Tag: Masterplan
1 MASTERPLAN Announce New Vocalist and Bassist!
Melodic Metal heroes MASTERPLAN are back with new line-up and big plans!
The new members are well known:
Swedish vocalist Rick Altzi (At Vance, Thunderstone) is the one to replace Jorn Lande. Altzi enjoys a fabulous reputation throught his works with numerous projects and bands.
MASTERPLAN’s new bass player is another highly regarded musician: Jari Kainulainen (ex-Stratovarius/Evergrey).
“The last years have not been easy for Masterplan”, band leader Roland Grapow comments. “Because of several factors we have been unable to play festivals and tours – even though we had plenty of offers. But this will definitely change now. I’m very happy to welcome Rick and Jari on board now. Beside their undoubted musical qualities they both fit perfectly into our team. We feel a huge motivation to get things going now. 2013 will be see a new Masterplan album, several festivals and a tour! It’s time to return with full force”.
First confirmed MASTERPLAN gigs for 2013:
Wacken Cruise
Rocknacht Tennwilm (Switzerland)
Norfest (Portugal)
Masters Of Rock (Czech Republic)
0 New Video – Masterplan – Time To Be King
I have been a Jorn Lande fan pretty much from the first time I have heard him sing. To see Jorn Lande perform live is definitely on this metalhead’s bucket list. Masterplan may have come as close to metal perfection as they are ever going to get by having Jorn Lande return to the band. While the band is extremely talented in its own right, Jorn Lande’s powerhouse vocals really make Masterplan one of the better new metal acts of the last decade. Check out their killer new video, “Time To Be King” below.
1 Masterplan – Time To Be King (2010)
Masterplan is back with their fourth full length effort Time to Be King. On this new release, Masterplan’s original singer Jorn Lande returns to the band. Quite honestly, I couldn’t have been more excited when I found out that Jorn Lande was returning to Masterplan. I did enjoy their MKII CD with Mike DiMeo on vocals, however Jorn Lande has been one of my favorite singers for a long time. The Masterplan releases with Jorn Lande on vocals are great, and I was hoping for more of the same.
I recall one of the reasons why Jorn Lande left Masterplan in the first place is, he wanted to make a more melodic record the next time around, while Roland Grapow wanted to go in a heavier direction like their debut. With Time To Be King, Masterplan both succeeds in being heavy, and melodic.Time To Be King starts off on the right note with a high-speed rocker “Fiddle of Time”. This song is pure power metal perfection. If there were any doubts that Masterplan would not return to form, “Fiddle of Time” threw that notion out of the window. In fact, the first four songs on Time To Be King are amongst the best that Masterplan has ever recorded. They are that good!
On the song, “The Dark Road” there are moments where Jorn Lande sounds exactly like David Coverdale. I did a double take the first time I listened to this song. This is a mid tempo number that ought to be getting airplay everywhere. This is an awesome tune.
Masterplan sounds better than ever on Time To Be King. Roland Grapow’s guitar work is excellent, and the rhythm section of Mike Terrana and Jan S. Eckert is as good as you will hear in any power metal band. Make no mistake about it, Jorn Lande’s voice is the most powerful instrument in Masterplan, and Jorn is singing at the top of his game. I find myself hitting repeat on this CD often, and the songs that I didn’t immediately gravitate to have grown on me quite a bit. I don’t believe Time To Be King is as strong as Masterplan’s debut, but it is a very solid album, and a must own disc for all Masterplan and Jorn Lande fans.
Check out Masterplan online at this link.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Fiddle Of Time
2. Blow Your Winds
3. Far From The End Of The World
4. Time To Be King
5. Lonely Winds Of War
6. The Dark Road
7. The Sun Is In Your Hands
8. The Black One
9. Blue Europa
10. Under The Moon
Masterplan is:
Jørn Lande – lead vocals
Roland Grapow – guitars
Jan S. Eckert – bass, backing vocals
Mike Terrana – drums
Axel Mackenrott – keyboards
1 Hard Rock Hideout Radio Play List for 6/2/10
Do you want to hear the best new hard rock on the radio? The best new rock is at Hard Rock Hideout Radio first! Tune in to Hard Rock Hideout Radio every Wednesday night at 9 P.M. CST online at www.kacvfm.org on in Amarillo, Texas at FM 90. This week’s show featured new music from Suburban Tribe, Hellyeah, H.I.M. , Negative, Kissin’ Dynamite, Sister Sin, Jackyl, Grand Design, Pretty Maids, Rush, Raven, Masterplan, Broken Teeth, SNEW, Taddy Porter, Chris Laney, RATT and a whole lot more. Check below for the complete play list!
