Masterplan - Aeronautics
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Crimson Rider* |
| Genre | Heavy Metal |
Jorn Lande
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Vocals
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| Tracks | 10 |
Roland Grapow
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Guitar
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| Runningtime | 54 Min. |
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Guitar
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| Label | AFM Records |
Jan S. Eckert
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Bass
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| Release | 24 Jan. 2005 |
Uli Kusch
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Drums
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| Country | Germany/Norway |
Axel Mackenrott
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Keyboards
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| Similar artists | --- | ||
Most people with insight in the melodic metal scene should be familiar with the band Masterplan by now. Consisting of ex. Helloween members Roland Grapow (guitar) and Uli Kusch (drums), they teamed up with renowned vocalist Jorn Lande (Ark, Jorn), bassist Jan S. Eckert (Iron Savior) and keyboardist Axel Mackenrott in 2002, and their debutalbum, released Jan. 2003, was received with open arms by fans and the metalpress. By many voted as the best album of that year, and they also received the European Border Breakers Awards for being the best selling newcomer outside of Germany in 2003. An award, which doesn 't found on the opinion of some jury members, but instead proves the high amount of cd's sold.
They have certainly taken their time to finish this new album, and the question is obvious: have they been able to maintain the level of songwriting and personality in order to create another interesting album? Yes, they have. I personally think that this album is a bit better than the debut. It is hard to pinpoint something specific, but the songs are just that tiny bit better, and the flow and tempo appeals to me. where the previous album had some really awesome peaks, it also had a few average songs that did not stand out. This time they still have a few songs that do not make it, but overall it is a more even album.
The rumor beforehand was that it was going to sound more progressive than the last time, but of that I honestly don't hear much. Instead I have to say that the metalpart of it all is sharper and the riffs heavier, but still with awesome melodies of varying singalong factor. I will quickly serve you an overview of the songs: It kickstarts with a fat riff, building up to a straight, uptempo song with a marvellous chorus. Definitly in par with Spirit Never Die/Kind Hearted Light on the debut.
Following that does Back For My Life, which is a slower and more laid back effort but has a very good chorus. Wounds starts in true Helloween style with a harmony lead by Grapow, gets slower during the verse, but turns uptempo during yet another smashing chorus. It is slowed down again with I'm Not Afraid, but it's just temporarily because after a few moments comes a very catchy bridge/chorus, the tempo rises, and so far into the album both my thumbs are raised.
Headbangers Ballroom is midtempo, with a heavy and crunching riff, leading up to the best chorus on this album. Very addictive. After This War is unfortunatly one of those totally meaningless ballads that don't give me anything, and this one has a particularly lame refrain. Back to an uptempo song again with Into The Arena. The bridge/chorus part is once again very good, but the verse is a bit average. There is a good break in the middle which is followed by an increase of intensity of the song, so it turns out good. Dark For The Dying is a more heavy and midtempo song that does not really lead anywhere. Average.
Falling Sparrow has a pumping riff, good verse and bridge and simple but effective and once again addictive chorus. Black In The Burn closes the whole deal with its epic approach spanning over roughly 10 minutes. It pretty much contains everything mentioned above, and what Masterplan is all about: straight metal as a base, mixed with some tiny, tiny progressive elements, great hooks, melodies and choruses. This one has a killer chorus, uptempo as well as midtempo parts and great guitar work by Grapow, and is their most ambitious effort so far and it works very well.
Not much to mention about the production, as it is just as good as last time, sounding pretty much the same: a compact and rich sound landscape. There is no fuzz about Masterplan with extraordinary showcases in musical ability, but instead they build it simple with the melodies in mind. To quote myself from the review of the debut album: "it's very melodic and not at all complicated (...) just plain, good heavy metal when it's at it's best". This is recommended to any fan of well played metal, may it be heavy or power, and of course to the already initiated follower of the band. You can safely pick it up, and not feeling that they have done the same album again.
See also review of:
PumpKings , Novum
Initium , Masterplan
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Production
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Vocals
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Compositions
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8 |
9 |
8,5 |
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Summary
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8,5 chalices of 10 - Tommy |
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