'Mk
II' marks not only a new beginning for Masterplan, but also
the departure of 2 great musicians in vocalist Jorn Lande and
drummer Uli Kusch. The 2 guys were off course a very big part in
their first couple of albums 'Masterplan' (2003) and 'Aeronautics'
(2005) and one can only assume that they would leave a big void left
behind to fill, but rest assured their replacements vocalist Mike
DiMeo (ex-Riot) and drummer Mike Terrana (ex-Rage) do a great job on
this album.
They have clearly set the bar high with their first albums, and this
album continues in the same fashion; melodic, powerful and very
tight power metal. The dynamics are still there, the technical level
is even a tad higher than before, and Mike DiMeo does his best to
make us forget Jorn Lande.
Not
doubt the addition of Mike Terrana is a change for the better, God
Damn he is precise and to call him a human drum machine is no
understatement. Mike DiMeo does a great job, but remember who he is
trying to replace! You don't just step in and takes over from a
living legend without any casualties, and some the songs have
clearly been written with Jorn in mind and it shows.
Having said that I still think that this is a very good power metal
album, and Mike DiMeo is a very good vocalist on his own and I think
Masterplan has made a wise decision in hiring him as their
new vocalist.
With this move in the right direction I am sure Masterplan
will be moving on to bigger and better stages, and their fan base
will continue to grow, because they clearly belongs in the Champions
League and with 'Mk II' they prove just why...
