So have
Masterstoke struck gold with 'Sleep' or have they struck out? Well they land
somewhere in-between with their no-nonsense power metal, which is a journey
travelled before by bands like: Masterplan, Morgana Lefay, Brainstorm and Mystic
Prophecy.
Their sophomore
release 'Sleep' has ten well written, crafted and delivered power metal songs
with small melodic metal and progressive metal influences, and the album has the
tenacity and quality to withhold most attacks. But I do miss the extra
something, the one or two song that bring this one up the next level. They need
to push themselves and give it an extra effort to step out of the shadows of the
above mentioned bands and stand out on their own.
Until they are
capable of doing so they will fall into the category of 'solid, but
unspectacular and predicable', just like so many other bands before them.
Masterstroke delivers a good and solid dish with all the right ingredients,
what's missing is the right seasoning and the effort to make this something
special.
