Masterplan
Lost and Gone - EP

March 2007
Released: 2007, AFM Records/Sound Pollution
Rating: 2.0/5
Reviewer: Anders Sandvall

Well, here is the first sneak-preview of how the “new” Masterplan sounds. Axeman Roland Grapow has re-arranged the line-up since the last studio album AERONAUTICS in 2005. The new singer Mike DiMeo (Riot, The Lizards) is replacing Jorn Lande and now behind the drums is the well-known Mike Terrana (ex- Rage).



The EP has 4 tracks; it begins with an intro “The Master’s Voice” before the first song “Lost and Gone” kicks off. The first track is a melodic metal piece with nice keyboard harmonies throughout the song. DiMeo does a pretty god job, but this song doesn’t sound like the Masterplan I used to know; now they sound more like a melodic metal act. “Dying Just to Live” follows, and it’s almost an acoustic ballad. Grapow does a great job and really plays impressive guitar parts, but despite that this song nothing but a standard ballad. The closing song is “Keeps Me Burning”, and it’s not until here that the EP begins to sound like Masterplan. It’s melodic heavy metal with lead vocals and keyboards that dominate the sound-picture. Grapow shows off his skills once again and does a Malmsteen-inspired solo. DiMeo does a great job on the entire EP and he doesn’t try to sound like Jorn and instead tries to add his own flair to Masterplan. As a bonus feature there is an almost 30-minute-long interview with the band that you can watch on your computer.



Even though DiMeo and Terrana do a great job, this is not what I had expected the new Masterplan to sound like. “Lost and Gone” and “Keeps Me Burning” are going to be featured on the upcoming album, so I’d recommend you invest in the album instead of the EP. This EP gives me an ambivalent impression that makes me wonder what musical direction Masterplan is going to take now.



Killer track “Keeps Me Burning”.



http://www.soundpollution.se