VOLUME TWO

Mastermind is an american band who plays something between symphonic prog with some jazzy elements. The band is influenced by ELP , mainly because of keyboards arrangements. The band was formed by the 2 brothers Berends, Rich and Bill in late '80's. Bill is responsable with guitar parts, keys and here and there when needed vocal parts, while his brother Rich made the drums parts and occasionaly percussions. As I said the music is very uptempo with nice shifting moods between keys arrangements and very solid druming and bass lines,considered them as the '90's ELP. This is their second effort from 1992 named of course Volume two. The whole album is good The album is almost entirely instrumental with here and there vocal parts on some pieces. The music is keyboard drivin' prog , very uptempo, very well played with jazzy interplays, but as I said something make put only 3 stars to this release. A good band that needs a wider recognision, this two brothers know what is prog music, and can play very strong. So 4 stars, a good one no doubt with plenty of great passages. The best pieces are the opening track Brainstorm, 21 minutes of real prog feast and the two cover versions The Ride of the Valkyrie and William Tell Overture. The Cd was released, my version at ZNR records in 1992, don't esotate to listen, at least once.

''Volume one'' was much of a synthetic work, but its undisputed energy and proggy principles were warmly received by Prog fans worldwide.Anyway, by the time the album was re-released the Berends brothers had already started working on a second album ''Volume Two, brainstorm''.The first few pieces date back in 1988 and the last ones were recorded in 1991, the time of the album's release on ZNR Records.Bill of course was handling the guitars, bass and keyboards with Rich providing the drum duties with three bassists helping out during the long recordings at the Trademark Music Studios in Brown Mills, New Jersey.

Mastermind headed for an even more ambitious sound in this second album, indicated by the addition of two long epics, ''Brainstorm'' and ''Triumph of the will'', together completing some 38 minutes of music.I do not know if it is a matter of inspiration or better recording techniques, but ''Volume two'' sounds like an album created by a mature band.With equal doses from RUSH'es lyrical yet powerful Prog Rock and E.L.P.'s Classical-drenched attempts, fronted by the combination of the midi-guitar and synthesizers, the American duo proposed a bombastic, fast-paced music with keyboard masturbations, grandiose atmospheres, Heavy Rock pounds and even some complex Fusion workouts, sounding similar to compatriots MAGELLAN.The addition of some instrumental and vocal melodies certainly helped the band's profile, while the multi-parted epics showcased the accomplished side of the group, displaying influences from Power Rock, Arena Rock, Classical Music and Fusion, eventually creating a very epic style of composing with cinematic soundscapes and frenetic instrumental offerings.The rather digital sound of the instruments still is a bit disturbing, but the tight compositions, the complex themes and the interesting tempo shifts are reasons to leave this factor behind for a while.The shorter tracks are pretty great as well, either coming from an E.L.P. matrix with a symphonic manifest of guitar, bass and keyboards, showered by Neo-Classical textures, or revisiting the powerful lines of RUSH and KANSAS.Two tracks are reworkings on the timeless documents of Richard Wagner (''William Tell overture'') and Gioachino Rossini (''The ride of the Valkyrie'') with Mastermind flirting with Neo-Classical Metal during these pieces.

A huge improvement over the mediocre debut.Bombastic mixture of Symphonic/Classical and Heavy Rock with jazzy inflections, I am very impressed considering the fact this album was recorded in late-80's/early-90's by a duo of musicians without the current recording techniques.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.