Year : 2017 (Japan Edition)
Style : Melodic Heavy Metal , Melodic Power Metal
Country : Germany
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans + Video
Size : 171 mb
Bio:
Masterplan is a German power metal band, founded by guitarist Roland Grapow and drummer Uli Kusch upon leaving Helloween in 2001.At the end of autumn 2001 during Helloween's "The Dark Ride Tour". Roland Grapow, present in the band since 1989, and Uli Kusch from 1994, decided to form a side project. Shortly after this decision, both were fired from their long-time job in Helloween. Born the name "Masterplan" based on the idea that they would be master musicians with the future in their hands, in the words of the Headbanger - Gerardo Trevino Garza (Creator of the name), starts the newest power metal band of the new millennium. Roland subsequently invited for keyboards Janne Wirman, which at that time played in the band Children Of Bodom. For vocals, Russell Allen was invited but had to decline the invitation since he was firm in his own band Symphony X. A second invitation was made for Michael Kiske, who also rejected the proposal, claiming that he wanted to keep away from the metal scene. After contact with Norwegian band Ark famous album Burn The Sun and subsequently the album Worldchanger, singer Jørn Lande was invited. Jørn accepted the invitation, completing the band after about six months of the beginning of the project.Their first full-length self-titled album, Masterplan was released in 2003, produced by Andy Sneap. The band then consisted of Grapow and Kusch with Jørn Lande. The main part of the keyboard lines on the album were arranged and programmed by Roland and Uli, while keyboard player Janne "Warman" Wirman recorded some sessions for the album, but could not stay on as a full-time member due to his commitments to Children of Bodom. Axel Mackenrott replaced him on tour and since then as a permanent member. Studio bassist Jürgen Attig (Casanova) helped with some bass lines on the recordings, but Grapow was the main bassist for the album. For tour and subsequent recordings, Jan-Sören Eckert was hired as a permanent member.The band received the "European Border Breakers Award" from the European Commission in 2004, for the debut album success around Europe.In January 2005 Masterplan released their second album, Aeronautics once again produced by Andy Sneap and the band. After two successful albums and their respective tours, during the writing of the third album the band parted ways with vocalist Jørn Lande, citing "musical differences" as the reason for the split.The split was amicable enough that Jørn agreed to perform four previously arranged live appearances before departing although two of these were eventually canceled by the promoters.On October 4, 2006 Uli Kusch announced his departure from the band in an interview with Darkside.ru. Although not discussing the details of what had happened, he mentioned the democratic principles of making decisions in the band as one of the reasons of his leaving - according to him, it often made getting a consensus nearly impossible.[3] Three days later, Masterplan announced their new line-up through their official web site: Grapow, Mackenrott, Eckert, with new members Mike DiMeo (Riot, The Lizards) and Mike Terrana (ex-Artension, ex-Rage, Metalium). The band toured with Saxon as an opening act for Saxon's Inner Sanctum tour.The band's third album, suitably titled MK II, was released on February 26, 2007. It was produced this time by the band's actual leader, Roland Grapow himself, at his own studio in Slovakia. The album was recorded in September and October 2006.On January 11, 2009, Mike DiMeo confirmed on his MySpace page that he had parted ways with Masterplan.On July 25, 2009, the band finally revealed that Jørn Lande has made his return to Masterplan.On April 16, 2010, a single titled Far From the End of the World was released to precede the band's new fourth album, Time To Be King, once again produced by Roland Grapow.On July 13, 2011, the band has announced in their official website that they were writing songs for a new album. The album is set to be released in March 2013.In July 2012, it was announced that Martin Marthus Skaroupka (Cradle of Filth drummer) will play on the new Masterplan album.In early November, it was announced that Rick Altzi and Jari Kainulainen would replace Jorn Lande and Jan Eckert on the upcoming album.[9] In November 2012, during an interview with Metal Shock Finland's Chief Editor, Mohsen Fayyazi, when talking about Jorn's departure from the band, Roland stated the following: "Everybody always expects something special from Jorn, but it’s a very unstable situation. To keep happy it’s not easy and to be honest I’ve not heard from him for 2 years. Don’t get me wrong, we’re still friends but we just don’t have much contact."On February 21, 2013 the new album was announced. The title of the album is Novum Initium and it was released on June 14, 2013 through German record label AFM Records.
Album:
Masterplan is one of those bands that as soon as someone mentions the name you automatically think, “What a great band!” At least I do. Since their inception in 2003, they’ve consistently released some killer Power Metal, even with line-up changes including different singers, you could always count on them putting out some top notch material.When I was tasked with reviewing the new one, I leapt at the chance, not knowing or caring anything about it. I used it as an opportunity to revisit some of those songs that span their career as well.When I saw the tracklisting I was seeing familiar titles, and all of a sudden it hit me…they’re familiar because they’re Helloween songs. As Roland Grapow is the spearhead behind Masterplan, he is also a known quantity in Helloween for many years too. Making a fairly odd decision, Grapow selected a handful of Helloween songs during his tenure for Masterplan to re-record.Not to take anything away from Pumpkings (a play on the Helloween pumpkin motif,) I’m not sure if this was the best idea for them.There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with the performances on here- in fact making them heavier and a different interpretation breathes new life into the songs, but after such an amazing album as Novum Initium in 2013 (the first with new singer Rick Altzi,) to decide to basically do a covers album is a little out of left field.And frankly, though the performances are excellent, they seem uninspired and phoned in. I felt this from the first spin all the way up to my most recent, but especially so after listening to tracks from the previous albums- that definitive Masterplan fire seems to be missing. And don’t get me wrong, I’m as big a Helloween fan as I am of Masterplan, but I just think Pumpkings is a nice record, but not up to their usual greatness.Masterplan’s Pumpkings is a good record, and excellent versions of some great Helloween songs, but I think I’d rather have new music. I figure this was probably a fun idea for the band to just cut loose and take a break so to speak, and perhaps they’ve got another killer album of originals coming soon too. It’s a good album to spin if you’re a fan of both bands, but it isn’t a must-have like their past albums, as far as I’m concerned.
Line-Up:
Rick Altzi - Vocals (At Vance, Frequency, ex-Thunderstone, ex-Treasure Land)
Roland Grapow - Guitars (Level 10, ex-Helloween, ex-Serious Black)
Axel Mackenrott - Keyboards (Beautiful Sin, ex-Gamma Ray)
Jari Kainulainen - Bass (Shadowquest, ex-Evergrey, ex-Kotipelto, ex-Stratovarius)
Kevin Kott - Drums (2016-present) See also: At Vance, Pantaleon
Tracklist:
01. The Chance (Helloween cover)
02. Someone's Crying (Helloween cover)
03. Mankind (Helloween cover)
04. Step Out Of Hell (Helloween cover)
05. Mr. Ego (Helloween cover)
06. Still We Go (Helloween cover)
07. Escalation 666 (Helloween cover)
08. The Time Of The Oath (Helloween cover)
09. Music (Helloween cover)
10. The Dark Ride (Helloween cover)
11. Take Me Home (Helloween cover)
12. I Don't Wanna Cry No More (Helloween cover) (Japan Bonus Track)
+ Video "The Chance" (Official Video)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
