I must admit that my expectations for Aeronautics were very high considering Masterplan’s brilliant debut album and I can tell you right off the bat that Aeronautics lives up to them. This is one of those albums that impresses you right away and will keep you hooked for a long time. Unfortunately, my Aeronautics features shortened versions and once in awhile the songs start or end rather abruptly but it’s more than enough to get the general gist of it all.

Aeronautics is slightly more diverse and technical compared to Masterplan’s debut but don’t worry they haven’t gone berserk on technical interludes or technical self glorification. No, these guys know how to write strong songs; any addition made simply adds to the whole. The melodies are great and the choruses are the true sing along style. Aeronautics shines with a catchiness that’s very hard to match. The same catchiness that made their debut album already superb is still present.

Well what can you expect when this melodic plane is being flown by a pilot with the name of Roland Grapow.

To give credit where credit is due, there’s one person in Masterplan who takes the band to a whole new level - the icing on the cake so to speak – and his name is Jorn Lande. This man has a voice from heaven. His voice is not only really good but it drips with emotion and feeling. I can’t even begin to imagine how Aeronautics would sound with an average singer. I’m certain it would still be good but not like this; not nearly.

Masterplan sets the bar for quality metal in 2005 and it’s pretty damn high. I can only hope that Aeronautics is a good omen for the rest of the upcoming year, because if it is, we can expect one hell of a metal year. We will have to wait and see but until then I’m flying along with Masterplan, soaring the wide open skies, awaiting the next great release.