Reviews list for Masterplan - Time to Be King (2010)

He's baa-aack! Jorn Lande made his return to Masterplan in 2009 to help with one more album, a pleasant shock for Masterplan fans. It seems like he and founding guitarist Roland Grapow have settled their differences. They agreed that Lande would save the more rock-ish stuff for his solo project, and the band would continue the power/heavy metal sound they're known for. At least that's my theory, I don't know. But I know his side-project was more rock-oriented and involved Symphony X's Russell Allen, that project being Allen/Lande. Both Allen and Lande would also guest appear in Avantasia's Wicked Trilogy. I'm a little surprised by the amount of people who have heard of Avantasia more than Masterplan, myself included. I've started listening to Masterplan over a decade after I started listening to Avantasia. But now, I get to hear more of the godly singing of Lande, in the 3 Masterplan albums that including him as vocalist.

Roland Grapow and co. were planning to record and release the album in early 2009 before Lande's replacement Mike DiMeo left. The search for a new vocalist that ended with Lande's return caused the album's production to be delayed, and the songs that would've been recorded with DiMeo were made with Lande instead. The album would make one last relatively short delay, moving the release date from April to May, and they made up for it by releasing a preview single. Anyway, Time to Be King is a catchy diverse offering, though it's slightly behind the first 3 albums. The songs may not be entirely the same as in those albums, but they're still brilliant highlights. And if there are any weaknesses, they aren't enough to drag the album way down. And of course, Jorn is the star of the show!

One fast tune to start the album is "Fiddle of Time". Then they lower the tempo in "Blow Your Winds". But everything in the right balance in the aforementioned pre-release single, the melodic "Far From the End of the World". The choruses soar through with a beautiful aura. The background keys help out the melodic majesty, giving more color to the structure. We then get to another well-done composition that is the title track. And honestly, the church bell opening almost made me think this was going to be their own take on Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls".

"Lonely Winds of War" has more vocal emotion. It's based on the Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor, turning a classical composition into something both serene and monstrous. "The Dark Road" continues the dark direction alternating between intense and simple. We have some darker rock in "The Sun is in Your Hands" that can actually please many listeners including metalheads, even when it gets soft at times while still heavy.

"The Black One" has wonderful background keys, and the drumming by Mike Terrana marches through in a breeze. More of the band's early melancholy can be found in "Blue Europa" though it gets more intense and upbeat after the intro. The best track of the album that really surpasses the single is "Under the Moon". Everything's so beautiful including background strings, while smashing through with guitars. They can really end it all without having to make an epic! The edition I've chosen to review has the bonus track "Kisses From You", which is fine but more suitable for a musical.

Time to Be King shows that the band can be crushing while also staying elegant. It is an amazing return of Jorn's vocal talents, which would sadly end up being one-off, since he and two other members would leave the band in 2012. Still it's great that bands can be able to strike again with their original vocalist after not being with them for some time. Enjoy this album and say hello to their ol' friend!

Favorites: "Far From the End of the World", "Time to Be King", "The Sun is in Your Hands", "The Black One", "Under the Moon"