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Premise: I categorically hate Helloween, Gamma Ray, Stratovarius, Hammerfall, and many other bands that revolve around their style.
The Masterplan is formed by two ex-members of Helloween, one from Iron Savior, and half from Gamma Ray. Yet strangely, I like them, and their self-titled debut album, released in early 2003, is pleasant to listen to. You might ask "why?" regarding this paradox of mine.
I asked myself the same question and after careful reflection, I summed up and came to a conclusion.
First of all, the album possesses a heavier sound compared to many other records of the genre, yet at the same time sunny, recreating the happy sound of German power bands. There are also hints that reflect a somewhat progressive style. The choruses are those with the so-called church choirs reigning in power metal, but even these differ significantly from the usual. The exceptional Scandinavian singer Jorn Lande cannot be compared to any other castrato in the world. His voice is stunning and expresses a sense of radiant strength, managing to captivate the astonished listener (at least as far as I am concerned).
The speeds and melodies are always those of power metal, but as I have already explained, small and fresh changes have been made in the sounds.
Furthermore, although I may despise the original bands, guitarist Roland Grapow and drummer Uli Kusch (creators of the band) know what they are talking about when it comes to this genre of music. Jan Eckert's bass parts and Axel Mackenrott's keyboards make a discreet impression, accompanying the remaining band members in rarely syncopated melodies.
This fine line-up could have done more if they had dared to innovate their musical knowledge further through innovation on the power parts, but the haste to show Weikath that the Helloween compositional duo can do just fine without him unfortunately played a part.
The opening track "Spirit Never Dies," fast, symphonic, and with a very beautiful chorus, bursts with energy from all sides and, together with "Crystal Night," "Sail On," and "Heroes," a track made interesting by the duet between Lande and Michael Kiske, stands out as the best song created by the new German combo.
It is not a masterpiece, but just a good album, which I find easy and pleasant to listen to, without having to endure the unbearable melodies of Helloween.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Enlighten Me (04:37)
Be still - I want you to listen - it's all so silly
Our ways have somewhere on the way surrendered
Adjusted to the game and the dream is slightly shattered
Guess the answer was never meant to be found
And when the search is over
Our questions still remain
Enlighten me - I wanna see - how this could be the age of reason
won't you tell me - can't you tell me
Cause I need to know
It's in my head it's in my soul
The fire burns and my heart is sold
To the melody and the music - yeah
Please wake up - I want you to see, it could be so pretty
Why do you turn a blind eye
When you know you live a lie
Enlighten me - I wanna see - how this could be the age of reason
Won't you help me - can't you help me
I need to read between the lines
It's in my head it's in my soul
I'm on fire and my heart is old
Like the melody and the music, yeah
Enlighten me - I wanna see - how this could be the age of reason
Won't you tell me - can you tell me
Why we don't read between the lines
It's in my head it's in my soul
A world on fire - the story's told
In the melody and the music
I wanna see - how could it be the age of reason
Won't you help me - I gotta know
It's in my head it's in my soul
A fire burns and my heart is sold
In the melody of the music
03 Kind Hearted Light (04:25)
We held up the metal torch
And they tried to take the flame
We've been running against the wall
But we always overcame
No sense no reason
We are the ones you love to hate
Feed the desire
Fighting for our dreams
Just look behind you
The visions once believed
Let's burn the bridges down
And cast dispersion to the wind
Who can we trust again
We must look to find another way to
That kind hearted light
Beyond the dark
But clouds still hide the seven seas
As the story unfolds
No regret
Unlock the key
To unite eternally
Look for an exit
In a dead end street of lies
Judgement day comes to all
Can you afford the price
Turn your blackened faith
And drain the venom from your mind
Who can we trust again
We must look to find another way to
That kind hearted light
Beyond the dark
But clouds still hide the seven seas
As the story unfolds
No regret
Unlock the key
To unite eternally
For eternity
Who can we trust again
We must look to find another way to
That kind hearted
That kind hearted light
Beyond the dark
But clouds still hide the seven seas
As the story unfolds
No regret
Unlock the key
To unite eternally
Kind hearted light
Beyond the dark
But clouds still hide the seven seas
As the story unfolds
No regret
Unlock the key
To unite eternally
04 Crystal Night (05:17)
Why - why do we turn away
When they shout that hymn
Marching so brave
Their hearts beat on boldly right
Their souls belong to those of the weak
Walking so blinded
Surrounded by brown coated lies
Hear propaganda which says
Bleed for the master race
We're not under the same nation
The past has gone - don't fear the new
It's your only chance - your only salvation
Why should we be blond and blue-eyed
Chanting a "heil" - living a lie
Evil surrounds us - we lost our way
Darkness will lead us through fire and hell
We're not waving the same flag
Or going down the same road
So use your brains - just for one time
You can't rule mankind
We're not under the same nation
The past has gone - don't fear the new
It's your only chance - your only salvation
No, no we don't want it - never more
We won't take it - like before
Crystal night - never more
We're not under the same nation
The past has gone - don't fear the new
It's your only chance - your only salvation
We're not under the same nation
The past has gone - don't fear the new
It's your only chance - your only salvation
No no we don't want it - never more
We won't take it - like before
Crystal night - never more
Never more - like before
No never more
05 Soulburn (06:15)
Out of the womb and into the light
It comes in purity, yeah
Arrive with peace
Untouched by man's decease
Awake and not aware.........no no
Feel the soulburn
Pathfinder
They teach him right but he knows they're wrong
He sees in silence
They tell him stop, but he wants to move on
