On disc: Vanden Plas

 
 I Don't Miss You
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Far Off Grace
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Spirit Of Live
 
- Amir Djawadi -
 
 


 
 Beyond Daylight
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 Beyond Daylight
 
- Volker Raabe -
 
 


 
 Christ 0
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
 The Seraphic Clockwork
 
- Lars Bjørn -
 
 


 
 The Seraphic Clockwork
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

The Seraphic Clockwork

(Frontiers Records - 2010)



 
 

 

It's been 4 years since German prog rockers Vanden Plas presented Christ O, the story of the Count of Monte Christo. With Christ O they delivered an extraordinary album, the new album have to meet expectations of the fans. The Seraphic Clockwork is another concept album of the quintet. This time it's a story about a travel back in time, about religion, destiny and a conspiracy.

Musically Vanden Plas didn't change a lot, they are a bit heavier, more metal, but also have some symphonic passages, progressive parts and great melodies. The opener Frequency is showing all this very well, it even has some 70's prog rock reminiscences. Hole In The Sky starts with symphonic sounds, but soon the band joins in with heavy riffs, Andy Kuntz is joining in and his vocals give the song something special. Enchants you. Slowly they kick off The Final Murder, an emotional tune which starts balladesque, then picks up speed and becomes a powerful prog rock tune. For me one of the highlights of The Seraphic Clockwork - beside Frequency and On My Way To Jerusalem. Actually you won't find a weak track on this disk, so it's more about personal taste which songs you prefer.

It looks like their work with theaters, doing musicals is refine Vanden Plas' style. They aren't offering something innovative, something completely new. But they never changed their path drastically, they know strong points and worked on them. Fans of Vanden Plas won't be disappointed! There isn't much to criticize, just a kind of story line would be nice for a better understanding of the story and I miss a catchy hookline here and there... Anyway, Vanden Plas keep offering prog metal on a high quality level!

 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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The Seraphic Clockwork

(Frontiers Records - 2010)



 
 

 

Vanden Plas gives a new album containing 9 songs that have a mix of qualities. They include harmonies played with violins, piano and guitar together. The style goes from soft pop-rock to a more hard and tough sound. Some of the tracks have a fairytale atmosphere about them, and the whole album culminates with the 13-minute long epus On My Way To Jerusalem. When you hear this album you have a feeling like Vanden Plas has been away for a long time, and trying to make a comeback, but without the big success.

 
 










Lars Bjørn


  
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Christ 0

(InsideOut Music - 2006)



 
 

 

The German progsters are around for years and have a loyal fan base, but even if they deliver good albums, they are still underrated. Their last release Beyond Daylight hit the stores 4 years ago, but they have been busy. Singer Andy Kuntz realized his Abydos project and the band was involved in several musical productions at a Kaiserslauter theater. The album story is based on Alexandre Dumas' bestseller Conte of Monte Christo.

Four years is a long time and sometimes this means a band changed, but Vanden Plas stick to their sound. They combine heavy guitar riffs with complex drum and bass arrangements, add some keyboards and vocals. The keyboard sometimes has a little retro-edge and remind me of bands like Saga and Styx. Especially Postcard To God is catchy and so an easy way to get into Christ 0. This one is also a good example for they way they use orchestration and a choir to achieve the atmosphere the lyrical concept gives. The orchestral parts are bombastic, but more dreadful and dark then nice and sweet - as long as that's what the song needs. Heavy riffs and enthralling lyrics are what Wish You Were Here is about. The keyboard takes you to another sound dimension. Silently starts off with some piano, but soon becomes a heavy rocker with staccato guitar riffs. In the middle part more mid-tempo, then back to the piano. Very interesting and a good example for the new Vanden Plas album. These two tracks I would pick to check out the album... And Postcard To God, but actually a concept album should be listened to from the first to the last note! Even if the songs don't fade into each other.

On the digi-pack you find a bonus track called Gethsemane which is taken off the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. The guys transfered this musical song into a prog metal track. Just listen! Great work!

Twists and turns in the songs make it a real treat - and every time you listen you may discover some other detail. Its very complex, but not too complex, so that it's only interesting for musicians. So far Christ 0 is their masterpiece and hopefully they will get more attention. The Germans should be more known as they definitely one of the top ten progressive metal bands world-wide! And this album is not just interesting for prog metal fans, it's heavy and I think that open-minded metal fans should give it a try.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Beyond Daylight

(InsideOut Music - 2002)



 
 

 

The German quintet Vanden Plas is already established in the prog metal scene, especially in France, but this album can get them the attention even outside this genre! Beyond Daylight is a masterpiece, musically and lyrically! Singer Andy Kuntz' lyrics leads the listener into a different world, a world of myths & mystics. In a world which could have been created by Edgar Alan Poe or H.P. Lovecraft.

