MK II

MK II is the third album, integrating refined keyboards, heavy guitar and dramatic vocals. The title signals a renewed lineup. Jørn Lande left over musical differences, then co-founder Uli Kusch departed too, so ex-Riot's Mike DiMeo (vocals) and ex-Rage's Mike Terrana (drums) came in. Released on AFM in February 2007, with Grapow recording and producing it at his own studio in Slovakia in autumn 2006. The songs have progressive movement yet keep their core hooks clear. From the intro “Phoenix Rising” into the racing “Warrior's Cry,” the catchiness of “Lost and Gone,” the heft of “Take Me Over,” the force of the band-titled “Masterplan,” to the seven-minute “Heart of Darkness,” the range is wide. With a new voice, the band moves between power and delicacy to draw its own outline. DiMeo's singing carries a more '80s color than Lande's, giving the record a different texture. A rich album that channels technical density back into big melody.