Hard Rock Hideout Radio Play List for 6/2/10
While The World Awaits – Suburban Tribe
Dirty Little Rock Star – The Cult
Hell of A Time – Hellyeah
Kiss Me Undead – 69 Eyes
Heartkiller – H.I.M.
The End of the Line – Negative
Midnight Mover – Accept
Addicted To Metal – Kissin’ Dynamite
Outrage – Sister Sin
Scream (Until You Like It) – W.A.S.P.
Action – Sweet
Little Willy – Sweet
Fox On The Run – Sweet
She’s Not A Drug – Jackyl (Pick of the Week)
Bring You Down – Riot Brides
Air It Out – Grand Design
Little Drops of Heaven – Pretty Maids
Heat of Emotion – Zeno
Gutters of Gold – Sunstorm
Man Against The World – Eden’s Curse
Caravans – Rush
Trainwreck – Raven
Far From The End of the World – Masterplan
Viva La Rock Fantastico – Broken Teeth
Cocaine – Black Robot
Bad Lovin’ Never Felt So Good – Stonerider
Feedback & Distortion – Snew
My Moonshine – Jackyl (Pick of the Week)
Deep Inside My Heart – Rock City Angels
Excitable – Def Leppard
Love So Bad – Chris Laney
Dirty Dream – Thunder
Take A Big Bite – Ratt
Never Enough – Kiss
The Wild Life – Slaughter
Ride – Dirty Skirty
Shake Me – Taddy Porter
Dirty Water – Snowblynd
Overnight Superstar – The Glitterati
Sometimes – Middle Finger Mob
Can’t Get Enough – Miss Crazy
Don’t Blame Me – Soulshake
Tattoos & Dirty Girls – Million Dollar Reload
Deeper In Darkness – Jackyl (Pick of the Week)
I Love Rock N’ Roll – L.A. Guns
1 Hard Rock Hideout Radio On The Air Tonight!!
Want to hear the best new rock from RATT, Danko Jones, Broken Teeth, SNEW, Tobias Sammet’s Avantasia, Y&T and Masterplan (featuring the return of Jorn Lande!!!) ? Tune in to the Hard Rock Hideout Radio show tonight at 9 P.M. CST (10 P.M. EST) on KACV’s Cutting Edge, FM 90.
0 New Masterplan Album & EP Available for Pre-Order!
MASTERPLAN have just reunited with original singer Jorn Lande and has finished the recordings for their new album “Time To Be King”, that will be released on May 21st.
The new single has been unveiled: “Far From The End Of The World” will be released on April 16th to give a first impression of the new album “Time To Be King”.
“Far From the End of the World” is an advance Collector’s Item Limited Edition EP Release from AFM Records Germany!! This advance release features a different mixing and master of three tracks by Roland Grapow and includes teh bonus track “Lonely Winds of War” which will NOT be available on the full length CD, “Time To Be King”.
You can pre-order the new Masterplan CD “Time To Be King” as well as the EP, “Far From The End of the World” via CD Inzane!
If you are a fan of Roland Grapow, or Jorn Lande, order this now! This limited edition EP will sell out!
3 Jorn Lande Rejoins Masterplan
Blabbermouth.net has reported the following:
MASTERPLAN, the melodic power metal band led by former HELLOWEEN guitarist Roland Grapow, has released the following statement:
“After months of rumors and speculations, it is now official: [Norwegian singer] Jorn Lande will once again join forces with his old bandmates and work on what is expected to be yet another MASTERPLAN masterpiece.
“The new album is already in the works and Jorn is right now in Roland Grapow Studios in Slovakia recording his vocals.
“The release date is not yet decided, but the album is scheduled to hit the market sometime in early 2010.”
Lande recently told Germany’s Rock Hard magazine about his renewed collaboration with MASTERPLAN, “We never had problems with each other, but professionally, we decided for to go separate ways for a while. . . I am happy that we are . . . working together again — mainly because the combination of MASTERPLAN‘s music and my singing [is] truly something special.”
Lande left MASTERPLAN in May 2006, citing “musical differences” between the vocalist and the rest of the band. During the songwriting process for the group’s third album, it became increasingly apparent that the other members of the band had different visions and plans for the group’s musical direction. While Jorn allegedly wanted MASTERPLAN to follow a more melodic path, the rest of the band apparently wanted to return to the metallic roots of their debut album.