Musically the band shows everything from the heart touching ballad to the faster tracks which become kinda anthems and will live be a highlight of the show. Beside that the listener can discover more and more details every time he listens to. This is no musical fast-food! It takes time to discover the whole beauty of Beyond Daylight! If you like progressive metal this is a must! If you like to listen to prog metal once in awhile than this is the album to check out! An amazing album, thanks guys!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Beyond Daylight

(InsideOut Music - 2002)



 
 

 

The long-awaited album of the progsters from Kaiserslautern is called Beyond Daylight.

Vanden Plas is their try to matriculate and they succeed. Summa cum laude!
Singer Andy Kuntz knows how to use his voice. On Cold Wind his vocals are a little extravagant and the rhythm section is doing a marvelous job at the monumental opus Beyond Daylight. The rest of the album has no fillers and the band tried not to push their progressive side too far which is proofed by the sing-along song Free The Fire. The rock ballad The Healing Tree, the hymn Cold Winter and the melodic album opener Nightwalker are shine with melodies and sophisticated arrangements. What I per­sonally don't like that progressive bands like Vanden Plas always try to be perfect. On also on Beyond Daylight the Germans show their tendency to perfectionism. Sticking to the genre motto - it at least seems to be their motto - music from musicians for musicians, but I'm not a musician, so....
 
 










Volker Raabe
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


  
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Spirit Of Live

(InsideOut Music - 2000)



 
 

 

Since the release of Colour Temple in 1995 they are one of the top acts of the German progressive metal scene and made themselves known with other high class releases in Germany and beyond borders. The Germans made themselves known as a support act for bands like Dream Theater, Angra and Savatage first, later did headliner shows and played at festivals all over Europe which made their following grow.

One of their most enthusiastic followings the German progsters have in France and so they decided to record the live album in Paris. The 11 tracks were recorded during the tour for the current release Far Off Grace in February 2000 at the Elysée Montmartre. Beside classic Vanden Plas songs (Into The Sun, Soul Survives and Far Off Grace) they recorded 2 new tunes (Spirit Of Life and Journey To Paris).

On the Vanden Plas classical Rainmaker they got joined by the French guitarist Patrick Rondat on the six-strings and on the Dokken track Kiss Of Death Don Dokken himself joined them. You see, this is not just for friends and fans a special one! The record present the atmosphere of the show in Paris where the band introduced the tracks in French and shows the talented musicians in a live situation.

Singer Andy Kuntz masters the situation very well and guitarist Stephan Lill convinces the listener with powerful riffs and filigree solos. Keyboarder Günter Werno doesn't need to impress the people, he did several times in the past and bassist Torsten Reichert is also a good showman. The drummer Andreas Lill offers a brilliant and precise work and he always blows me away live!

Most of the Vanden Plas songs are powerful, but on this album the Germans also show their emotional, more sensitive side with the ballad I Don't Miss You. You can't ask for more, right? Only being there and see them live is better then listening to this album.
 
 










Amir Djawadi
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)


  
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Far Off Grace

(InsideOut Music - 1999)



 
 

 

The German band is around for 10 years! And no line-up changes! In these days this is unusual, but it worked out. This is the 3rd full-length album and shows again progressive melodic metal. Vanden Plas are part of the international scene and after touring Europe as support of Dream Theater every progressive metal fan will know the band. Taking all the time they need to develop, worked out. This album is progressive, but not too abstract. The band combined all elements of the genre and build a very interesting and catchy mixture.

Far Off Grace is the continuing of their previous releases and get more to the point without losing the vividness and freshness. Also the cover artwork is continued from a abstract figure to a human being. The band around singer Andy Kuntz made a full circle and presents now their most mature material.

The lyrics are based upon a short story which Andy wrote within the last 2 years. The story... It deals with the never ending story of where we came from and where are we going to. The story tells about the yearning of the human beings. and still he is far from grace...

The album is engineered by Dennis Ward of Pink Cream 69 who also did D.C. Cooper and the co-operation worked out fantastic. Check out: I Can See and I'm In you which presents the beginning and the end of the album!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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I Don't Miss You

(InsideOut Music - 1999)



 
 

 

This is just a 4-track single. Okay, but it's worth the money. It's not just this grand ballade I Don't Miss You, it's also Shape Of My Heart a non album track which starts which is another slow track... It's of Sting, but don't be shocked! This is a great track and I can't understand why this cover version didn't made it on an album! Okay, I like Sting, but I think that this is a good one anyway!

Song No. 3 is Into The Sun and it's taken from Far Off Grace. How Many Tears was originally on Colour Temple, but here is a French version! It sounds strange, coz we are not used to French vocals in metal music. After listening to both versions I have to confess that I prefer the French version! This is not just a collctors item, this a great single full of emotional songs.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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