|
By RYAN MAVITY
One word describes the sound of German-based power metal outfit Masterplan: big. Big guitars, big vocals, big choruses, big everything. For the most part, the bigger is better approach works. Masterplan certainly has the chops to fill the amphitheaters.
Masterplan may seem a little familiar to followers of the European power metal scene. This band formed out of the ashes of Helloween, who released a few singles in America to modest success. Guitarist Roman Grapow, along with former drummer Uli Kusch, formed Masterplan after being fired from Helloween. The band’s current lineup includes two Americans in new vocalist Mike DiMeo and new drummer Mike Terrana.
It is DiMeo who lends Masterplan much of its voice. Sounding sort of like the love child of Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Dickinson, DiMeo brings a different kind of sound to typical power metal. Like many albums of this genre, the album gets off to a blistering start with the dual-sided “Phoenix Rising” and “Warriors Cry.” The album keeps up the impressive pace with “Lost and Gone” and maybe the album’s finest track, “Take Me Over.” Throughout it all, Grapow displays some strong guitar work with impressive solos. While the band mostly sticks to their trademark power metal, they change things up on “Masterplan,” with its shout-along chorus and thrash-inspired riffs.
Still, not everything works well; especially in the middle section, “I’m Gonna Win” sounds like something Survivor would have recorded for a Rocky soundtrack. “Trust in You” is a power ballad that doesn’t quite take off, and I have no clue what “Call the Gipsy” is about.
Nonetheless, MKII is a hard-hitting affair that fans of power metal will like. I have the feeling that these guys have a great live show because music this huge was tailor made for festivals and stadiums. Power metal how it’s supposed to be done.
|
