does not ruin the overall impression. The highlights would probably be 'Enlighten Me' and 'Heroes'(guest appearance by Michael Kiske). Jorn's vocals really shine throughout and the rest of the crew make an outstanding performance as well. A perfect start for this new band.

"Masterplan" (2003) is the self-titled debut by this German power metal supergroup. The band features former members of Helloween and Iron Savior, and is fronted by vocalist Jorn Lande.

All the band members perform well, but Lande stands out as a vocal powerhouse. He is also the unifying factor on what is a pretty diverse CD.

There is some generic power metal on here, e.g., "Heroes". But there is also "Crystal Night" - not only the heaviest song, but surprisingly serious in a genre dominated by fantasy lyrics - and worth the purchase price alone. "Crystal Night" sounds like Judas Priest fronted by Ronnie James Dio!

Other highlights include the speedy "Spirit Never Die" and the retro power ballad "When Love Comes Close".

I wish this album had more aggression and less keyboards. But all in all, this is a classy package of power metal tunes that, the consensus is, this band was never able to top. If you like melodic metal, or good old-fashioned hard rock, you should check out this album.

NOTE: This CD is available on Amazon under several different item numbers. Shop around for the best price.

The first time I heard this band, I immediately thought they were a Helloween clone. My thought was slightly accurate, as two of the founding members are ex-members of the German power-metal juggernaut. The opening song, "Spirit Never Die" is definitely the fast-paced metal number we would have expected from Michael Kiske and company back in the early 90's.

But the album deserves so much more credit than that.

In fact, the album has only three cookie-cutter power-metal songs out of eleven ("Spirit Never Die", "Heroes" and "Sail On"), and even those songs are astounding creations. For example, the slower, retrogressive "Enlighten Me" can easily be an 80's love ballad put to distorted guitars. "Crystal Night" is not power metal, it's flat-out doom. It's slow, ominous, powerful, and ripe with harmonized guitars and vocals. "Crawling From Hell" is metal - rusty, razor-sharp and unforgiving. The soothing "When Love Comes Close" is whimsical, curious and inviting. There is nothing about this song that screams a formula.

Sometimes you'll find yourself asking, is this a power-metal band or a progressive metal act? It's not a fine line at all - but somehow, they manage to walk it. Even the perfect "Into the Light" is neither progressive nor power - it's just a rock-solid headbanger. Because of its variety, this album will have you hooked for numerous listens. It's a must-have for fans of any type of metal - well, almost any type.

See also: Helloween - "Rabbit Don't Come Easy"

That familiar double kick drumbeat starts off "Spirit Never Die." It's loaded with plenty of tempo changes, melodic vocals, and rapid-fire guitar solos. The chorus is emotionally powerful both musically and lyrically. The track could easily be the theme for your favorite action hero. The album's first single, "Enlighten Me," is led by a driving guitar riff accented with keyboards. Once again, Lande executes the hook full of emotion and melody. On "Crystal Night" our vocalist does his best Ronnie James Dio impersonation, backed by Grapow's fluid guitar work. It's evident throughout the album that Grapow's been dying to display his ax skills after playing bass for so long. He certainly delivers with some great solos on "Sail On" and "Crawling from Hell." "Soulburn", clocking in at over six minutes, is led by Mackenrott's eerie keyboard work. It's also one of the more down tempo songs. In true power-metal fashion, the song picks up the pace toward the end. There may have been some left over material from Grapow and Kusch's Helloween days. The keys that start off "Kind Hearted Light" are reminiscent to some of The Dark Ride material, so is the dark chugga-chugga riffs. Gee, I wonder who influenced that album? "Heroes" is also produced in the same vain. Is it me or do most power-metal bands have a song about heroes?

Bottom Line:
Power-metal pretty much has a set formula; it's in the delivery that sets acts apart. Masterplan certainly stand out as they load their debut with powerful riffs and hooks, and plenty of intriguing guitar solos. Their lyrics are well written, and Lande's vocals are melodic, emotional, and commanding.

I've listened to several of Jorn's works from "Worldchanger" to Ark's "Burn the Sun," and while they were solid cd's, I didn't think there was anything special about either. I think that Masterplan has finally found Jorn finding his place in the metal realm. This has got to be the best cd that I've listened to this year...by far! Very melodic, but also fast paced. I liked everything about this album, but I guess if I had to pick, my favorite tracks would be..."Spirit Never Dies, Enlighten Me, Kindhearted Light, Crystal Night, Soulburn, Heroes, and Through Thick and Thin (bonus track on Japanese version). To me, Masterplan is most assuredly a cd of the new millenium with echoes of the best metal of the 80's!

This album is everything that power metal should be starting with:
Spirit Never Die: a great beggining with excellent verses and an overall soothing song.
Enlighten Me: this was the single and with a good reason:It's great. Some excellent verses and a great chorus.
I think that this song could have been a enormous hit.
Kind Hearted Light: A non-top great song.
Crystal Night: Great as well.
Soulburn: one of the best on the album, simply genius.Just relax an listen to it.
Heroes -I love it

Sail On - amazing
Into The Light - could be better but i like it
Crawling From Hell - the darker song but it's cool
Bleeding Eyes - also dark
When Love Comes Close - amazing guitar
Through Thick And Thin* - incredible , superb love song
The Kid Rocks On. cool

I had never heard Jorn Lande before, and I was really impressed with his qualities after hearing MASTERPLAN's homonimous debut.

I must admit I only went for MASTERPLAN due to the ex-Helloween guys, Grapow and Kusch. And I think MASTERPLAN blows Helloween away. The album is hard and driving, but different from the generic European speed metal we are used to listen.

I did not find one single loser song here. Also, I think Kusch is using his drums in a more clever way here, more restrained, without "overdrumming" like he did a lot of times in Helloween.