Vocalist Mike DiMeo (RIOT, THE LIZARDS) announced his departure from MASTERPLAN in January 2009 after recording just one studio album with the group — 2007’s “MK II”.
Lande‘s new solo album, “Spirit Black”, was released in June via Frontiers Records. The follow-up to last year’s “Lonely Are The Brave” CD — which entered the national chart in Norway at No. 28 and Sweden at No. 42 — was described by Jorn as “a solid and defined album that will shake the classic metal world and hammer the future Jorn legacy in stone!”
Jorn Lande cut his teeth with such internationally renowned acts as ARK, MILLENIUM, VAGABOND and THE SNAKES.
0 Mike Dimeo is Out of Masterplan
Mike Dimeo posted a new blog this afternoon talking about his new projects, and confirming that he is indeed out of the band Masterplan.
Read more at this link.
0 Video – Ride The Sky – New Protection
For whatever reason, the band Ride The Sky stayed off of my radar until now. Unfortunately, by the time I discovered this band, they had already broken up, but they did leave some good music behind. Ride the Sky is the band that formed with former Masterplan drummer, Uli Kusch.
3 Jorn Lande to Tour With Avantasia
EDGUY singer Tobias Sammet has issued the following update on his AVANTASIA solo project:
“I’d like to take the opportunity to thank you for your great support. ‘The Scarecrow’ is an album that means a lot to me and it was quite a commercial risk to just follow my heart instead of doing exactly what people expected. But if I take a look at the chart positions and sales — it went into the album charts in 16 countries, hitting the Top10 in four countries — it seems like you appreciate my honesty! Thank you!
Now preparing for the festival summer with AVANTASIA seems so surreal. AVANTASIA has never been on stage before and all of the sudden we are headlining the biggest festivals in the world, just been confirmed for the Sziget festival in Hungary on the 13th of August, playing amongst legendary bands such as R.E.M., DIE ÄRZTE, IRON MAIDEN and the SEX PISTOLS. Amazing!
“The AVANTASIA line up will be Jorn Lande (ex-MASTERPLAN), André Matos (ex-ANGRA), Amanda Somerville, Olli Hartmann, Bob Catley (MAGNUM — not all shows), Sascha Paeth, Miro, Robert Hunecke, Claudy Yang and Frank Lindenthal who is gonna replace Eric Singer who’ll be playing with KISS. Despite all rumors Michael Kiske will not be there, as he didn’t wanna do it and I respect that! We’ll put on a huge epic show anyway. Nobody has done something like that before and I swear, nobody will ever forget the event, neither you nor us!!!”
AVANTASIA TOURDATES
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Date
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City/Venue
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Country
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05.06.2008
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SWITZERLAND
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07.06.2008
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SWEDEN
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10.06.2008
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Moscow | DK Gorbunova
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RUSSIA
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13.06.2008
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Tokyo | Shinagawa Prince Stellar
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JAPAN
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15.06.2008
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Mexico City | Circo Volador
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MEXICO
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18.06.2008
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Buenos Aires | Obras
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ARGENTINA
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20.06.2008
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Santiago | Caupolican
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CHILE
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22.06.2008
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Sao Paulo | Credicard Hall
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BRAZIL
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04.07.2008
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SERBIA
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10.07.2008
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CZECH REPUBLIC
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26.07.2008
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ITALY
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31.07.2008
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GERMANY
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13.08.2008
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HUNGARY
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1 Masterplan – MK II (Release Year – 2007)
My special Tin cover edition of MKII arrived in the mail on Monday. Yea!! The CD and booklet came in a cool tin box (pictured to the left) and the CD came with the video for Lost and Gone (see below.)
I have been anxiously awaiting this new disc by Masterplan. This CD is the 3rd by the band, but the first with former Riot vocalist Mike DiMeo, and Yngwie Malmstee drummer Mike Terrana. Mike DiMeo has some huge shoes to fill, as he is filling the lead vocal position that was vacated by Jorn Lande late in 2006.
I enjoyed his last two vocal offerings on Riot’s Army of One and The Lizards – Against All Odds and DiMeo continues to impress on Masterplan’s latest effort.
MK II starts with a majestic opening called Phoenix Rising, before blasting off with a high speed power metal offering, Warriors Cry. This isn’t my favorite track on this disc by any means, and seems like an odd placement early in the disc.
Lost and Gone on the other hand is a very cool radio ready mid tempo rock song. It is one of my early favorites on MK II.
