German power metal supergroup Masterplan was founded in 2002 by
Ark singer
Jorn Lande, guitarist
Roland Grapow, drummer
Ulli Kusch (both ex-
Helloween), former Iron Saviour bassist Jan S. Eckert, and keyboard player
Axel Mackenrott. Shortly after forming, the group issued a five-track EP titled
Enlighten Me, then followed it with their eponymous,
Andy Sneap-produced full-length debut in 2003; both were supported by European tour dates with
Hammerfall. The group's sophomore outing,
Aeronautics, arrived in 2005 via AFM Records, and was followed in 2007 by
MK II, which featured a new lineup that included former
Riot vocalist Mike DiMeo and new drummer
Mike Terrana. 2010's
Time to Be King marked the return of co-founder
Jorn Lande on vocals, though he, along with Eckert and
Terrana, would leave the fold shortly after the LP's release. For the band's fifth full-length, 2013's
Novum Initium,
Grapow and
Mackenrott (the group's last remaining original members) brought in
Stratovarius bassist Jari Kainulainen,
Cradle of Filth drummer Martin Škaroupka, and
At Vance vocalist Rick Altzi. 2017s
Pumpkings featured re-recordings of songs written by
Grapow from the time he played with
Helloween. ~ James Christopher Monger