Review by JD on February 25, 2009.

I look at this grandiose name of the band - Masterstroke... yes, I see and I do agree! This band and its name do coincide with one another in such a correct way it is actually scary to think that they had it done right. The album (released in 2007) is a 'Masterstroke' of melody, power and talent... and that is in every way. You will not want to "Sleep" while doing it, which is the only difference.

Mixing quite a few old school metal ideas (from 80's & 90's metal) they then seem to simply recharge it with a surge of over one billion volts of electricity... a perfect description of that this amazing Finnish band has done here. They have not just copied it all from the past and played regurgitated crap, they did what was needed to have been done with all of their influences. They learned from them and then they developed a original way of doing it for themselves and began to beat us with it.

Masterstroke are melodic ass hell, but never once do they ever scrimp on the sheer heaviness that they delivered with such intensity. I listen to them, and had to smile. I had been looking for a band that combines all of these elements without sounding so blatantly dated or just sounding cheesier than being left in a Kraft Dinner manufacturing plant. They come off as what metal should have moved toward, instead of letting the sad sickness known as 'Grunge' take over.

I see a new movement on the chrome-studded horizon, bands going for melody as well as just delivering what it means to me termed 'heavy'. Masterstroke seems to have seen that turn, and is in a fight to get ahead of that pack. What was on this album, and what ever the newer stuff will be delivered will tell the truth. They just might be that band that assumes the throne of metal!

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 8
Overall: 9

Rating: 8.8 out of 10