Keeps Me Burning is a very good upbeat rocker and a nice follow up to Lost and Gone. This could easily be the second single from MKII.
Take Me Over is an great melodic track. DiMeo’s voice shines hear. ( I can almost hear Jorn singing this.) Roland Grapow absolutely flies on the guitar on this track. Great Stuff!
I really could not get into I’m Gonna Win. I did not care for the melody on this song. The song has a good message to it, but I would have preferred a different arrangement all together on this one.
Yes! Now this is what I am talking about! Watching the World is an up tempo rocker with a very cool majestic sounding keyboard by Axel Mackenrot. This is another excellent head banger on MK II.
Call the Gipsy is a very cool mid tempo number. DiMeo sings in a lower register quite a bit on this song, and sounds very much like Jorn Lande here. A short but great track.
I had to listen to Trust In You a couple of times to really gain an opinion. This track stars as slow piano based number, and builds into mid to low tempo guitar driven song. At this point, I think Mike DiMeo could sing the alphabet and sound good, but this song didn’t really grab me. I think as I continue to hear it, it will grow me on me more. The music is superb, but I need more time with this one.
If you are going to name a song after your band, it better be damn good. Masterplan is a full out power metal assault. DiMeo’s vocals are awesome, and the rest of band chants MAS – TER – PLAN! What is not to love? The band sounds like they are ready to blast off on this track. Too cool!
Enemy is the third song on MKII that I could see a possible single being made from. Roland Grapow really kicks it into gear on this song. Mike Terrana keeps the beat going strong and creates the need to break out the air drums. Great!
Heart of Darkness is another track that I could easily hear Jorn singing. DiMeo shows off his powerful voice on this track. I like Axel Mackenrott’s keyboards here a lot. As a whole this a whale of a song. It has multiple tempo changes, killer guitar work, great vocals and keyboards. It is a very good way to close out MKII.
Now the answer to the question that a lot of Masterplan fans are asking, is this CD as good as Aeronautics. For me, it is not. MK II is a solid offering, but it would have taken a lot to surpass Aeronautics. I do believe that this line up of Masterplan has the ability to make some amazing music together, and that the potential for greatness still lies ahead for these guys. There are some signs of pure metal brilliance on MK II. This disc will certainly appeal to Masterplan fans, and will probably make a bunch of new fans as well.
For more information on Masterplan, check out their website at www.master-plan.net or their myspace page here!
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
- Phoenix Rising
- Warriors Cry
- Lost and Gone
- Keeps Me Burning
- Take Me Over
- I’m Gonna Win
- Watching the World
- Call the Gipsy
- Trust In You
- Masterplan
- Enemy
- Heart of Darkness
4 Masterplan – Aeronautics (Release Year – 2005)
Day 8 in the 10 Days of Jorn brings the sophomore effort, Aeronautics by the Jorn Lande led, power metal group Masterplan.
I love CD’s that are easy to review and Aeronautics is one of those. This disc is far more melodic than the debut, and does not fail to deliver at any point throughout the disc.
Crimson Rider will hook you immediately with is upbeat drumming and amazing guitar work by Roland Grapow.
Back For My Life is an impressive song that should have been a huge hit in the U.S.
Masterplan turns back to its power metal roots by cranking up the tempo on the anthemic Wounds. I’m Not Afraidis a majestic rocker that continues to amaze me every time I listen to it. Headbanger’s Ballroom is melodic yet very heavy. I have replayed this one several times.
After This War is a mid tempo number with excellent vocals by Jorn, and more flying fretwork by Roland Grapow. Into The Arenais another classic Jorn Lande Anthem at its best! The guitar riff on Dark For the Dying is quite infectious. Falling Sparrowfeatures another killer vocal by Jorn.
Black in the Burn is an awesome epic track clocking in just shy of 10 minutes. This song will take you through great melodies, and incredible guitar solos before finishing with a heaviness that will kick you in the ass. This is the most impressive song I have ever heard to close out a disc. My copy of Aeronautics came with a limited edition track Treasure World, which is a cool track itself.
Aeronautics is easily one of the top 5 metal CD’s of 2005. You owe it to yourself to pick this one up!
Back For My Life
Wounds
Rating:
Out of 10
Track Listing:
- Crimson Rider
- Back For My Life
- Wounds
- I’m Not Afraid
- Headbanger’s Ballroom
- After This War
- Into the Arena
- Dark For the Dying
- Falling Sparrow
- Black Is the Burn
- Treasure World* (Limited Edition Bonus Track)
4 Masterplan – S/T (Release Year – 2003)
Day 5 of the 10 Days of Jorn, brings us the debut disc by the power metal group Masterplan.
