Masterplan (Masterplan album)

Masterplan
Studio album by Masterplan
Released	20 January 2003
Recorded	Crazy Cat Studio
Genre	Power metal
Label	AFM Records
Producer	Andy Sneap and Masterplan
Masterplan chronology
Masterplan (2003) Back For My Life (2005)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Masterplan is the German power metal band Masterplan's self-titled debut album, released in 2003 by AFM Records. The album received many good reviews and entered the charts at high positions. The album was voted album of the month in Sweden Rock Magazine, Rock Hard and Heavy, Oder Was?! in Germany and Metal Factory in Switzerland.

The band received the "European Border Breakers Award" in 2004 from the European Commission, for the album sales around Europe. ^[2]

Michael Kiske, the former Helloween bandmate of guitarist Roland Grapow, duets on track 6.

By the time their first full-length and self-titled CD was released in 2003, keyboard player Janne "Warman" Wirman was replaced by Axel Mackenrott. ^[3] Wirman recorded some session keyboards for the album, but could not stay on as a full time member due to his commitments to Children of Bodom. The main keyboard lines of the album were arranged and programmed by Grapow and Kusch. Missing a proper bass player, Grapow recorded the bass parts, with some help from session bassist Jeurgen Attig (Casanova). Permanent bassist Jan-Sören Eckert joined shortly after the album's release. Despite not playing on the album, Mackenrott and Eckert both appear in the album sleeve.

Track listing

All songs written by Roland Grapow, Uli Kusch & Jørn Lande

1. "Spirit Never Die" - 5:26
2. "Enlighten Me" - 4:38
3. "Kind Hearted Light" - 4:25
4. "Crystal Night" - 5:15
5. "Soulburn" - 6:16
6. "Heroes" (featuring Michael Kiske) - 3:31
7. "Sail On" - 4:36
8. "Into the Light" - 4:36 (Grapow, Kusch, Lande, Aeryk Laws)
9. "Crawling from Hell" - 4:12
10. "Bleeding Eyes" - 5:39
11. "When Love Comes Close" - 4:08
12. "Through Thick and Thin" (Bonus track) - 4:03
13. "The Kid Rocks On" (Bonus track) - 3:37

Credits

• Jørn Lande - Vocals
• Roland Grapow - Guitars, Bass guitar, keyboards arrangement and program
• Uli Kusch - Drums, keyboards arrangement and program

Guest Musicians:

• Michael Kiske - (Vocals on Track 06)
• Janne Wirman - (Keyboards on All Tracks)
• Ferdy Doernberg - (Keyboards on Track 08)
• Juergen Attig - (Bass on B-Sides)

• Recording Studio: Crazy Cat Studio in Hamburg
• Mixing Studio: Finnvox Studio in Helsinki
• Mastering Studio: Finnvox Studio in Helsinki
• Arranging: Masterplan
• Recording: Andy Sneap
• Mixing: Mikko Karmila
• Mastering: Mika Jussila
• Band Photos: Dirk Schelpmeier
• Artwork: Rainer Laws
• Booklet Design: Rainer Laws
• Cover: Thomas Ewerhard
• Band Logo: Thomas Ewerhard

Singles

Enlighten Me

"Enlighten Me"
Single by Masterplan
Released	18 November 2002
Genre	Power metal
Label	AFM Records
Masterplan singles chronology
"Enlighten Me" (2002) "Masterplan" (2003)

"Enlighten Me" is the first single by Masterplan, taken from the present album. Despite the band picture on the sleeve, all keyboards are played by Janne Warman, and Jeurgen Attig plays bass on tracks 3 and 4, with Grapow playing the bass on the remaining three tracks.

Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog" cover was included on The Music Remains the Same: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin, a tribute album by Locomotive Music (Spain).

Track listing

1. "Enlighten Me" (single edit)
2. "Kind Hearted Light" (album version)
3. "Through Thick And Thin" (non-album track)
4. "Black Dog" (Led Zeppelin cover)
5. "Enlighten Me" (album version)

References

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ "Masterplan receives European Border Breakers Award". http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=18712. 
3. ^ "Janne Wirman replaced by Axel Mackenrott". http://www.metalfromfinland.com/people/8/Janne+Warman.