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Vanden Plas - Far Off Grace CD (album) cover

FAR OFF GRACE

Vanden Plas

 

Progressive Metal

3.85 | 119 ratings

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Gatot
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars This is my first CD collection from the band. Before I purchased it, I expected something symphonic from the band. It's probably the connotation in my mind that the name is similar with Van Der Graaf. I was wrong because this album is pure metal or at least it is heavily influenced by bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Helloween etc. Oh yes, the inclusion of keyboard player makes the music sounds symphonic.

The album is quite dominated by heavy riffing like you can find with band like Evergrey. It kicks off with heavy riffing music ' I Can See' (4:01) which opens the album with energy and power throughout the song from start to finish. It slows down into title track "Far Off Face" (7:03) whereby the music is quite light compared to opening track. The third track "Into the Sun" (6:32) brings the music back to heavy mood with raw guitar riffs combined with pulsating keyboard work. I enjoy the keyboard solo and those of rhythm section which reminds me to symphonic music.

"Where's the Man" (6:10) opens with heavy guitar riffs and long sutain keyboard work. When vocal enters the music, bass guitar plays dynamic bass lines accompanied by guitar work. "Inside of Your Head" (6:13) continues the heavy mood and this time the tempo is even faster and the combination of guitar riffs and keyboard become more aggressive. "Don't Miss You" (3:51) is completely a ballad with piano as main rhythm section. "Iodic Rain" (6:54) is another heavy riffing stuff. "Fields of Hope" (6:46) has some eastern music flavor at the opening, followed with guitar riffs that remind me to Dream Theater. "I'm With You (6:43), as the title implies, is a nice ballad with piano and acoustic guitar as rhythm section. The vocal line starts with low register notes. The album concludes with a bonus track "Kiss of Death" (5:41) which brings the music back to the heavy riff music with long sustain keyboard sound as background.

Overall, this is a good album and for me personally it's quite okay to spin these days because in couple of days from now I will be in the DragonForce "Inhuman Rampage World Tour" Live in Jakarta, May 19, 2007. DragonForce is very fast speed metal music and "Far Off Grace" by Van Den Plas can be treated as warming up . the road to DragonForce Live in Concert. Keep on rockin' ..!

"DragonForce Inhuman Rampage World Tour" Live in Jakarta: May 19, 2007, Tennis Outdoor. Featuring world's fastest metal guitar virtuoso. Be There! (or Die!).

Gatot | 3/5 |

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