AFTER THE BATTLE

''The Lost Tapes'' was just the initial flame for the absolute Plackband reunion.After 18 years the original crew of Bik, Brautigam, De Keijzer, Van Wassem and Van Der Meulen got back together with the official return date being the concert of the 23th June 2000 at "de Boerderij" in Zoetermeer.After negotiations with four different companies Plackband secured a deal with the Xymphonia label and released the single ''Remember forever'' in 2002, followed soon after by their fist ever full-length album of the group, ''After the battle'', recorded at Holland Spoor Studios in The Hague.

Always attracted by the vintage GENESIS sound, Plackband offer a nice, melodic and fully symphonic-oriented Progressive Rock, highlighted by the changing modern and analog keyboards and the harmonic approach of the group.They do sound extremely similar to compatriots US, filling their style with warm vocal lines and both dramatic and softer instrumental textures.The band was not afraid anymore to produce proggy and long compositions with a fair amount of Mellotrons thrown in and of course the needed contemporary sound of synthesizers.The guitars remain slightly in the background, delivering both light electric and more atmospheric, acoustic themes, somewhat in an 80's Neo Prog vein, and the arrangements in general lack GENESIS' unparalleled richness, yet they are always in the right direction.The work of Michel Van Wassem is however absolutely satisfying, leading the music to beautiful, symphonic grounds with plenty of grandiose plays and orchestral passages.

The dream became true for Plackband, 25 years after their starting step.Old-school GENESIS-like Symphonic Rock with bits of more modern stylings, which has nothing new to add in a saturated scene, but it is played with passion and talent.Recommended.