Search - Masterplan :: Masterplan

Very good but.....

Dr Nick | Sheffield, S Yorks United Kingdom | 02/24/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've been following Jorn for a while, ever since he toured (briefly) with Yngwie. And I love some of his stuff, especially Ark (Burn The Sun is one of my favourite CD's this millenium). His second solo CD (Worldchanger) is also very good, as was his CD with Millenium (Hourglass).
For me, Masterplan is a slight backwards step. I miss the diversity and virtuosity of Ark (Jorn was apparently fired for refusing to commit long-term to the project). The style is straightforward power metal, on the whole, and yes, they do it very well. Hints of Whitesnake crop up, and one could also draw comparisons with Helloween in the rhythm section (not surprisingly, guitarist and drummer both hail from their ranks).
But part of the joy of Ark was the way they changed things around, tried something different, and basically had a blast. Also, Roland Grapow is a good guitarist, but not quite in the same league as Tore Ostby, who could probably match Yngwie note for note and be original too. His solos are short, bluesy metal, and to the point. Some will no doubt prefer this to seemingly endless shredding, I just happen to use Yngwie and related players as a benchmark.The bass + keys are solid, but not especially original. The drummer is excellent, no question, perhaps the closest this band gets to the talent in Ark.
Actually Jorn's vocals are probably the best thing on the CD, which says a lot for his ability to write a memorable melody and lyric, and deliver it to a high standard regardless of the setting. In fact, to be fair, the songwriting is pretty good overall, and a couple of songs (Enlighten Me in particular) are superb.There are certainly some very good songs here, and I know I'll enjoy this album - but Ark (Burn the Sun) will remain my favourite."

Amazing start!

George Faraj | San Pedro Sula, Honduras | 08/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great album! I recommend it to anyone who likes a good heavy/power metal. Since I bought it, it has been in my stereo all the time. I really like Jorn Lande's vocals, he puts so much into his songs. The rest of the band are just great also. The former Helloweenists show us that they still have that touch.Although I like all the songs, my favourite ones are Enlighten Me, Soulburn, and Sail On.I am waiting anxiously for the next Masterplan album. I hope it's equally great or greater than this one."

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Farrell Trinity | 07/16/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I've been hooked by Jorn Lande's voice - Ark: Burn the Sun being one of my favourite albums of all time. This album affords us the opportunity to hear more of that amazing voice and he is backed by a more than competent set of musicians here. It is just not as creative and original - and therefore "progressive" - as the Ark project. That being said, I still LOVE this album. It has many high points for me and I can (and have been all evening) quietly enjoy it and slip off into another world with my headphones in place. I would highly recommend this album (and all the other Masterplan with Jorn) and have done with friends. Enjoy!"