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Vanden Plas - Beyond Daylight CD (album) cover

BEYOND DAYLIGHT

Vanden Plas

 

Progressive Metal

3.99 | 191 ratings

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Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer
4 stars If you want to read a good story check out Man Overboard's review of this album, you'll be glad you did. The band thanks DREAM THEATER, ANGRA, SILENT FORCE and KAMELOT in the liner notes. I love all 5 of VANDEN PLAS' studio albums, but this is my least favourite. Andy Kuntz for me is the star of this band, I love the tone of his voice, but on this album they drift too much into the mellow zone for my liking. And sure Andy sounds great singing ballads, but i'd rather be beaten over the head by a VANDEN PLAS song then be wooed by one.

"Nightwalker" opens with spacey sounds before violin comes in, then a crushing soundscape. Background synths and vocals 1 1/2 minutes in. A nice heavy sound follows. Andy sounds amazing on the chorus. Lots of bottom end 4 minutes in. A mellow ending. "Cold Wind" is another great tune. Piano melodies to open as drums, bass and synths swallow them up quickly. It's speeding up. Awesome sound ! Vocals come in as riffs continue. Again like the previous song the chorus is fantastic. A beautiful guitar solo 3 1/2 minutes in. "Scarlet Flower Fields" is the first ballad-like track, but by far the best one. Gentle guitar and reserved vocals to open before it starts to build to a full sound. This contrast continues. Andy shines on the chorus. Check out the bass after 3 minutes and the drumming that follows.The best part might be the soaring guitar after 4 minutes.

"Healing Tree" is one song i'm not really a fan of. Good lyrics though in this ballad. I like the instrumental work 3 1/2 minutes in and the guitar solo that follows though. "End Of All Days" opens so gently and then 20 seconds in were hit with an all out assault. A calm with vocals a minute in.The contrast continues. The second half of this song is killer ! Blistering guitar 5 minutes in. Oh my ! "Free The Fire" hits us hard with punishing riffs as the guitar plays over top. Vocals join in, in this uptempo rocker. A great crushing sound after 3 minutes. "Can You Hear Me" is ok, it's another ballad. "Phoenix" opens with uptempo piano, but it gets heavy fast. Another great chorus. Tasteful guitar solo before 4 minutes. "Beyond Daylight" is the almost 11 minute closing track. Piano and fragile vocals early before it kicks into gear before a minute. This is another mellow song for the most part.

Barely 4 stars for me.

Mellotron Storm | 4/5 |

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