Masterplan has a supergroup type roster for their debut effort including Jorn Lande on Vocals, Roland Grapow (Helloween) on Guitars, Uli Kusch (Gamma Ray, Helloween) on Drums, Jan-S. Eckert (Iron Saviour) on Bass and Axel Mackenrott on Keyboards.
The one thing I really enjoy about this Masterplan disc is, it sounds different from all of Jorn’s past work, while staying familiar enough to appeal to all of his fans.
Masterplan starts out with 4 blistering tracks right out of the gate. Spirit Never Dies claims hold of you very quickly with its crashing double bass drums, awesome melodies, and its impressive guitar work. Enlighten Me was released as a single off of this disc (in the UK). This bang-up song is one of my favorites on this CD.
Kind Hearted Light is another melodic powerhouse of a song. This song has a good mix of keyboards and guitars. Jorn’s vocals shine here. Crystal Night is another excellent (neckbrace optional) heavy rocker.
Soulburn is the first track to bring the tempo down from the first four lightspeed paced rockers. It took me a couple of listens before I really got into this track. I started recognizing some Black Sabbath and DIO like elements with this track after a few listens.
Heroes cranks the pace back up to 10. I could not get into this song, but its not bad. Sail On continues that pace, but I believe this is a better written song between the two.
Into the Light is the track that I was waiting for. Masterplan slows it down and Jorn’s powerful voice takes over. Great song!
This must be the horror fan in me taking over, but I really like the heavy track Crawling From Hell. How can you deny a lyric like “Monsters and Demons Crawling From Hell“?
The bass heavy Bleeding Eyes has some moments to it, but it fails to deliver. On the otherhand, When Love Comes Close is centered around the acoustic guitar, and is a one of my favorite tracks here.
Through Thick and Thin could have easily been a Whitesnake track. It seems that their wasn’t enough focus on the chorus on this track. With a little bit of reworking, this track could have been a hit.
Jorn sound a lot like Coverdale on The Kid Rocks On. This is a very good song to close out this disc with.
As a whole, this is a very solid power metal offering from Masterplan. Jorn Lande’s vocals are a highlight on every track. A little better writing, and these guys could be an unstoppable force in the heavy metal scene. This is a very good disc that should appeal to Jorn Lande, Helloween, and power metal fans.
Check out the videos below. If you like the tracks below, you will definitely want to pick this up!
Enlighten Me
Spirit Never Dies (Live)
Kind Hearted Light
Soulburn
When Love Comes Close
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
- Spirit Never Dies
- Enlighten Me
- Kind Hearted Light
- Crystal Night
- Soulburn
- Hereoes
- Sail On
- Into the Light
- Crawling from Hell
- Bleeding Eyes
- When Love Comes Close
- Through Thick and Then
- The Kid Rocks On
0 10 Days of JORN
For the Next 10 Days I will be posting new reviews on releases from Jorn Lande’s Discography, leading up to the reviews of the hot new January releases, Unlocking the Past and the Gathering. I am going to cover a lot of different material, so stay tuned to the Hard Rock Hideout and check back daily for more reviews, videos and music worth listening to!
Day 1 has now been posted. Check out the review for Ark’s Self Titled Debut from 1999 here.
Day 2 has now been posted. Check out the review for Jorn’s debut as a solo artist, Starfire.
Day 3 has been posted. Check out the review for Ark’s 2nd disc, Burn the Sun!
Day 4 has now been posted. There are some awesome videos to go along with this next review. Be sure to check back and check out the review for JORN – Worldchanger
Day 5 is up! Check out the review for debut by Masterplan!
Day 6 is now up! Check out the review for Jorn’s work on the Brazen Abbot disc, Guilty As Sin.
Day 7 has been posted! Check out the review for the Junior Solo Effort by Jorn, Out To Every Nation
Day 8 is up! Check out the 2nd Amazing Disc by Masterplan – Aeronautics.
Day 9 is here! Check out the incredible release Allen / Lande – The Battle.
Tomorrow night is the Grand Finale to the 10 Days of Jorn!! Be Here for not one but two new Jorn Lande reviews! Until then, check out the top 26 songs by Jorn Lande on Last FM here.
Check out the Day 10 Reviews JORN – The Gathering and JORN – Unlocking the Past !
I hope you all enjoyed this segment! I hope to do more things like this in the future at the Hard Rock Hideout!