Spread the wings to fly them
He hopes for someday soon
And the world is like a shiny diamond
The way it glitters if you polish it right
And if the light should turn and leave you blinded
Take the dream and give it one more try
Feel the soulburn
Papa says no time to loose
Go fast if you wanna make the headline news
The road to stardom can be painful and long
In the spotlight the heat is on
You'll be playing in the fire
And the world is like a shiny diamond
The way it glitters if you polish it right
And if the light should burn and leave you blinded
There'll be treasures on the other side
And the piper will play till sundown
As the preacher prays for it to rise
And if the wind should blow and leave you stranded
Sailing ships will always pass you by
Feel the soulburn
Pathfinder
Into the storm - a child is born
Pathfinder
They'll make you burn
Pathfinder
And the world is like a shiny diamond
The way it glitters if you polish it right
But if the light should turn and leave you blinded
Take the dream and give it one more try
And the piper will play till sundown
while the preacher prays for it to rise
And if the wind should blow and leave you stranded
Take a breath and give it one more try
06 Heroes (03:34)
Are we caught between good and bad
It's all just said and done
Longing for a better way
The feeling is so strong
Try to mend your broken ways
Why should we live within a haze
We're the heroes of a new world
The Masterplan's rising
Send freedom all over the globe
Willing now to pay the price
Just call it by the name
Unlock the gate to paradise
It's time to stop the game
How can we fly with broken wings
Realize we're strong like kings
We're the heroes of a new world
The Masterplan's rising and dreams will come true
Sending freedom - like a warming rain
We show you the magic you've never seen arise - above you
We must cast aside our misery
Let's search for final liberty
We're the heroes of a new world
The Masterplan's rising and dreams will come true
Sending freedom - like a warming rain
We show you the magic you've never seen arise - above you
07 Sail On (04:39)
You cannot see it coming
Always without a warning
You need to hold on tighter
Find a brand new start
High on the wire
They taunted you like Messiah
Time for a change
Before your life just falls apart
How could you find a way
From deep within your heart
Reach out and gaze the star
Let the vision fly
We always have to sail on
Out of shadows to the light beyond
Never shut your weary eyes
But always try to see the line
Can you see it in your mind
Wearing the mask for so long
The clown must believe to hold on
Throw down your fears and guide the strength which lies within
We always have to sail on
Out of shadows to the light beyond
Never shut your weary eyes
But always try to see the line
Can you see it in your mind
Can you see it in your mind
New rising sun will shine forever
All your power strong as steel
Turn the page and seek no saviour
Break free and see
The line through the wheel
We always have to sail on
Out of shadows to the light beyond
Never shut your weary eyes
But always try to see the line
We always have to sail on
Out of shadows to the light beyond
Never shut your weary eyes
But always try to see the line
Can you see it in your mind
Can you see it in your mind
Can you see the line
See the line through the wheel
Can you see the line
10 Bleeding Eyes (05:43)
Inside my camera is watching
Memorizing my view of earth
And stained is the eye
Ambitions not where they should be
Out of focus - too much fantasy
Within hides the dreamer
From the north to the desert sand
Chaos disturbed the land
And revelation was left behind us
Lost without a cry
A silent lullaby
And I'm waiting - waiting for the healer
I see with bleeding eyes
I carry the world on my shoulders
The load is heavy
And it's time for an awakening
The road is long - I've been told
But I think it's short
Time goes by - and I wonder how the world is taught
From the streets of Babylon
To the sound of a modern gun
I know the story but it doesn't come clean
I'm a supersticious man - fed the neon screen
Riding on the rise of tomorrow
Fading rainbow in the eyes of sorrow
I've read the script - rehearsed the dream
Faking death at the battle scene, yeah
I wanna change it
I wanna change it
I wanna change it
And rearrange it
I wanna change it
I wanna change it
I see with bleeding eyes
I carry the world on my shoulders
The load is heavy
And it's time for an awakening
The road is long - I've been told
But I think it's short
Time goes by - and I wonder how the world is taught
From the streets of Babylon
To the sound of a modern gun
I know the story but it doesn't come clean
I'm a supersticious man - fed the neon screen
Riding on the rise of tomorrow
Fading rainbow in the eyes of sorrow
I've read the script - rehearsed the dream, yeah
Faking death at the battle scene
From the streets of Babylon
To the sound of the modern gun
I know the story but it doesn't come clean
I'm a supersticious man - fed the neon screen
Riding on the rise of tomorrow
Fading rainbow in the eyes of sorrow
I've read the script - rehearsed the dream, yeah
Faking death at the battle scene
I see with bleeding eyes
I wanna change it
I wanna change it
I carry the world on my shoulders
I wanna change it
And rearrange it
12 Black Dog (04:35)
Hey mama, said the way you move
Gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove
Oh child, the way you shake that thing
Gonna make you burn, gonna make you sting
Hey, baby, when you walk that way
Watch your honey drip, can't keep away
I gotta roll, can't stand still
Got a flame in heart, can't get my fill
Eyes that shine burning red
Dreams of you all through my head
Hey baby, oh baby, pretty baby
Tell me what you're doin', what you do to me
Oh baby, pretty baby, oh baby
Tell me won't you do me now, what you do to me, baby
Didn't take too long before I found out
What people mean by down and out, down and out
Spent my money, took my car
Started telling her friends she's gonna be a star
I don't know but I've been told
A big-legged woman ain't got no soul
All I ask for when I pray
Steady rollin' woman gonna come my way
Need a woman gonna hold my hand
Tell me no lies, make me a happy man
Oh baby, baby, baby, baby
Oh baby, oh baby
What you're doin' do to me
Watch your honey drip, can't keep away
I gotta roll, can't stand still
Got a flame in heart, can't get my fill
Oh baby, oh baby
Tell me what you're doin' now
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