In the year 1989, Manowar, having the gift of self-knowledge among others, proclaimed themselves, fairly, as the “Kings Of Metal”. 21 years later and with the return of the best metal vocalist of the last decade to his throne, it is the time for Masterplan to proclaim themselves, fairly also, as the new kings of melodic power metal. Fortunately, the mediocre period after Lande’s departure was short, and their new album “Time To Be King” stands proudly beside the band’s amazing first two albums. 

After they dissolved their musical differences with Lande demanding to not sing happy euro power metal songs anymore and Rolland Grapow’s remission (maybe this the only negative thing about the new CD because I believe that songs like “Heroes” are necessary in every power metal album), they continue from where they leleft off with “Aeronautics”, adding some new elements to their sound like the intensive keyboard use from Axel Mackenrott and some AOR melodies that broaden more their characteristic dark melodic metal. The album contains 10 tracks with some of them being already at the group’s best ever songs, like the first single “Far From The Edge Of The World” and the amazing title track “Time To Be King”. I propose the version with the bonus tracks, as “Kisses From You” is one of the album’s best tracks with the Queen influences being so obvious. Lande’s magnificent voice rises to prominence through Masterplan’s compositions and I hope he will finally settle down at the best band that he has ever sung.  

Masterplan, a group that when it started it was judged as the project of a random guy that replaced Kai Hansen in Helloween and captured one column articles in known magazines, settles 8 years later on the European power metal throne and Roland Grapow has convinced all the open minded people that he is the big Helloween loss. “Time To Be King” is the grand proof of this ascertainment…