The German power metal scene is like one big family. This is especially true of new bands and projects featuring members of such foundational groups as HELLOWEEN, GAMMA RAY, RAGE, and BLIND GUARDIAN. Take MASTERPLAN, for example. In 2001, Roland Grapow and Uli Kusch, well-known members of HELLOWEEN, organized their own project MASTERPLAN with the now-popular Norwegian vocalist Jorn Lande. The musicians held together in this lineup until 2006, when during the recording of the third album "MK II," Lande and Kusch decided to leave the project due to musical disagreements. Kusch formed his own project BEAUTIFUL SIN, which includes MASTERPLAN's regular keyboardist Axel Mackenrott. Lande pursued his own solo career (surprisingly, MASTERPLAN bassist Jan Eckert does not participate in the recording of JORN albums :) — though he did play and even sing in another well-known power metal band, IRON SAVIOR, which also featured Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY) and Hansi Kursch (BLIND GUARDIAN)). Uli Kusch's place behind the drum kit was taken by Mike Terrana (SAVAGE CIRCUS, ex-RAGE, ex-GAMMA RAY (live)), while Mike DiMeo, former vocalist of another German power legend RIOT, stepped up to the microphone. "All is mixed up in the German kingdom!"
The new album "MK II" had to prove a great deal — whether the project is worth anything without such charismatic professionals as Lande and Kusch. Could Grapow manage on his own with what had become essentially a solo project and maintain at least the quality level of the previous albums? Unfortunately, the third attempt fell flat. The material on the album has lost the melodicism and hit-making quality characteristic of the first records. Yes, DiMeo's vocals are very good and close in timbre to Lande's; yes, Terrana's professionalism is beyond question — but they don't write the music, and that's the main drawback. Only a handful of songs hold any interest — the single "Lost And Gone," "Keep Me Burning," and "I'm Gonna Win." The remaining material is one continuous gray mass from which picking out anything worthwhile is virtually impossible. Even the artwork, done by the currently popular artist Thomas Ewerhard, is a sorry sight, particularly against the backdrop of his previous work for RAGE, JORN, JON OLIVA'S PAIN, and GRAVEWORM. It's a great pity, but in my opinion, Grapow should either cease MASTERPLAN's activities or find musicians with fresh songwriting ideas for the lineup, rather than ones with big names.